|
The Only Safe Way for Dogs to Car Travel I've read multiple articles on this issue and this one sums it up well. There is only one crash tested dog crate made, it's expensive, and it is only available in the UK. The best solution right now is to use a safety harness meant for car travel on your dog. Be sure it attaches at the back of the dog and has padding around the chest. I use the Petmate AKC Dog Seat Belt, which you can order on Amazon. Here is the article: Why Dog Crates Are NOT Safe :: Ruff Rider For those of you that live in the UK who are interested in the crash-tested dog crate, you can go to the following link. This company also sells higher quality, crash-tested, safety harnesses. crash tested car crates |
can you use this harness with a snoozer car seat? |
Was there any video on the harness or the crates so we can see what happens to it during a 35mph or 60mph crash test? |
Snoozer car seats are not recommended for basically the same reasons a dog shouldn't be allowed to roam the car freely. Think of the dog as unsecured cargo that could go flying through the air, through a window, collide with a passenger, etc. Humans are essentially in a box with wheels, strapped in with a seatbelt so we don't go flying around within said box. A dog crate inside a car is moving at the same speed as the car, so the same physics apply to the crate within. A dog unsecured within a crate is essentially the same (although on a smaller scale) as a dog roaming the car. I think as long as the dog is secured by a car safety harness and seatbelt, they will be as safe as possible. I think you could use a car safety harness in conjunction with a Snoozer car seat. I think it would be safer to keep the dog away from the window though. Think about a T-Bone collision. The glass window will break and parts can come flying through and hit your dog. If the dog is behind the metal of the door, they are somewhat protected because the metal will bend and hopefully parts won't come through the door. |
I forgot to link the collision test video. Here is a video for the Variocage, the only crash tested dog crate which is also only sold in the UK. The people that sell the Variocage also sell car harness that have been crash tested. I think I have found a crash tested car safety harness sold in the US after all. It looks like you have to find a local dealer that carries it though. I don't see a way to order it directly from their website. Here is the harness on their website: - |
Golly, those videos were pastel-colored and couldn't really see the tests. Could barely make out anything. Is anyone else getting a lavender and white video image with little or no detail or just my screen? |
Quote:
|
Quote:
|
I use harnesses that have a clip that latched to the Dring and the other end ia a buckled that buckles into the seat belt buckle clip. |
Dunno. They are only showing there advertized crate?? Where video proof of the other bad ones failing?? I've always harnessed my pups in or fasten a soft crate which wouldn't have shrapnel anyways. |
It's the Petmate harness for Charlie We have the Petmate car harness for Charlie, and I wouldn't dream of letting him ride without it. He doesn't weigh enough to activate the airbags, and with the seatbelt locked (pulled all the way out then retracted to prevent extension) we go as far as 5.5 hours to Maine together. He has enough flexibility to lay or sit comfortable and can chew toys or sleep with his nose to my arm safely. The hardest part for him to get used to was his inability to circle before getting cozy, he got quite tangled up the first couple times he tried. |
I put my dog in a soft dog carrier with a seatbelt attach-strap. I lock the seatbelt and zip the zippers on the carrier up. She has terrible car anxiety, and I wouldn't think of letting an anxious five pound furball run around unrestrained in a car. |
Snoozer carseats come with a tether that attaches from the seatbelt that holds the carseat in to the dogs riding harness. We use a crash tested harness that attaches about half ways down the back. |
Variocage IS in the US Sorry - I came across this forum and this thread because I am researching options for safety crates for my two Scotties. I saw this post and realized that people here might not know that the crate the person was writing about from the UK is already here in the US (and it's not English - it's Swedish actually). The crate's called a MIM Safe Variocage. A company called Mighty Mite carries it here in the U.S. Variocage U.S. - Mim Variocage Dog Crate, Variocage Car Crash Safety Crate There's also another crate on the market called the Ruff Tuff. I don't think they make small dog size crates and it's not lab tested but it supposed to be super strong. Here's the link to that: Ruff Tough Kennels-Dog Crates, Dog Kennels and Dog Carriers There's a company in Germany that sells another tested crate but it's not available in the US. There are also harnesses made in Germany that are lab tested but those aren't available either. It seems Europe is way ahead of the US in pet vehicle safety. If people here know of other safety devices for dogs in cars, I would love to hear about it. I am trying to find out what my options are. This seems like a very nice and active forum. |
I'm curious why you say the Snoozer isn't safe. Please explain. I have a snoozer and it is seat-belted in and I make it tight so no slack. Plus he is in a harness and tethered to the seatbelt in the Snoozer. |
Wow looks interesting but $$$!!! $685.00 for the xsmall single crate. I have a Bowser car seat which I secure with it's tether, the seatbelt, and additional bungee cords so it doesn't fly around and then I secured another leash to the car and then attach that to Buster's harness. My concern about the crate is the crate survives but what about a little dog being thrown around and impacting the crate in a crash? Do you secure the crate to keep it from moving around in the cargo area or back seat? |
Quote:
|
Quote:
Any kind of dog car seat provides little or no protection in a car accident. Most dog harnesses fail in impact testing and all a dog car seat does is elevate a dog who happens to be wearing a harness. (BTW I posted in the thread about car safety that dogs should never ride in the front seat of a car but for some reason my post has not appeared on this website). Take a look at this blog on vehicle safety and some of the videos the woman posted: It’s Not Art, It’s Scary: The Dog as Projectile |
This is what happens to dogs wearing seatbelts - :(. You think you're doing right by your dog - and go through the effort strapping them in - and then this: Sad and very scary! |
Quote:
It goes in the cargo area behind the back seat. |
Quote:
Edit: I see now that the connector broke. What product is this? |
I switched to the seat belt strap a few years ago and swear by them. There is no way it's going to come out of the seat belt lock any more than the one I use for myself. Just make sure you use a good harness designed for car traveling because they protect the sternum. |
Quote:
|
Quote:
So essentially NONE of the harnesses tested worked! |
Hi All! I don't know if folks here know this but the Center for Pet Safety posted their new test results (and NAMED NAMES!). The winner was the Sleepypod clickit harness. Someone here said she used the Snoozer. According to this report - DO NOT USE THAT Product. It didn't even make it to the sled testing! You can see the complete results on their webpage http://centerforpetsafety.org/wp-con...mary_final.pdf |
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. |
2 Attachment(s) We have a sleepypod and have been happy with it. We don't have the harness that was reviewed, but the sleepypod is very well made. While we are driving, I like having her enclosed in there. We put a blanket and toys, but the inside is a very soft plush material. |
Quote:
|
for me, I pre-ordered a Variocage. Mighty mite is going to have one just for little dogs! I told them I wanted them to contact me as soon as they come in. The woman I spoke to said they would be around for Christmas. I've been looking for so long I'll just be happy my search is over. Not a lot of good ideas out there for transporting little dogs! (I like the Sleepypod but it's just too short for my dogs). http://www.mightymitedoggear.com/MIM...Car_Crate.html (there's no picture up yet - but there's info on top about the preorder you can call the company to order yours) |
This is the harness that passed the Center for Pet Safety Testing - hear it will be available for purchase through the company website soon if any one is interested? |
| All times are GMT -8. The time now is 03:38 PM. |
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Copyright ©2003 - 2018 YorkieTalk.com
Privacy Policy - Terms of Use