Reminder To Restrain Dogs In Cars

[Rysup]

It's most definitely law in NSW now, that your dog must be restrained whilst in the car.

[Simply Grand]

I feel embarrassed to say that we don't restrain Hugo. He sleeps in my lap whenever we drive anywhere. Of course I'm not stupid enough to open the windows if he's in my lap unrestrained though.

Don't be embarrassed, I'm absolutely sure many others do as you do. Just think though about what would happen if you/someone else driving had to slam on the brakes, or god forbid, got in an accident..

There is massive force involved and however good your intentions, you probably couldn't restrain Hugo. I'd suggest a seatbelt harness, I just got mine from the supermarket - KraMar car harness, size small, which I've had on Sax from when he was a 1.8kg puppy to a 5kg adult, adjusting the size - we've used it with the booster seat, just on the backseat with the seatbelt, and now in the footwell.

I know pups want to be with you, and can freak out in the car, but seriously, I feel like it has to be worth the effort to teach them to deal with being strapped in. Look at the research about humans, especially babies, without seatbelts - surely animals need the same protection!!

[cointreau]

RIP doggie and condolences to the owner.

I have always had Sparkles restrained in the car. I do want to find a good restraint that is crash tested to give her more protection should she need it. Too often I have read of dogs being frightned after an accident and getting out of the car and never being found again or hit by a car so a restraint may also protect from that happening too.

It is not just dogs who need to be restrained, I belive NSW law now states it is illegal to have an unrestrained animal in the vehicle. My cat wears a harness in the car if he isn't in his carry cage - he likes to look out the window and sit in the back with Sparkles.

[mushka]

What do you recommend for a car restraint? Does a crate or a seatbelt harness offer better protection for the dog? A harness looks more comfortable and easier fit into a car.

[Rysup]

For a single dog I would get a harness that can be seatbelted in. We have soft crates in the back of my car, but we always carry multiple dogs.

[Dju]

I feel embarrassed to say that we don't restrain Hugo. He sleeps in my lap whenever we drive anywhere. Of course I'm not stupid enough to open the windows if he's in my lap unrestrained though.

Don't be embarrassed, I'm absolutely sure many others do as you do. Just think though about what would happen if you/someone else driving had to slam on the brakes, or god forbid, got in an accident..

There is massive force involved and however good your intentions, you probably couldn't restrain Hugo. I'd suggest a seatbelt harness, I just got mine from the supermarket - KraMar car harness, size small, which I've had on Sax from when he was a 1.8kg puppy to a 5kg adult, adjusting the size - we've used it with the booster seat, just on the backseat with the seatbelt, and now in the footwell.

I know pups want to be with you, and can freak out in the car, but seriously, I feel like it has to be worth the effort to teach them to deal with being strapped in. Look at the research about humans, especially babies, without seatbelts - surely animals need the same protection!!

I wanted to get him a booster seat but with mom in the driver's seat and me in the passenger side seat, I didn't know how to attach the booster seat! I will get him a harness when he's a bit older though--right now the only time we take him with us in the car is when we're going to puppy preschool.

[Simply Grand]

I feel embarrassed to say that we don't restrain Hugo. He sleeps in my lap whenever we drive anywhere. Of course I'm not stupid enough to open the windows if he's in my lap unrestrained though.

Don't be embarrassed, I'm absolutely sure many others do as you do. Just think though about what would happen if you/someone else driving had to slam on the brakes, or god forbid, got in an accident..

There is massive force involved and however good your intentions, you probably couldn't restrain Hugo. I'd suggest a seatbelt harness, I just got mine from the supermarket - KraMar car harness, size small, which I've had on Sax from when he was a 1.8kg puppy to a 5kg adult, adjusting the size - we've used it with the booster seat, just on the backseat with the seatbelt, and now in the footwell.

I know pups want to be with you, and can freak out in the car, but seriously, I feel like it has to be worth the effort to teach them to deal with being strapped in. Look at the research about humans, especially babies, without seatbelts - surely animals need the same protection!!

I wanted to get him a booster seat but with mom in the driver's seat and me in the passenger side seat, I didn't know how to attach the booster seat! I will get him a harness when he's a bit older though--right now the only time we take him with us in the car is when we're going to puppy preschool.

Yes, good point. The two cars I've had since having Saxon have had split-fold rear seats (yay Honda), which seem to be needed to loop a booster seat around. However, I intend to put next puppy in a harness on the floor with Saxon asap, or at least on the back seat - I think the booster seat added to Saxon being Mr Noisy Whinger in the car... So if you can get away with just a harness either through the seatbelt on the back seat (no airbags to hit their head, a risk in front passenger seat) or in the back footwell, I'd try that first, for your driving sanity

[Danois]

Those that are saying it is the law in NSW for them to be restrained - can someone provide the link to the law that says this?

