To me there's no excuse or reason to not secure your dog in the car.
Lock your door if you're driving somewhere where you don't feel safe!

A loose dog in the car is so dangerous both for the driver and the dog. I think usually it's laziness that makes people not secure them. It takes a few minutes to put the harness on and its a short trip down to the store......

 

To me there's no excuse or reason to not secure your dog in the car.
Lock your door if you're driving somewhere where you don't feel safe!

A loose dog in the car is so dangerous both for the driver and the dog. I think usually it's laziness that makes people not secure them. It takes a few minutes to put the harness on and its a short trip down to the store......

I agree with everyone else.

If you are worried about security, if you buy a black safety harness (if your dog is primarily black) people won't even notice any harness at all. All they see is GERMAN SHEPHERD so will have no idea the dog is tethered.

I've been in more accidents in my car over the years (6? hey, 1/2 of those were with deer and the others NOT MY FAULT ) while I have NEVER been attacked while driving. So the real danger to my dog to leave it loose is obvious to me.

:apple:

 

I think the chances of an accident are much higher than of someone attacking you in your car? So it makes more sense to use something to keep your dog safe.
Although if you're using a seatbelt the dog is still a physical deterrant, and people may not even know they are secured and wouldn't be able to get to them...
If you are really paranoid you can have the dog within reach of you and use some type of quick-release strap on the seatbelt harness so you could "deploy" them if you are threatened. For example a horse tie with a panic snap would secure them safely as a seatbelt strap if used with a safety rated seatbelt harness and allow you to release them quickly if needed.

 

No exceptions here. I was in a near-accident with a dog loose behind a barrier - never again! My dogs are always crated. It's not safe for them, or me, or any passengers to have a 75lb projectile. I have a decal on my vehicle indicating there is a dog inside and that alone is enough. We have tons of vehicle break-ins here and I leave my vehicle unlocked with stuff inside and no one has ever touched it because there *might* be a dog inside. They do not know if the dog is loose,or even in the vehicle at the time

 

Plus figure how many accidents involve broken glass or door sprung open where an injured dog can escape and run into traffic?

 

I've thought about this, because as Teddy matures I will likely travel alone with her to visit family.

She will be secured in the backseat where I can easily turn around and free her so she can come in to the rest stop with me. Ditto for drive through windows, etc.

 

i refuse to use a harness to secure my dog, just based on something i read about a study that most harnesses had decapitated a dummy dog in tests. i don't trust wire crates or the airline crates, if i can break them with my own strength then a car crash would mutilate it and the dog. so, he sits or lays down in the back seat and i allow him to stand on the center console at times. sometimes he likes to curl up in the front seat. when i find an indestructible crate, i will use it.

eta this

In July, the Center for Pet Safety ran a series of videos from its pilot study of the “crash-worthiness” of canine automotive restraints. They report a third-party independent test lab, MGA Research Corporation, tested a variety of pet harnesses to the conditions of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 213 for child safety restraints.

The results were a complete failure -- for ALL restraints tested. Four harnesses were tested in the control group, and every time there were multipoint failures. At one point, the videos reveal a complete separation from the connection point; another shows an instance of complete decapitation of the test (dummy) dog as a result of the harness moving upward on impact. In its press release, the Center for Pet Safety reported, “no protection would be provided to either the dog or to vehicle occupants in similar crash conditions.”

http://www.dogster.com/lifestyle/dog-restraints-for-dogs-safety

 

i refuse to use a harness to secure my dog, just based on something i read about a study that most harnesses had decapitated a dummy dog in tests. i don't trust wire crates or the airline crates, if i can break them with my own strength then a car crash would mutilate it and the dog. so, he sits or lays down in the back seat and i allow him to stand on the center console at times. sometimes he likes to curl up in the front seat. when i find an indestructible crate, i will use it.

eta this

Are Car Restraints for Dogs Just One Big Farce? | Dogster

i have read this also. i believe the restraints are for human safety, not the dogs. i will continue to keep them in the back seat with a barrier.

