An astonishing statistic shows that 84% of dog owners regularly travel with their pet unrestrained in their car.
As much as you want to keep your dog comfortable when traveling, leaving them unrestrained can cause harm to you and your pet.
An unrestrained dog could become a projectile during a car crash and an impact into the dashboard or the back of a seat can severely injure or even kill your dog.
As morbid as this may sound, there are plenty of options to keep your dogs secured in your car without sacrificing too much of their comfort. We will go through these different types of restraints here.
Dog Harness Seatbelt
A dog harness seatbelt suits trained and well-behaved dogs because the harness restricts free movement with a strap that is plugged into the seatbelt. This level of restriction is not suitable for more energetic dogs.
This type of car harness should only be used for dogs that are over 9 kilograms as smaller and lighter dogs are not heavy enough to cause the seatbelt to taut if a vehicle were to suddenly stop or be involved in an accident.
Look for wide straps and padded chest pieces to make the restraint as comfortable as possible for your dog. The tether attached to the seatbelt should also be short so your dog won’t be propelled too far forward.
Zipline Harness
A zipline harness is perfect for active and young dogs who may become restless if forced to sit in one spot for an extended period of time. This type of harness will restrain your dog in the backseat while allowing them some movement.
Since a zipline harness allows more movement than a dog harness seatbelt, it is not recommended for small dogs as they may fall into your car’s footwell if you suddenly hit the brakes. You can also get a shorter strap to prevent this from happening.
Plush Carry Box
A plush carry box is a way to go if your dog is too small to wear standard harnesses. It is also perfect for anxious puppies since the elevated box gives them a good view of their owners and surroundings.
Just make sure that the plush box is big enough so your dog can sit and lie down when they need to. For restless pups, you can also put their favorite toy in the box to keep them entertained.
