Seat belts

Sansal · #1 24th March 2011, 05:50 PM

Just wondering what kind of seat belt system you guys use for your boxer? Looks like we will trade my old car in for a new one next week (yay) and I want to spend some money to make sure Happy and Sky will be as safe as possible. I am also thinking about buying a "hammock" for the back seat, to keep the seats clean. Something like that: Reversible DLX Pet Travel Hammock Seat Cover - 57"w or 60"w **customer top rated** has anyone used something like that?

TwoDogs · #2 24th March 2011, 06:38 PM

Kurgo makes very nice car safety restraint systems for dogs--harnesses, tethers, zip lines, etc.

MonaC · #3 24th March 2011, 08:07 PM

I use a hammock in my car also. It doesn't offer the safety of a seat belt but the space between the back and front seats scares Delilah (she fell in there several times, even with the seat belt on) so I switched to the hammock.

lmorey · #4 25th March 2011, 07:20 AM

My husband and I both have rear seat covers in our vehicles, and seat belt restraints for them. My favorite restraint actually clicks into the seat belt buckle (or whatever it's called) on one end, and onto their collar on the other. The other restraint we have hooks around the seat belt after you buckle it then onto their collar. I think I found both of those at Petsmart.

TwoDogs · #5 25th March 2011, 07:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lmorey

My favorite restraint actually clicks into the seat belt buckle (or whatever it's called) on one end, and onto their collar on the other.

It is never recommended that you clip a car safety restraint device to your dogs collar. In an accident, the forces exerted on the dog's neck could very likely snap their spine. Car safety restraint devices should only ever be attached to a well-fitted harness designed specifically to withstand and distribute the force of an accident safely across the chest of the dog.

chrystel · #6 25th March 2011, 07:55 AM

Hi!!!!

Ok.. so,

1) we use a hammock. SO MUCH BETTER than car seat covers!!

+ i got one kind of like the one you showed, it's waterproof.. -> awesome when it rains!
I had to buy 3 different ones (petsmart, petco...) to find one that was the perfect fit for my car. It's an Audi A4 (station waggon) and some hammock were not long enough.
The + of the hammoock is that it protect the floor of the car AND it's easy to take off the seat (in a ball) and shake the hair, dirt.. off outside!

2) I use a padded harness + a short leash that clicks in the car seat buckler (i bouth it in France)

I used to use the regular device that makes you buckle the seat belt and attache the leash to the seat belt.
It would be possible with 1 dog.

BUT with 2 dogs, it became dangerous! They kept switching sides, walking around back there, tangling themselves and legs!

So, now they are restrained more like they cannot walk around on the back seat. They can sit, lay down, each at their spot (Oxy behind me, Snatch behind the passenger).

Gatorblu · #7 25th March 2011, 08:27 AM

In my car I have what looks like a leash handle. You slide the seat belt thru and hook it on to their harness. It is adjustable so you can adjust the length for each dog. In my dh's suv we have It's a leash that has a piece you can snap into a seat belt about halfway down. That didn't work for us because they would move and get tangled. So I bought the strongest carabiner I could for mountain climbing, and put that thru the clip and the tie downs in the back. This gives them enough room move, and they are far enough apart they don't get tangled. It is perfect for when we are traveling.

lmorey · #8 25th March 2011, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TwoDogs

It is never recommended that you clip a car safety restraint device to your dogs collar. In an accident, the forces exerted on the dog's neck could very likely snap their spine. Car safety restraint devices should only ever be attached to a well-fitted harness designed specifically to withstand and distribute the force of an accident safely across the chest of the dog.

I guess this slipped my mind once Cash grew out of the harness we had when he was a puppy, and June never had one. Sooo I just went across the street during my lunch break and picked up a new one to try out on Cash for a vet visit tomorrow.

BxrMommieNAZ · #9 25th March 2011, 10:33 AM

I use a harness and one end of the "leash" clips into the seatbelt buckle and the other end clips to the D ring on the harness. I do NOT use the harness for anything other than this purpose and take it off and use other devices if going to the park and walking them or going ot the vet or whatever. But for car restraint purposes I use a harness and an adjustable leash type of deal that one end clips into the seatbelt buckle and the other clips to a D ring on the harness.

Sansal · #10 25th March 2011, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BxrMommieNAZ

I use a harness and one end of the "leash" clips into the seatbelt buckle and the other end clips to the D ring on the harness. I do NOT use the harness for anything other than this purpose and take it off and use other devices if going to the park and walking them or going ot the vet or whatever. But for car restraint purposes I use a harness and an adjustable leash type of deal that one end clips into the seatbelt buckle and the other clips to a D ring on the harness.

That sounds like it is similar to the Kurgo trufit harness that Twodogs recommended. I think that's what I will order. The "leash" that comes with it looks long enough for them to be able to sit and lay down but not long enough for them to get tangled or interact with each other.
DH didn't like the idea of a hammock as a permanent installation so I might get a regular seat cover for now and maybe a cheap hammock to use only for rainy days and when we go to the beach.

Thanks everyone

BxrMommieNAZ · #11 25th March 2011, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sansal

That sounds like it is similar to the Kurgo trufit harness that Twodogs recommended. I think that's what I will order. The "leash" that comes with it looks long enough for them to be able to sit and lay down but not long enough for them to get tangled or interact with each other.
DH didn't like the idea of a hammock as a permanent installation so I might get a regular seat cover for now and maybe a cheap hammock to use only for rainy days and when we go to the beach.

Thanks everyone

I'm not familiar with the one you're looking at, but my leash portion is adjustable, so I can make it as short as 6 inches or as long as a few feet. I typically keep it short, but yes they're able to lay down or sit up if you adjust the leash portion properly.

chrystel · #12 25th March 2011, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sansal

That sounds like it is similar to the Kurgo trufit harness that Twodogs recommended. I think that's what I will order. The "leash" that comes with it looks long enough for them to be able to sit and lay down but not long enough for them to get tangled or interact with each other.
DH didn't like the idea of a hammock as a permanent installation so I might get a regular seat cover for now and maybe a cheap hammock to use only for rainy days and when we go to the beach.

Thanks everyone

That is the kind i have also

regarding the hammock, i do not have it as a permanent installation. it takes me 30 seconds to put before i put the dogs in.. and people sitting at the back don't eve have to sit on the "dog's seat covers" - which in my opinion make no sense, since they are as hard to vaccum/clean as the regular car seats.

I usually fold the hammock in 2, then 3, and toss it in the net in the trunck

I alos liek that the material of the hammock doesn't retain the odors