The Only Safe Way for Dogs to Car Travel - Page 3 - YorkieTalk.com Forums

Marhcarter · 10-03-2013, 07:29 AM

I have a snoozer-type seat and although it is great for letting Huey see out the window, decreasing car sickness, I am absolutely positive that the tiny little stitched on strap that connects to the d-ring of his harness would rip loose in a heartbeat. I felt better about his safety when he was in a basket carrier as at least then he was fully enclosed except the top. I am looking at other options, so I'm glad someone resurrected this thread. I like the sleepypod reviews, but if Huey can't see out of the window, he gets carsick. I was thinking about using a combination of his current snoozer (for the height) and one of the harnesses that tether to the seatbelt.
The Science of Pet Safety, Pet Product Testing, Crash Testing, Scientific Testing, Criteria, Pet Safety Advocate, PetSafety
I'm glad to have been directed to this site and have bookmarked it. Lots of good info.

yorkietalkjilly · 10-03-2013, 08:12 AM

That shell carrier in that test video looked flimsy as heck. Tibbe's is smaller, more compact, thick, hardshell plastic and doesn't move at all when the seatbelt locks right after a sudden stop at 40 mph. My seatbelt won't extend all that way out before locking down as the crash test seatbelt did, allowing all that movement to gain force from the weight of the cat dummy. My seatbelt locks down after a couple inches max force extension and won't move unless of course its whole body-frame attachment comes loose and in a crash that bad, we're all goners anyway. I'm tying threading a sturdy big tie in and around the steel door cage and the carrier windows and bottom until something better comes alone - that big thick knotted cord won't come loose and allow the door to pop out. 'Course it's going to be really hard to untie the double knots once we arrive!

I wanted to see that Snoozer in a test but that video was just a Tidy Cat ad & then stopped. Wonder what I did wrong? Snoozer is soft-sided so a crushing into it by a beam or something through the window or the door could likely cause it to fail, too. Guess none of them are that perfect. Wonder if a plain old small wire crate with inside seatbelt attached harness would be better?

yorkietalkjilly · 10-03-2013, 08:39 AM

Went on Google and found a Sleepypod crashtest video. The latch or ring on that Sleepypod that the seatbelt goes through on top could rip loose or have a factory weakness of any part of the attachment apparatus and allow a failure, too, with the whole thing popping up and out with sudden force/stop. Just have to see more third-party testing before one can know what's best. Anytime I see one test, who knows what was done to weaken the various parts of other items tested or set seatbelt lock to an extended position for more force exertion to gain some market advantage, etc., for a while. Need to see more for the time being. Only the several hundred dollar crates seem to be more foolproof right now.

Sharonmarlow · 10-03-2013, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yorkietalkjilly

That shell carrier in that test video looked flimsy as heck. Tibbe's is smaller, more compact, thick, hardshell plastic and doesn't move at all when the seatbelt locks right after a sudden stop at 40 mph. My seatbelt won't extend all that way out before locking down as the crash test seatbelt did, allowing all that movement to gain force from the weight of the cat dummy. My seatbelt locks down after a couple inches max force extension and won't move unless of course its whole body-frame attachment comes loose and in a crash that bad, we're all goners anyway. I'm tying threading a sturdy big tie in and around the steel door cage and the carrier windows and bottom until something better comes alone - that big thick knotted cord won't come loose and allow the door to pop out. 'Course it's going to be really hard to untie the double knots once we arrive!

I wanted to see that Snoozer in a test but that video was just a Tidy Cat ad & then stopped. Wonder what I did wrong? Snoozer is soft-sided so a crushing into it by a beam or something through the window or the door could likely cause it to fail, too. Guess none of them are that perfect. Wonder if a plain old small wire crate with inside seatbelt attached harness would be better?

1) Any airline crate is designed to have a removable front door. The problem with that is without the front door, there's no support on 1/2 of the plastic crate. In the event of an accident, the dog banging against the inside wall of the crate, or worse, the door itself loosens the hold the door has to the crate and the door pops out. Once that happens, it's all chaos - the crate implodes as the dog or cat is smacked around inside. It also sends plastic shards everywhere which can impale other passengers in the vehicle. The only plastic crate I'd even consider using in a care is the RuffTuff (which hasn't been scientifically road tested - just ummm "tested" by these guys: Ruff Tough Kennel, field test - YouTube

2) The problem with most metal and wire crates (and believe me after a year of searching I'm an expert on this! <sigh>) the crate itself can become a death trap. Wire crates can litterally <gross> impale your dog as the metal is bent backwards. Most custom crates have no way to absorb shock so your dog winds up doing it instead causing whiplash and spinal injuries. That's what makes the variocage so different while its also made of rigid steel the steel is designed to collapsed on itself in a controlled manner, absorbing the impact and preventing those catastrophic injuries that other crates cause.