Only thing I have seen published is the new road rule which came in, in July 2008 which had 3 demerit points and $400 fine attached to it.

The RTA schedule of offence of 1 August 2010 has no mention of not restraining a dog in the car but does include intefering with control and dog in lap.

[Dju]

I feel embarrassed to say that we don't restrain Hugo. He sleeps in my lap whenever we drive anywhere. Of course I'm not stupid enough to open the windows if he's in my lap unrestrained though.

Don't be embarrassed, I'm absolutely sure many others do as you do. Just think though about what would happen if you/someone else driving had to slam on the brakes, or god forbid, got in an accident..

There is massive force involved and however good your intentions, you probably couldn't restrain Hugo. I'd suggest a seatbelt harness, I just got mine from the supermarket - KraMar car harness, size small, which I've had on Sax from when he was a 1.8kg puppy to a 5kg adult, adjusting the size - we've used it with the booster seat, just on the backseat with the seatbelt, and now in the footwell.

I know pups want to be with you, and can freak out in the car, but seriously, I feel like it has to be worth the effort to teach them to deal with being strapped in. Look at the research about humans, especially babies, without seatbelts - surely animals need the same protection!!

I wanted to get him a booster seat but with mom in the driver's seat and me in the passenger side seat, I didn't know how to attach the booster seat! I will get him a harness when he's a bit older though--right now the only time we take him with us in the car is when we're going to puppy preschool.

Yes, good point. The two cars I've had since having Saxon have had split-fold rear seats (yay Honda), which seem to be needed to loop a booster seat around. However, I intend to put next puppy in a harness on the floor with Saxon asap, or at least on the back seat - I think the booster seat added to Saxon being Mr Noisy Whinger in the car... So if you can get away with just a harness either through the seatbelt on the back seat (no airbags to hit their head, a risk in front passenger seat) or in the back footwell, I'd try that first, for your driving sanity

Airbags, what are airbags, we can't afford no damned airbags, LOL.

He already has a webmaster harness with a handle on the back actually, I wonder if we could get away with threading a seatbelt through the handle?

[koalathebear]

He already has a webmaster harness with a handle on the back actually, I wonder if we could get away with threading a seatbelt through the handle?

The car harnesses usually have a loop or you can clip them via D clip which then snaps into the seatbelt buckle so that there's a bit of room to move. With Hoover, we've got him used to driving around in the car from day one. With Elbie, we made the mistake of only taking him in the car to go to puppy school - which was fine when he was small, but as he got bigger and didn't like the car, it was harder to restrain him. It took a lot of time and effort to get him to behave in the car.

We restrain our dogs in the car because if we have to brake abruptly, we don't want to have to deal with the horrible consequences of our dogs flying into the windscreen. I know a lot of people who think that they can hold onto their babies/children in the car but they don't realise that when there's an accident, it's almost inevitable that you will loosen your grip and the poor thing will go flying.

The other option that works for some people (for dogs not children!) is a crate. We haven't been able to use a crate for Elbie because there's just no room in the backseat. Fortunately both dogs are now tethered using car harnesses and they seem ok with that even though Elbie hated his in the beginning.

[Di*]

Those that are saying it is the law in NSW for them to be restrained - can someone provide the link to the law that says this?

Only thing I have seen published is the new road rule which came in, in July 2008 which had 3 demerit points and $400 fine attached to it.

The RTA schedule of offence of 1 August 2010 has no mention of not restraining a dog in the car but does include intefering with control and dog in lap.

I emailed the RTA about this in October I think. This was the response I received:

"Thankyou for your email.

The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act states that a person must not carry or convey a dog (other than a dog being used to work livestock), on the open back of a moving vehicle on a public street unless the dog is restrained or enclosed in such a way as to prevent the dog falling from the vehicle.

Please see below link to view this Act (see rule 7):

http://www.legislation.nsw.gov.au/viewtop/...20animals%22)))

Dogs should not ride unrestrained in either the front or back seats of any vehicle but this is not specifically stated in legislation. The police may fine you however if they deem that you do not have proper control of the vehicle due to the animal interfering with your control. Specially designed animal boxes and harnesses are available and should be used. A pet harness can be attached to the vehicle's seat belt allowing the dog to sit or lie on the seat. These harness and boxes can be purchased in a variety or sizes from the RSPCA or from pet supply stores.

It is stated in legislation that a driver must not drive with a person or animal in the driver's lap. This is Road Rule 297 (1A) Drive motor vehicle with person or animal in lap

To view the complete road rule please click on the below link to find Road Rule 297 which relates to your enquiry:

http://www.legislation.nsw.gov.au/viewtop/...179+2008+fn+0+N

Regards"

[Skruffy n Flea]

we use the seat belt buckle [someone linked it back on pg 1 i think] and it clips onto the harness

i feel very badly for the lady that lost her dog in such an horrific manner --- i hope she does a better job securing her next dog in the car...

i don't know about the law; i just know that it gives me comfort knowing that it keep both my dogs safe when i'm driving around with 'em in the back seat --- frankly, i think there is more i can do to safeguard even further...

rip lil doggie

[Red Fox]

He already has a webmaster harness with a handle on the back actually, I wonder if we could get away with threading a seatbelt through the handle?