 

I have to seat belt rogue because my car is too small when I have the kids with me for anything else. I so wish we had a van!


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Well we could all get police interceptors. Hahaha I would if I had the money. The inserts in THOSE vehicle have saved officer lives when the car rolled with the cage intact.

I guess the seat belt dog in car with kids is pretty common. It does concern me greatly. I always had some sort of wagon or SUV with the crate in the back. Until I got the welded aluminim boxes, I zip tied the heck out of the wire crates. Figured it may not be much since one zip tie has a 75lb break force but my husband sells stuff to auto stores and he can get them by the thousands pretty cheap.

Two crates that look pretty good to me are the variocage and the rough tough kennels.

 

Avery is normally harnessed with a seatbelt attachment but dicky chewers through it while we were at a friends post training. Here in Germany dogs must be restrained while in the car. If there were to be an accident and the dog was unrestrained it is automatically your fault even if it was the other vehicle in the wrong.


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What kind of barrier is strong enough that a dog won't fly through it on impact? Most don't seem that strong.

 

I don't see ANY reason to leave a dog loose in a moving vehicle. All of my dogs ride in kennels and always will.

 

Are Car Restraints for Dogs Just One Big Farce? | Dogster

Thanks for posting that article, it was a great read but for me had a bunch of holes in the research. Though some harnesses injured the dog at speed, without the harness the dog would have been equally or more injured PLUS a loose projectile in the car. So while I don't want the harness to injure my dog, the fact it will keep them in the back seat and IN the car (not out a broken door or window) makes it much better than NOTHING.

Other hole in the article (and it does mention it a bit) is that not all harnesses are the same, by a long shot. The vast majority of less expensive ones I see in pet stores are crap and clearly will break with 2,200 pounds of pressure suddenly put on it. There's a HUGE difference in the systems out there.

No matter what using NOTHING is, in my opinion, irresponsible for both the dog and passenger/driver in the vehicle. Doing my best to come up with the best thing for my situation to provide at least some safety for everyone in the vehicle is best for me. So crates (that also need to be fixed to the car somehow) or harnesses are the way for me.

For those that would like to see some of the better belt systems and the descriptions why, good articles are ---> http://www.germanshepherds.com/forum/welcome-gsd-faqs-first-time-owner/176663-dog-safety-car.html

 

Personally I don't trust most crates or pet barriers to withstand the forces in an accident. I've seen some footage of crates which broke open or were destroyed in an accident and also heard of accidents involving show dogs in crates where the crates came apart and released the dogs. In some cases the dogs ended up loose on the highway and were struck by cars. Some crates are stronger than others but the standard airline or wire crates aren't very tough.
The problems with a barrier are that I don't know if the ones I've seen would stay in place if a dog were thrown into it with the forces that are involved in a car accident, they still allow the dog to be tossed around the back of the car, and also they don't prevent the dog from running from the car after an accident or possibly being thrown from the car through a window.

Are Car Restraints for Dogs Just One Big Farce? | Dogster

Thanks for posting that article, it was a great read but for me had a bunch of holes in the research. Though some harnesses injured the dog at speed, without the harness the dog would have been equally or more injured PLUS a loose projectile in the car. So while I don't want the harness to injure my dog, the fact it will keep them in the back seat and IN the car (not out a broken door or window) makes it much better than NOTHING.

Other hole in the article (and it does mention it a bit) is that not all harnesses are the same, by a long shot. The vast majority of less expensive ones I see in pet stores are crap and clearly will break with 2,200 pounds of pressure suddenly put on it. There's a HUGE difference in the systems out there.

Yes, and they don't tell you which harnesses they tested. There are lots of 'car harnesses' out there that even state on the packaging that they are made for use under normal driving conditions, in other words they are not meant to hold up in an accident. So without information on what harnesses they tested, there is no way to know if those were the ones tested or if they are referring to some of the actual dog seatbelts.
If you look around you will find that there are some dog seatbelts on the market that say they have actually been crash-tested or have been strength-rated to withstand the forces in an accident. No info on whether that study actually tested any of those harnesses though, or which ones they did test. So that doesn't really help, or prove that all dog seatbelts are no good like the Dogster article seems to be saying.