Variocage - Variocage USA, Crash tested dog crate...

3) The clickit Harness from Sleepypod works sort of the same way the variocage does. Its designed to break in a controlled fashion in the event of an accident, absorbing the shock of the impact and keeping the dog from falling off the seat to prevent the dog from being thrown about. I don't know for sure but I suspect you could use it with a car seat.

Sharonmarlow · 10-03-2013, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yorkietalkjilly

Went on Google and found a Sleepypod crashtest video. The latch or ring on that Sleepypod that the seatbelt goes through on top could rip loose or have a factory weakness of any part of the attachment apparatus and allow a failure, too, with the whole thing popping up and out with sudden force/stop. Just have to see more third-party testing before one can know what's best. Anytime I see one test, who knows what was done to weaken the various parts of other items tested or set seatbelt lock to an extended position for more force exertion to gain some market advantage, etc., for a while. Need to see more for the time being. Only the several hundred dollar crates seem to be more foolproof right now.

I don't know about the sleepyPOD but the Clicket Utility harness made BY sleeppypod just got the highest rating from the Center for Pet Safety. That's the product I'm referring to - not the original pod (which I don't think has been third party testing). Right now, the Mini variocage is really the only safe option for little dogs but it costs a lot and you need a minivan or SUV to use it properly

yorkietalkjilly · 10-03-2013, 11:55 AM

I've checked it all out but the meshing along the top of that Sleepypod and question whether its attachments would really be that rock solid under max force. Can't get a decent picture of the top or how the attachment(s) is/are attached and how they are made - materials, joints, etc.. Something could missile through that mesh on the SP it seems. I'm tying the steel door on Tibbe's crate in place with a climbing cord going around it, through the windows and around back of the carrier to help hold the steel door in place and with the little forward velocity force the carrier can get with my super-stop seatbelt lock on top and in front of it, it can't be anything like in that test crash of that plastic crate carrier where the seatbelts allow it to fly out quite a ways and the door flies out since nothing is keeping it in place. At least my tie will fix that for all but the worst of crashes and then all bets are off anyway.

Still doing my research but Subaru and that lady at the Pet Center doing some tests on the Sleepypod and other carriers/restraints - would like to know their connections or remunerations/benefits to/from Sleepypod, it's officers, etc., just before I make any further decisions plus some others doing some testing and some more actual empirical evidence on how the pets in them actually fare in real crashes vs. carriers like Tib's. Just wish SP didn't have that mesh or softsided without some internal skeleton or something. Still have an open mind and if Sleepypod or something else proves better than we have now, we're changing. I'm sure dogs can get whiplash/spinal injuries in SP's too as they aren't much bigger than Tibbe's carrier.

Sharonmarlow · 10-03-2013, 06:37 PM

The Center for Pet safety is a nonprofit. I don't know what Subaru gets out of the deal.

Can't say anything on the harnesses or the Sleepypod but there WAS a news article in Scandinavia about the variocage. Owners needed to be hospitalized after a terrible car crash but the two dogs who were in the back of the vehicle in a variocage were unharmed. I think that's when I decided the money on the variocage was the way to go. Like you, I feel better about using a crate but I want to know that the crate I use actually can stand up to an accident and it appears that the variocage has been tested and also has been around long enough to have "on the road" proof that it works.

yorkietalkjilly · 10-05-2013, 01:01 PM

Hoping we get something better that we can count on that doesn't cost the earth and something that we get more crash tests from third parties on so we can be sure the results are real and not purchased in any way - not that the Sleepypod's were but I always worry about that until I know more.