You can get a car restraint which attaches to the d-ring on the harness:

http://www.worldforpets.com.au/products/pr...ail.asp?ID=3007 (also available from Big W)

or http://waggle.com.au/petbuckle-b18/kwik-connect-tether-p272

I prefer the petbuckle attachment as it won't accidently come undone, nor can the dog learn to release it himself

[megan_]

I feel embarrassed to say that we don't restrain Hugo. He sleeps in my lap whenever we drive anywhere. Of course I'm not stupid enough to open the windows if he's in my lap unrestrained though.

But in an accident he will become a projectile. He could (would) die and could hit someone else, killing them too. If he is on your lap, if he doesn't go through the windscreen, he will bounce back into your face - going 60km/hr or faster.

Put a seatbelt on him regardless of the law. It will take a few seconds and could save his life. And yours.

[poodlefan]

I feel embarrassed to say that we don't restrain Hugo. He sleeps in my lap whenever we drive anywhere. Of course I'm not stupid enough to open the windows if he's in my lap unrestrained though.

But in an accident he will become a projectile. He could (would) die and could hit someone else, killing them too. If he is on your lap, if he doesn't go through the windscreen, he will bounce back into your face - going 60km/hr or faster.

Put a seatbelt on him regardless of the law. It will take a few seconds and could save his life. And yours.

If he is on your lap and you have passenger side airbags, the bags deploying would probably kill him.

[whiskedaway]

He already has a webmaster harness with a handle on the back actually, I wonder if we could get away with threading a seatbelt through the handle?

You can get a car restraint which attaches to the d-ring on the harness:

http://www.worldforpets.com.au/products/pr...ail.asp?ID=3007 (also available from Big W)

or http://waggle.com.au/petbuckle-b18/kwik-connect-tether-p272

I prefer the petbuckle attachment as it won't accidently come undone, nor can the dog learn to release it himself

I should get one of those, Akira has learnt how to release the seatbelt, though she only does it if she gets super excited.

[minxy]

He already has a webmaster harness with a handle on the back actually, I wonder if we could get away with threading a seatbelt through the handle?

You can get a car restraint which attaches to the d-ring on the harness:

http://www.worldforpets.com.au/products/pr...ail.asp?ID=3007 (also available from Big W)

or http://waggle.com.au/petbuckle-b18/kwik-connect-tether-p272

I prefer the petbuckle attachment as it won't accidently come undone, nor can the dog learn to release it himself

We have the first one and I love it. We have a car seat hammock to protect the back seat and always have the seatbelt pulled through, ready to go. It takes literally two seconds to clip Kyojin in. I've tried having the seatbelt debate with a few people, but they just don't get it. Why would you NOT spend $10 to restrain your loved ones to try and keep them safe?!

[wuffles]

I dare say putting one of my dogs in a car harness is more dangerous than driving with him unrestrained. He does not sit still, he turns circles and gets himself tangled which stresses him out even more.

His crate doesn't fit in the car.

He travels in the back of our station wagon. We don't currently have a cargo barrier but will be getting one even though it makes the space very squishy for him and is mucho expensive

[karly101]

I don't think people realize the force involved in accidents, you're not going to be able to hold onto anything - the dog is going to go flying out the window and if they are in the backseat they may also severely injure you. Also, if you are involved in any sort of accident and the dog is not restrained you are most likely going to find your insurance is not going to cover you as the dog will be deemed a distraction.

A girl at my tafe (vet nurse) had her labrador in the passenger seat, restrained by leash tied onto a seat belt, whilst she was turning a corner he jumped out of the window and was dragged along the road for a few seconds as the seatbelt didn't lock but kept going! Fortunately, he wasn't too badly injured apart from painful gravel burn on his toes....she was glad that he hadn't done it whilst she was on the fwy a few minutes earlier.

I think a good fitting harness is probably the safest option in an accident, I like the ruff ride ones as they are accident tested. Someone from our car club told us about their sons severe car accident (he unfortunately didn't survive) the dogs were in a crate which was secured in the back, the force of the accident ripped the crate open and the dogs were both found on the road.

[altheau]

The only hassle we have with the car harness is that the second it is on Yuki runs to the door and starts squeaking, or running around herding us out the door because it is obviously time to go. ;p Or when she decides she wants a belly rub instead of her harness on ;p

Once these things become routine I think it becomes far less of a hassle, and I think it is nice having her back there and not having to worry about her.