[amjrchamberlain]

Have you heard anything about those easy-to-install car safety bars that go between your cargo area (or 2nd seat) and your back seat? I'm thinking of installing one. I bought it but then felt hesitant. Would it be safe in an accident? Or could they come un-installed and hurt a passenger and/or a dog?

Your thoughts?

Thanks!

 

[MaggieRoseLee]

What do you want it to do?

If you want to put your dog in the rear, and hope that will help in an accident, it will not. The dog is still loose and can easily be injured or killed (and come thru the barrier).

If you just need it to keep some gear in back, you'll be ok.

For dogs, they need some kind of confinement/belt system. Just like what keeps kids from being injured in our cars. Except you can crate a dog and probably not your children.

Good site about what we should all be using to secure our dogs, for our safety as well as the dogs...

http://www.agilepooch.com/dogstuff/dogbelts/dogbelts.html

 

[Jazy's mom]

I have used one of those barriers, to prevent the dogs from jumping into the back seat from the cargo area and if it is not really, really tight then the dogs can knock it down.

I usually crate mine while traveling for their safety as well as mine.

 

[BrennasMom]

I had one, it was pretty much useless. The little bars that slide out to adjust the width slide freely, I've tried tightening it to no avail. Brenna quickly learned to just shove them aside and go where she pleases.

I also tried a net, even more useless.

I tried a crate but it only fit sideways and didn't have a side door so I'd have to move it to get the dogs in/out.

Brenna chews through leashes when she's in the car (only in the car for some reason) so I'm afraid putting her on a seatbelt harness would result in my seatbelts being eaten.

 

[MaggieRoseLee]

Quote: Brenna chews through leashes when she's in the car (only in the car for some reason) so I'm afraid putting her on a seatbelt harness would result in my seatbelts being eaten.

You can start with this as a training issue. It's the same as when kids can unclick themselves if they don't like their belts. We love them and know their safety is #1 so we TEACH them to keep the belt on.

We can teach our dogs not to chew thru the belts. We are right there in the car with them, and a 'no' should work. Squirt bottle of water may help with the aim.

The SAFEST place in our cars are always the middle row of seats. Why we are supposed to keep the kids there. All the traffic studies and strength in the car is centered around there. If you get rear ended, the back crumples. Hit something with the front and we get it as the driver (though engine compartment is there).

People FAIL TO CONSIDER broken windows and popped doors. A car accident than can be fairly minor can still cause that and a scared LOOSE dog can and will jump out to be either free to run off or get killed in traffic. Letting our dogs be free in the car cause it's easier for us, and we think they like it, isn't doing the dog a favor in the end.

The seatbelts I see for sale in the petstores generally aren't the safest to really help one of our large dogs in a real accident. For those that are more responsible out there, a good site with comparisons and features to look for are on http://www.agilepooch.com/dogstuff/dogbelts/dogbelts.html

Here are my girls all belted up and safe!

 

[SunCzarina]

I had a barrier, worked well for a few years but then it started falling on my kids heads when Morgan pushed on it. Now I buckle her up in the third seat.

 

[amjrchamberlain]

I have a problem with the seat belts. A friend lost her Airedale when she had an auto accident and it was directly related to the seat belt the dog was wearing.

I do try to use crates when I can. The problem (as Brenna's Mom mentioned) is that the crate won't fit into the back correctly, it barely fits at all. I'm used to having my mini-van where I could haul two crates (facing out) at a time. But I downsized to smaller vehicle and it just doesn't work with the crate. I even tried a soft-sided crate.

When I can, I put the dogs into the backseat, but there are situations when that will not work. For instance, the girls do not get along. When they both need to go to class, one has to ride in the backseat, but one has to ride in the cargo area. With the crate issue, it is difficult to keep the one girl in the backseat while bringing the other one out of the crate (at a slant and with the door facing the side of the car).

I see what you mean about the safety of the barrier not being a match for the crate (or seatbelt) though.

Thank you for sharing everyone.