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Is a car seat necessary? Hi all, I'm new to the forum and a new mom to my 4-month old fur baby Cody. I've previously had a large dog and am new to small breeds. How exactly do I ride with Cody in the car? Is a car seat necessary? If so, what brands/types are recommended? I take him to doggie day camp daily for play time and socialization and the ride to PetSmart is dramatic to say the least. He's everywhere in the car, and usually ends up in my lap or climbing all over me while I'm driving - which isn't safe not to mention I'm getting all scratched up. HELP!!! |
my mom uses a doggy car seat for her yorkie Mazie because mazie is what is known as a teapot yorkie (14 pounds) and thinks she is small enough to sit on my mom's lap while she is driving, not safe. My mom has a carseat I think by the company Outward Hound (maybe) and it just buckles around her car seat and the dog's collar just clasps on to this short little nylon lead type of thing. You can also just put her into a dog carrier and some of those carriers can actually be buckled into a seat using the seat belt, they also have harnesses that you can use as a seatbelt, but I think those are more for larger sized dogs. Lucy just rides in my lap (i'm in the passenger seat) while someone else drives, haven't gotten her a car seat yet. |
Personally, I feel a car seat or crate is necessary while they're in the car with you. It's like having a child in the car...if they're not strapped in anything could happen if you were involved in an accident. I know no one wants to think about that but, believe me, it does happen and if you're puppy isn't protected they could be thrown out of your car or if they're on your lap the airbag could kill them. We use crates for our boyz but I am considering car seats. I know a lot of people here use the Look Out car seats...they're very nice. |
I have a car seat for my Cody as well. My mom had it for her female yorkie and when she passed we kept it in case we ever was blessed with another dog! she got it at petsmart for $25.00 i'll have to look and see who it's made by and try to get a picture for you. |
I don't use a car seat. When they are little they sit in my lap, then once they get biiger I let them sit in the passenger seat. Sometime when we are on long trips they like to get in the backseat and lay down. THey sell some at Petsmart. |
We just got our car seat yesterday.....a Snoozer Console....and it's made so well and we'll be trying it out this Saturday for the fist time for our big ride to the Ohio Meet Up in Dover. I have it sitting in the middle of our kitchen so that Izzy can get used to seeing it and sitting in it before I actually have her harnessed in. Up to now she always was in a carrier - never allowed to roam the car - she is too little and she always wanted to sit on my lap which isn't good and I was so afraid that if something would happen we both would or could be hurt. It was worth the $51 (found a good deal on Ebay) and that was including the shipping. |
If you want your baby to survive an accident, then yes, a car seat is necessary. Just imagine what even a fender bender would do to them without being restrained:eek: The lap is the absolute WORST place for them, as the airbag (or your flying body) would smash them to smitereens in even a low speed crash. It's a good investment. |
Do a YT search on "car seats" and you'll see many testimonials for doggy car seats. I know I've told my story a few times of my roll-over accident with my toy poodle. It was a miracle we both came out of it unscathed. It made me very nervous to ride with him from then on. When I got Tatum, one of the first things I did was get a console car seat. She loves it and we all stay much safer with her in it! Congrats on the new pup and welcome to YT! |
I think a car seat is essential. I have the console type and Gracie loves it. I recommend it. It is a bit of a pain if you want something out of the console, but it is worth it. Going without is not safe. I have tried her without a car seat. She crawled up on the console to be near me. I slammed on the brakes and she went flying onto the floor by the back seat. I tried another kind of car seat that sits up high in the passenger seat, secures around the head rest. Well, she slipped part way out of her harness trying to get out of the seat to be next to me. I did not notice. I slammed on my brakes and she went flying forward, ended up hanging by her harness attached to the car seat with the attachment lead. Both very scary events. |
I take Harley and Haley and my babes Micah with me every weekend we go and they ride in the passager seat without a car seat... hey (showing my age) when i was small we didn't even have car seats, and today your kids go to school everyday without seatbelts... something to think about...... so no my yorkies stick there heads out the window and enjoy the cool air :D |
How do the console types attach? I'm afraid it won't fit in my car ('99 Honda Civic). I use the Outward Hound Look-Out, but I don't think it's nearly sturdy enough to protect Demi if the passenger airbag deploys. I also have the problem of Demi wriggling out the side of it and hanging by her harness. |
Here's a link to the Snoozer car seats: should give you an idea on how they fit the car you have. http://www.snoozer-dog-beds.com/ |
Between the console car seats and the "lookout" seats (the ones that wrap around the head rest) which would everyone recommend? I have Cody in doggie day camp today and wanted to get something for the ride home after I pick him up. I don't want to continue driving without him being secure. Thanks everyone! :) Also, can someone give me info on the Ohio Meet Up? I'd like to attend. |
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We love our console seat and we also have the Snoozer My Buddy Lookout which is really too big for my two girls, but for longer trips it is comfy. We tried other car seats and carriers as well and they hated them. With the Snoozers, we've never had a problem and I know they will be as secure as possible in case of an accident. |
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1 Attachment(s) I wouldn't take my pups in the car without them being in their carseats. Not only are they contained so they don't get hurt, they're high enough to see out the window, eat a snack in or even take a nap and I don't worry about them getting hurt jumping around in the car, especially if I'm driving. Such distractions could cause an accident. |
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Did you find a local store yet? I'm pretty sure Petco (if you have one in your area) carries them or you can call PetsMart or Pet Supplies Plus...we have them all here! I have the small one but Izzy is under 3 pounds but not sure if the small would be big enough for your 4 pounder. Let us know if you got one. |
I admit it...I have ridden in the car while holding my babies. But, since I got a car seat I find it 100% safer for them. Just like so many of you, I view my fur baies as real babies and I would NEVER allow a 2 pound or 7 pound human baby to ride without a car seat! It's just dangerous and injuries are so easily avoided by putting them in a seat! |
I feel that my Look-Out is good for keeping Demi from slamming forward when I stop suddenly and from being ejected from the car, but I do not think it would protect her if the airbag deployed. I'm afraid the airbag would just smash the dog seat against the passenger seat, compressing Demi in between. Also, it is only attached to the seat, not to the frame of the car. In a bad accident, will the seat stay put or will it fly forward? I'd feel better with a console seat. What we need are some doggie crash test dummies and some old cars to experiment with. |
Do those of you that have the outward hound seats like them? I usually only take one furbaby at a time out with me since my crew gets too rowdy together and I already have a snoozer SUV console that I don't like :(... so I didn't want to spend a lot on the my buddy. |
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Woo Hoo... I got a car seat! :) I found the Snoozer car seat at a local pet store (Pet People), bought it and the sales associate set it up for me in the back seat. Since Cody's still a growing boy I got the size small versus the tiny. I also got it with a slide out tray to house treats, toys, leash, etc. I feel SOOOOO much better now. Thanks to everyone for their help. I couldn't have done it without you guys! :) :aimeeyork |
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No car seat When our puppy El Nino was little he always wanted to be on the drivers lap, but now he hops right into the back and typically lays down on the floor or the backseat. I think he'd hate being strapped into a seat but I have considered it lately. Thanks for the info about seat experienced. |
How do you keep your dogs in the seat? I have the outward hound seat and he is always trying to get out. He moves around so much he gets his harness tangled with the clip on the seat. He is only 6 months old, do you think he will get better as he gets older? |
I prefer the console |
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I always felt terrible holding paddy in my lap b/c he's barely 5 lbs. He'd definitely become a projectile in an accident. So I bought a lookout seat and keep it in the backseat. He has adapted to it well and now just lies down and goes to sleep when he used to wind up throwing up everywhere. |
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