 

Mine are currently not restrained. I don't take them in my truck as much as I used to. I have an extra cab Toyota pickup, that has the jump seats behind the two front bucket seats. There's just enough room for the two of my dogs to lay down back there.
I have a canopy on the back of my truck, but I feel they are more protected in the cab of the truck, also less room for them to be flying around, in the event of an accident. The front seats sit high enough that it's unlikely they would fly into the front.
I know it's not an idea situation, but it's the best I have right now.

At some point, I will likely get a 4 door Toyota pickup, so that I have room for three dogs to be in the back cab. I plan on adopting a third dog sometime after I buy a house, likely sometime in 2013.
I have been thinking about what kind of cage I can have installed, once I get a newer truck, to help protect them.

Edit to add: I would like to find a suitable harness that I can secure them with.

 

Mine are never restrained but I have a pick-up truck with a topper on the back so they are completely separate from me.

 

I use the seatbelt harness when he rides in my hatchback, and I was very surprised a few weeks ago when he was unbuckled! Thankfully, he must have stepped on the seatbelt by accident, because he hasn't done it again since. Just what I *don't* need, lol, is him unclipping himself as soon as we're on the highway.

 

If you mean the actual car seatbelt buckle, if he does it again or if you're worried he might, you could always buy a seat belt buckle guard/cover... They're made to prevent small children from unbuckling themselves but they should work to prevent a dog from accidentally stepping on the release too.

 

The Video is in german but it still brings the point across very well the "dummy" dog weighs 20kg (44lbs)

 

The Video is in german but it still brings the point across very well the "dummy" dog weighs 20kg (44lbs)
ADAC Tiertransporte im Auto - YouTube

Got to love ADAC and all the tests they are doing.

 

By the way, they said that the most secure way for the dog is to travel in a crate that is sideways and I can attest to that. Our crates, were not damaged at all when my husband was in a car accident, recently. Sideways is the most secure way in my opinion.

 

Yep sidewise for a big crate and in the footwell behind the seat for a small dog or a cat crate.

Hey Mrs K. does that mean you speak german too??

 

I am German

 

I have had 5 cars totalled in 6 years. Twice I had my last dog, Abby, in the car, and once I had Kyleigh in the car.

None of them were my fault, and all the driver's were either talking or texting on their cell phones - but that's a whole other thread LOL

After this many accidents, I have found the best solution: I have a barrier that separates the front from the back, and I have padding that goes across the barrier. I bought 8 super thick towels and have duct taped them to the barrier. It stops about 8 inches from the roof of my car. I can still see out, and I know how to use my side mirrors LOL

The first accident I had with Abby was in my pick up truck. Thankfully, HUGE truck. I had her in a harness in the back seat. It was a Ruff Rider one, said to be the "best out there". I was at a dead stop and was rear ended by some yahoo who claimed he didn't see me (REALLY, a bright red dodge ram pick up truck at 3 in the afternoon?). He sent me flying into the intersection, where I was hit twice more by other vehicles. The harness BROKE and Abby went flying into the back of the front seat. Thankfully, neither of us was hurt - a little banged up, but nothing serious.

The second accident I had with Abby, she was in a crate. The hard plastic airline kind. I was told a crate was a safer place to be. I had an Accent - not the hatchback. I was turning left on a flashing green, and another twit on her cell phone, ran the red light and T-boned me ... doing about 80km/h when she hit me. The crate collapsed on her. It took us over an hour to get the crate apart so we could get her out. No blood but lots of bruising.

Then I bought the barrier. Two other cars totalled later, thankfully, no dogs in the car at the time, but the barrier still held up!

Last winter I was once again stopped at a red light and was rear ended – HARD. I was in my Alero, and the guy was going about 90km/h. I hit the car in front of me, and the trunk of my car was ½ way into the back seat.