Doodlebug · 10-09-2013, 07:01 PM

I doubt if Subaru gets any kickback from Sleepypod. Subaru advertises their cars as "pet friendly". When my husband bought his Subaru a couple of years ago, the Subaru Company donated $250.00 to pet rescue in his name. I think they are probably researching ways to keep your pets safe in their "Pet friendly" cars. That is my guess.
..

yorkietalkjilly · 10-11-2013, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doodlebug

I doubt if Subaru gets any kickback from Sleepypod. Subaru advertises their cars as "pet friendly". When my husband bought his Subaru a couple of years ago, the Subaru Company donated $250.00 to pet rescue in his name. I think they are probably researching ways to keep your pets safe in their "Pet friendly" cars. That is my guess.
..

IDK about kickbacks but connections and payoffs of all kinds exist in biz - deals of all kinds and nods here and there are a part of getting a business recognized when somebody knows somebody who knows somebody who is a sister of a CEO of a big company or something like that. Happens at every level and can make a business. Still, hoping to keep an open mind and find a good, crush-proof, crash-proof carrier with best protection that's not cost-prohibitive. Wonder what the top attachments of the Sleepypod are like? Can't seem to see those in the pix/videos out there, dang it.

Island Girl · 10-11-2013, 05:23 PM

First of all, your avatar always makes me smile.

The sleepypod seemed very good to me in that it was enclosed and you can still attach a harness on the inside. The top is mesh and I was leary of that, however, I also liked the idea that she would not be flying into a hard plastic frame. With that being said, the top is not a hard top, so I do recognize the weakness there.

Here are some videos I looked at before buying. I know you wanted to see the top attachments and these don't give you a long look at it, but there are parts they do show it. Next time I am in the car, I can also take some pictures for you, if you wanted to see something specific. Just let me know, I'd be happy to do it.

Sleepypod - YouTube

Sleepypod Product Review, Video 1 - YouTube

Pet Safety Lady from Bark Buckle UP shows how to secure the pet car seat called Sleepy Pod - YouTube

Doodlebug · 10-12-2013, 06:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yorkietalkjilly

IDK about kickbacks but connections and payoffs of all kinds exist in biz - deals of all kinds and nods here and there are a part of getting a business recognized when somebody knows somebody who knows somebody who is a sister of a CEO of a big company or something like that. Happens at every level and can make a business. Still, hoping to keep an open mind and find a good, crush-proof, crash-proof carrier with best protection that's not cost-prohibitive. Wonder what the top attachments of the Sleepypod are like? Can't seem to see those in the pix/videos out there, dang it.

You are probably right. I hadn't thought about all the other scenarios...you scratch my back I'll scratch yours. Yep business is business. I did order the Clickit harness though. I thought that the three points of restraint made sense. It was expensive but will be worth it if it saves my babies from injury in an accident. I'll let you know how I like it. I know it will take a lot of resentment from the pups because it doesn't allow much room to move about. They are usually only in the car for short rides so hopefully it won't be too traumatic for them.

buffy512 · 10-20-2013, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yorkietalkjilly

Tibbe uses his hardshell airline carrier, buckled in with his larger plush toys inside and he's safe from flying through the car or air bags taking him out.

I was hoping this would be adequate enough... If not can someone tell me why or why not.?

Sharonmarlow · 10-30-2013, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by buffy512

I was hoping this would be adequate enough... If not can someone tell me why or why not.?

Airline crates are made for airline travel. The manufacturers who make them don't test for car safety. If you go to youtube you'l find a ton of videos though of these crates being tested in sled tests and the results are scary. There's one video of a cat dummy literally exploding out of a plastic crate. The plastic is brittle and crumples apart setting the front door exploding outward and then the animal inside flys up in the air . . . the rest is pretty ugly.

watch what happens to this poor cat!

RENT A KENNEL®. Crash test with pets. ADAC -...

yipyap · 11-26-2013, 09:29 AM

Well, I have a blue doggie car-seat for Taffy which is fastened around the passenger's seat with snap belts. His blue dog seat has a short strap that attaches to the chest harness he wears in the seat. I just leave that harness attached to the strap in the doggie seat. Since he has on his regular dog collar with all the required tags hooked to it, I fasten his leash to his collar when we are leaving the car. I leave the harness behind in the car seat, attached to the seat's strap. Now, he could always take a tumble toward the side or get jerked forward just like people who are hooked to car seats. Our road to town is a rather quiet road with 2 lanes and speed limits of 40-55 depending on how close to the small city limits you get. Then, even slower in the city itself. (The worst hazard are the wild deer in the suburbs and county! I will often toot the car horn after dark near streatches of trees or hedgerows; the car headlights don't frighten the deer, but they dislike the car horns!)

