seat belts

    • Silver

    seat belts

    What do you use as a seatbelt or harness in the car? Our miniature schnzuaer is beginning to ride with us more often and absolutely hates being confined. Tried the sugguestion someone made of a little of getting a little shopping basket and having her sit in it, but that hasn't been very successful. Any pros or cons of the actual seat belts I've seen in Petsmart? Thanks Liz
    • Gold Top Dog
    Dasher is my first small dog, so I wasn't sure how to handle him as all my other dogs have happily gone in crates in the back of the car.  He gets anxious in the car if he can't see and I was afraid he would break his teeth trying to chew his way out of a regular wire crate.  I didn't want him loose in the car either, so I ended up getting one of those pet booster seats which is the back seat of the car.  He is elevated so he can look around, yet he is secured in by a harness connected to the seat belt.  He loves it, and he can curl up and sleep as well.  It has been a good solution for us.  Hope that helps!
    • Gold Top Dog
    My boys cruise around town secured in the Lookout booster seats too.  They love them.  And the seats also double as good grocery-holders. [:D]
    Edited to add:  Before I got the seats, I used the Easy Rider harnesses and they worked well, but the dogs are much happier being able to see out the window.


    • Bronze
    Not sure about small sized dogs, I guess they won't fit in the front just like a kid won't - but OB (a mixed dane / lab) sits comfortably infront and has the usual seatbelt runing across his chests. Sometimes I have to refasten him, but he's mostly ok.
     
    Again, he's quiet big, so I guess its irrelevent.
    • Gold Top Dog
    CM, you mean that you strap him in with the people seat belt!?!  I don't think that's a very good idea.  It might keep him from moving about the car, but in the event of an accident I can envision all kinds of awful things happening. There are a lot of good car restraint harnesses made for all sizes of dogs. 
    • Gold Top Dog
    I use the harness kind for Harley and plan to get a really small one for Izzy too.  He doesn't mind his at all b/c he can still move around a little but he doesn't bother me while I am driving.  I think I got mine a Petsmart a few years ago.  It was a great investment!
    • Gold Top Dog
    Dogs should NEVER sit up front. Airbags can severly injure or kill them. [:(]
    • Gold Top Dog
    Lana has a Fido Rido and Wynston has a harness I bought from PSmart.
     
    I liked the booster type for Lana so she can see out the window.  For Wynston, I put a leash through the metal loops by the top of the backseat and attach that to his harness. 
     
     
     
     



    • Gold Top Dog
    Dakota is put in a harness and connected to a "leash" that connects to a seatbelt in the back of my car.  He has the freedom to move some and look out the window, but he's still safe because he is restrained.
    • Gold Top Dog
    Bailey rides in a Snoozer Lookout seat, same as Kelly's boys. She really loves it. She can sit, stand or lay down in it and she's harnessed in. It's soft and comfy and boosts her up so she can see out the window, even when she's laying down. It's made from foam so there are no hard edges and it's really lightweight, but sturdy.

    LOL Kelly! I also use it for shopping bags when there's no dog in it! [sm=lol.gif]



    !
    • Gold Top Dog
    Thor is 90 lbs plus.  The passenger side airbag in my vehicles can be turned off.  Regardless, no one but humans ride in the front seat of our vehicles.
    • Bronze
    I hardly drive around with the big monster, but when I do I let him sit upfront. I can't help it, he likes to ride next to me. Everytime he goes to the back sit its either to sleep, or if he thinks he's punished.
     
    The cars seat belt doesn't look like a bad thing though - it holds him right in his chest - below the throat above his front legs.
     
    But I guess safety comes first, I'll look into other options.
    • Gold Top Dog
    I have a Fido Rido for Trudy. She LOVES it. It is roomy and large so she can SLEEP on long trips.
    • Gold Top Dog
    Most dogs DO like to ride up front.  Because of safety issues, in my home it is NOT an option.    My nephew watched his dog die a very slow and agonizing death from injuries sustained from an airbag.  He said it was the WORST thing he'd ever dealt with..
    • Gold Top Dog
    Those car seats look like so much fun. I might have to get them for the girls. I keep a pair of small travel carriers in the back seat, and they hop right in. Emma seems to be borderline carsick. She loves getting in the car, but once it starts moving, she lays down and gets a funny look on her face. Teenie's a goofball, and she's just thrilled to go:)