Had I had Kyleigh in a crate she would have been dead. Had she been in the harness, she might have gone flying through the window. She hit the padded barrier sideways. I was hit by the airbags. I was unconscious for a minute or so, but when I came to, I was outside and someone was asking me what my dog’s name was. It’s amazing how fast your brain can clear when your pet’s life is at risk. I ran back to car, and there she was barking up a storm DEMANDING to be let out of this scary car. We couldn’t open the doors because they were smashed up. I crawled back into the front seat and was able to calm her down by talking to her. I also checked her over as best I could. There was no blood, and other than being freaked out a bit, she was fine. With the help of a fireman, I held her leash tight, and kept her on one side of the car and he smashed out the window, then he helped me pull her out of the car. I don’t know who was happier, me or her!

After those experiences, I will never use anything else other than the padded barrier.

 

Holy Shemoly, I probably would have moved out of the are after totaling the 4th car.
I'm glad you and your dog are okay. That is crazy.

 

Here is a point... most of us with SUVs put the dogs/crates in the back. In some SUVs that is the "crumple zone." Meant to give way in case of impact.
Crumple zone - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

Another reason I use the harnesses because it keep the dogs in the center of the car. Most accidents seem to be rear enders and no matter what you do to help your dog, if they are in the rear and it crumples up it's not going to be good.

 

I think as long as people have thought it through to some extent, I won't sit here and insist on using this crate or this belt or this position in the vehicle. The bottom line is I need to protect myself and my passengers from my dogs should we be in an accident and a dog become a 75lb projectile. I cannot possibly account for every scenario unless I want to drive some sort of military tank. There are a lot of "solutions" that might be a bit safer but are absolutely impractical. My dogs don't ride in the vehicle just to get from point A to point B, if that were the case I'd probably have it arranged differently. But they are in the vehicle to go to work, training (where they are in the vehicle on and off all day, not just getting somewhere and back). They need to have enough space to move around, have access to water, be properly ventilated, be accessible for constant loading/unloading, be secured in a way that I can have windows down but still have the dogs safe from random people reaching in (ie, I can lock my kennel doors and lock the kennels themselves to the childseat anchors). Plus having anywhere from 2-5 dogs riding (crated) in a single vehicle rules out the possibility of some titanium dog box in the very center of the vehicle away from crush zones. Just not practical.

 

I would prefer to mount my aluminum boxes sideways in the back but they are lengthwise for cooling and access based on crate design. [this is a truck set up]

One wire crate issue is the space between the pan and the bottom of the crate. I have had a foot slip through and thank goodness the dog allowed us to extricate him and did not break anything. Car was at an angle and I figured a $500 dog box was a lot more practical than a mangled paw. I got the owens.. not too pretty but welded and functional and cheaper than custom. I would really look at the variocage were I buying new but that is not a side option either..not sure if it would have the same utiliy in a truck as in an SUV. Def would go there in an SUV.

My box are "mid" bed and I have actually been thinking of putting some high density foam between the crate back and the back of the truck to absorb some impact ......... based on box design it will not impair airflow. I also need to get out and slide some hardware cloth in the winter vent holders to keep fingers out paws in.
I also use the heaviest duty ratchet tie downs I can buy. Also lock the boxes and the supplemental latches for transport. ........ I have a plastic PVC tube with emergency information and a spare key zip tied to the boxes.

 

What's with the side mounting? Is that so that the dog slams into the front of the box (in an accident) with their whole side? If they were front to back (not sideways) then they'd slam into the crate with their face or butt, possibly compressing their spine. Is that the thought on this?

 

I'm guessing it makes the most sense for an airline type crate, so the dog would hit plastic when sliding forward or backward, rather than the wire door, assuming that if you are in an accident the most likely scenario is the dog sliding forward (if you're rolling or spinning I'm thinking all bets are off!). For wire crates, not sure if it matters since the dog is slamming into the same type of surface regardless (and a lot of people using wire crates have side doors as well).

 

Oh- I didn't consider the doors... good point.