10-03-2013, 07:29 AM	#31
Marhcarter ♡Huey's Human♡ Donating Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Ringgold, Ga Posts: 3,333	I have a snoozer-type seat and although it is great for letting Huey see out the window, decreasing car sickness, I am absolutely positive that the tiny little stitched on strap that connects to the d-ring of his harness would rip loose in a heartbeat. I felt better about his safety when he was in a basket carrier as at least then he was fully enclosed except the top. I am looking at other options, so I'm glad someone resurrected this thread. I like the sleepypod reviews, but if Huey can't see out of the window, he gets carsick. I was thinking about using a combination of his current snoozer (for the height) and one of the harnesses that tether to the seatbelt. The Science of Pet Safety, Pet Product Testing, Crash Testing, Scientific Testing, Criteria, Pet Safety Advocate, PetSafety I'm glad to have been directed to this site and have bookmarked it. Lots of good info. __________________ Huey's mom, Marilyn :When a day starts & ends with puppy kisses, I can handle anything that comes in between!

10-03-2013, 08:12 AM	#32
yorkietalkjilly ♥ Love My Tibbe! ♥ Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: D/FW, Texas Posts: 22,140	That shell carrier in that test video looked flimsy as heck. Tibbe's is smaller, more compact, thick, hardshell plastic and doesn't move at all when the seatbelt locks right after a sudden stop at 40 mph. My seatbelt won't extend all that way out before locking down as the crash test seatbelt did, allowing all that movement to gain force from the weight of the cat dummy. My seatbelt locks down after a couple inches max force extension and won't move unless of course its whole body-frame attachment comes loose and in a crash that bad, we're all goners anyway. I'm tying threading a sturdy big tie in and around the steel door cage and the carrier windows and bottom until something better comes alone - that big thick knotted cord won't come loose and allow the door to pop out. 'Course it's going to be really hard to untie the double knots once we arrive! I wanted to see that Snoozer in a test but that video was just a Tidy Cat ad & then stopped. Wonder what I did wrong? Snoozer is soft-sided so a crushing into it by a beam or something through the window or the door could likely cause it to fail, too. Guess none of them are that perfect. Wonder if a plain old small wire crate with inside seatbelt attached harness would be better? __________________ Jeanie and Tibbe One must do the best one can. You may get some marks for a very imperfect answer: you will certainly get none for leaving the question alone. C. S. Lewis

10-03-2013, 08:39 AM	#33
yorkietalkjilly ♥ Love My Tibbe! ♥ Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: D/FW, Texas Posts: 22,140	Went on Google and found a Sleepypod crashtest video. The latch or ring on that Sleepypod that the seatbelt goes through on top could rip loose or have a factory weakness of any part of the attachment apparatus and allow a failure, too, with the whole thing popping up and out with sudden force/stop. Just have to see more third-party testing before one can know what's best. Anytime I see one test, who knows what was done to weaken the various parts of other items tested or set seatbelt lock to an extended position for more force exertion to gain some market advantage, etc., for a while. Need to see more for the time being. Only the several hundred dollar crates seem to be more foolproof right now. __________________ Jeanie and Tibbe One must do the best one can. You may get some marks for a very imperfect answer: you will certainly get none for leaving the question alone. C. S. Lewis

10-03-2013, 11:55 AM	#36
yorkietalkjilly ♥ Love My Tibbe! ♥ Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: D/FW, Texas Posts: 22,140	I've checked it all out but the meshing along the top of that Sleepypod and question whether its attachments would really be that rock solid under max force. Can't get a decent picture of the top or how the attachment(s) is/are attached and how they are made - materials, joints, etc.. Something could missile through that mesh on the SP it seems. I'm tying the steel door on Tibbe's crate in place with a climbing cord going around it, through the windows and around back of the carrier to help hold the steel door in place and with the little forward velocity force the carrier can get with my super-stop seatbelt lock on top and in front of it, it can't be anything like in that test crash of that plastic crate carrier where the seatbelts allow it to fly out quite a ways and the door flies out since nothing is keeping it in place. At least my tie will fix that for all but the worst of crashes and then all bets are off anyway. Still doing my research but Subaru and that lady at the Pet Center doing some tests on the Sleepypod and other carriers/restraints - would like to know their connections or remunerations/benefits to/from Sleepypod, it's officers, etc., just before I make any further decisions plus some others doing some testing and some more actual empirical evidence on how the pets in them actually fare in real crashes vs. carriers like Tib's. Just wish SP didn't have that mesh or softsided without some internal skeleton or something. Still have an open mind and if Sleepypod or something else proves better than we have now, we're changing. I'm sure dogs can get whiplash/spinal injuries in SP's too as they aren't much bigger than Tibbe's carrier. __________________ Jeanie and Tibbe One must do the best one can. You may get some marks for a very imperfect answer: you will certainly get none for leaving the question alone. C. S. Lewis

