Car safety harnesses

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Do any members use car safety harnesses on their dogs?

We have just bought a new car and have been looking at the options available for transporting our dogs to the vet's and different places.

We had a dog guard in our other car and the dog's just jumped straight into the back of our estate car, but I was always more concerned when doing longer trips.

I saw pictures of a Irish Wolf hound who was killed in a car accident while being transported like this. The poor dog was rattled around in the back during the accident and was so badly injured that he had to be put to sleep at the scene.

I also recently read about a dog who almost died trapped in a crate after a car accident so decided not to go for this option.

After reading the user reviews on Amazon and other websites for the Clix Safe dog harness, I have decided to give it a go. I have bought one in medium and one in large.

I have also bought a VW fitted rear seat protector which fits like a skin over the seats of our VW Passat.

The medium size is perfect for Freya at the moment so she will be wearing that size to travel to her breeder's home next month for a puppy party and when she out grows out of it, it will fit Zara my Cocker Spaniel.

[Val Martin]

We used to take the dogs out quite a lot together at one time but not any more. Too many uncontrolled dogs where we used to go.  

Now we only go relatively short trips with a couple of them at a time.

The harnesses I have ordered click directly into where we would normally attach our seatbelts.  They allow the dogs to stand, sit and lie down but not jump off the seat.

[lyn hathaway]

hi val weve got them for our dogs .i think they are quite good and ours as got three attachments for the seat belt part so theyll fit in nearly all car seatbelt clasps

[Nick & Sue Britton]

We had a fixed barjo tail gate made for our 4x4. www.barjo.co.uk. This is fab and gives the dogs all of the space you want in the boot and extra if you put the seats down. We also have a dog guard behind the seats. It is great when we stop on journeys  as we can lift the back and the dogs have lots of airflow and can't jump out. Also useful when trying to get 4 leads on! You can padlock if you wish and sit and watch the car. They're also supposed to be an added safety feature if you have a rear end impact. You can also still get to the dogs from the front and sides if you needed to.

[eva ciechonska]

I have found the type that you describe to be the best.  You have a guard behind the front seats and an openable fixed tailgate at the rear.  As Nick and Sue say..........brilliant with the car back up.  Safe and secure and with this type of structure you can carry as many dogs as can comfortably fit in.  You don't get that flexibility with harnesses.  I am with Barbara and would worry about the dogs getting entangled in the harnesses and panicking. 

[Teresa]

I used the harnesses in my old car - it's not that hard to use with multiple dogs, I just gave each os them a seat and they remained there while we were traveling, but all of them are good travelers - they lay down as soon as they get in and only stand after I park, open the door and call them. I could transport both my setters and my cocker at the same time with them safe and no worries for me.

Not good to transport more than one unsettled dog though!

Now i just use a guard in the back. The dogs are safe and have plenty of space, I can even manage to travel with the four of them, and I do feel they are very safe in there - but I do realize I have a really good lot when it comes to car traveling!

 

 

[Jo Ottinger]

I have used a harness for my dogs for years and never had a problem with the dogs getting tangled.  I put my seats down and clip the harness to the metal hooks in the back. 

[silvia]

I use just to tie the leash at the back sit, but , since we recently drove from uk to france, I bought a rac harness (jumbo size!!). I think is much better since it is attached on the shoulder and not on the neck, so, in case of a sharp break or turn, Oberon is not falling from the sit with a pressure on the neck. Mind: first time I put the harness on, Oberon was very confused and pretended he could barely walk with all that stuff :) Get used quicky, though:)

[Joan M Cox]

When we had 3 setters about 11 years ago, they all sat happily on the back seat of the car in "Hi-Craft" Harnesses.  We never had any problems with tangling up etc.

Now we have only 1 setter, Saffy has worn a harness since a pup, she's now just over 18 months and wears it happily in the car and when we are in our small motor home she's attached to rear seat belt and settles in comfort on the bed!!!!!!  Unfortuately I don't think you can get "Hi-Craft" any more.  We tried to get one when she was small but managed to adapt one of our original 3 which thankfully we kept.

[Val Martin]

The harnesses came in the post today and wow!...I am impressed, they are so strong and well made and very padded.  I have tried one on Freya and it fits perfectly.  She didn't seem bothered at all having it on her which is a good start.  Can't wait to take her on a short trip in the car to see how she get's on being attached to the seat belt.