10-05-2013, 01:01 PM	#38
yorkietalkjilly ♥ Love My Tibbe! ♥ Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: D/FW, Texas Posts: 22,140	Hoping we get something better that we can count on that doesn't cost the earth and something that we get more crash tests from third parties on so we can be sure the results are real and not purchased in any way - not that the Sleepypod's were but I always worry about that until I know more. __________________ Jeanie and Tibbe One must do the best one can. You may get some marks for a very imperfect answer: you will certainly get none for leaving the question alone. C. S. Lewis

10-03-2013, 06:37 PM	#37
Sharonmarlow Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Hartford Posts: 52	The Center for Pet safety is a nonprofit. I don't know what Subaru gets out of the deal. Can't say anything on the harnesses or the Sleepypod but there WAS a news article in Scandinavia about the variocage. Owners needed to be hospitalized after a terrible car crash but the two dogs who were in the back of the vehicle in a variocage were unharmed. I think that's when I decided the money on the variocage was the way to go. Like you, I feel better about using a crate but I want to know that the crate I use actually can stand up to an accident and it appears that the variocage has been tested and also has been around long enough to have "on the road" proof that it works.

10-09-2013, 07:01 PM	#39
Doodlebug ♥Love My Puppies!♥ Donating Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: US Posts: 5,786	I doubt if Subaru gets any kickback from Sleepypod. Subaru advertises their cars as "pet friendly". When my husband bought his Subaru a couple of years ago, the Subaru Company donated $250.00 to pet rescue in his name. I think they are probably researching ways to keep your pets safe in their "Pet friendly" cars. That is my guess. .. __________________ RIP My Sweet Darling Angel Daisy 08/09/03 - 10/02/15, RIP My Sweet Baby Boy Teddy Bear 02/01/04 - 02/11/16 Photos HERE

10-11-2013, 05:23 PM	#41
Island Girl Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Hawaii Posts: 239	First of all, your avatar always makes me smile. The sleepypod seemed very good to me in that it was enclosed and you can still attach a harness on the inside. The top is mesh and I was leary of that, however, I also liked the idea that she would not be flying into a hard plastic frame. With that being said, the top is not a hard top, so I do recognize the weakness there. Here are some videos I looked at before buying. I know you wanted to see the top attachments and these don't give you a long look at it, but there are parts they do show it. Next time I am in the car, I can also take some pictures for you, if you wanted to see something specific. Just let me know, I'd be happy to do it. Sleepypod - YouTube Sleepypod Product Review, Video 1 - YouTube Pet Safety Lady from Bark Buckle UP shows how to secure the pet car seat called Sleepy Pod - YouTube

11-26-2013, 09:29 AM	#45
yipyap Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Shenandoah Valley, VA., USA Posts: 173	Around home rides... Well, I have a blue doggie car-seat for Taffy which is fastened around the passenger's seat with snap belts. His blue dog seat has a short strap that attaches to the chest harness he wears in the seat. I just leave that harness attached to the strap in the doggie seat. Since he has on his regular dog collar with all the required tags hooked to it, I fasten his leash to his collar when we are leaving the car. I leave the harness behind in the car seat, attached to the seat's strap. Now, he could always take a tumble toward the side or get jerked forward just like people who are hooked to car seats. Our road to town is a rather quiet road with 2 lanes and speed limits of 40-55 depending on how close to the small city limits you get. Then, even slower in the city itself. (The worst hazard are the wild deer in the suburbs and county! I will often toot the car horn after dark near streatches of trees or hedgerows; the car headlights don't frighten the deer, but they dislike the car horns!)