Jump to content

Back Seat Buddys And Restraints...


westiemum
 Share

Recommended Posts

Thanks SK - thats exactly what I'm looking for if I don't go with the 'holes in the back seat buddy' solution.

My only difficulty is the anchor points in my wagon are behind the back seats on the floor of the cargo area, not in the roof - so to get up and over the back seat (through a stay ring on the top of the middle seat), I'm probably going to need at least a metre of length (will measure)... but will see... thanks tons for the link... appreciated. :)

  SecretKei said:
Waggle have 20% off their Petbuckle gear at the moment. The tethers are quite good (you can buy them seperately) and have a fair bit of adjustable length in them. I connected mine to the anchor point in the back of the wagon with no problems :D

http://waggle.com.au/harnesses-m5/dog-car-restraints-c7

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 72
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Have posted this in the other thread but I think it is important to be here as well.

Please think very carefully about impact damage before buying any travel gear for your dog.

At some stage we all have to hit the brakes hard and you might be horribly surprised by some of the awful permanent damage that can occur to our beloved dogs on impact. Being restrained in the different outfits is one thing, maximising your dog's safety can be quite another. Remember that your dog's body was travelling at the same speed that your car was travelling at, before it is slammed to a stop. Impact damage should be considered before an accident, it is too late after the accident.

Automobile Safety for Dogs

The safest way for a dog to travel is in a secure crate. If you are involved in an accident, [b]your pup is much safer in a crate than loose or even in a safety harness[/b]. The crate, especially a plastic airline crate, will protect your dog from injuries on impact and keep the dog secure in the aftermath. More than one dog has survived a car accident and then been killed on the road when he slips out an open car door. If you are injured in an accident, emergency personnel won't have to worry about getting past your dog to help you if he's crated.

Never let your dog ride in the front seat of a vehicle with air bags. Dogs, like small children, can be killed or injured by deploying air bags.

A doggy seatbelt—a harness arrangement that fastens to the car's seatbelt—is a reasonably good alternative to a crate, although it won't provide as much protection.

http://life.familyeducation.com/dogs/travel/45672.html

Souff

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks for re-posting Souff - great advice (as usual :D) and something to seriously think about.

Yes I have been acutely aware of the dogs velocity through the car on sudden stop or impact - hence trying to find a solution which maximises everyones chances of getting out of it relatively intact. My situation was made worse for me by my old guys propensity for falling down the footwell with his million dollar surgically repaired back legs. Which is why I like the back seat buddy - its hammock design, its well made, washes like a rag and is really robust.

Must confess though I didn't think of crates - I tend not to go there I suppose because of a possibly irrational need (yes on my part!) to not crate/cage my two puppy farm survivors again - ever - having spent over half their lives in cages. But maybe for their safety and mine I should reconsider crating in the car.

What configuration of hard-sided crates would suit three westies do you think? And are they better on the back seat or in the cargo area of a small wagon?

Thanks again.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have the Running Dog BAck seat cover and that protects the doors as well - although the windows are still covered in drool regularly. I am planning to get the anchor point tethers for mine to attach to their harnesses as the seatbelts are covered

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks KHM - yes on a closer look at mine to put seat belt holes in my BSB would mean putting holes in the backing as well as the fleece - and I'm not sure how well that will go. Where are you going to get the tethers? I will need two of around 1.3m and one a bit longer with snappy connections on both ends...

  KelpieHoundMum said:
I have the Running Dog BAck seat cover and that protects the doors as well - although the windows are still covered in drool regularly. I am planning to get the anchor point tethers for mine to attach to their harnesses as the seatbelts are covered
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  westiemum said:
Thanks KHM - yes on a closer look at mine to put seat belt holes in my BSB would mean putting holes in the backing as well as the fleece - and I'm not sure how well that will go. Where are you going to get the tethers? I will need two of around 1.3m and one a bit longer with snappy connections on both ends...
  KelpieHoundMum said:
I have the Running Dog BAck seat cover and that protects the doors as well - although the windows are still covered in drool regularly. I am planning to get the anchor point tethers for mine to attach to their harnesses as the seatbelts are covered

Will let you know when I find them :D Am hunting around now :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've been worried about this since Grumpy's had to travel in a crate. It's a travel crate since if he was in a wire crate, he'd have to be muzzled. Thus far I've put it on the back seat buddy because I haven't been sure how to secure it. Any ideas? Plus it takes up most of the back seat so Mini can't travel with us as she can't fit.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Do you think that leash would hold in an impact? This one might be better - although it is more expensive it looks sturdier and is designed for purpose.

And on further looking at my car I have three (3) metal rectangular ring things on the top of each back seat (I have three westies so yes there is a God!!!) which will anchor a harness well so this shorter tether which SecretKei suggested will work well with a good harness.

But I do like the idea of good crates... hmn...

  KelpieHoundMum said:
This might be a goer - it's a leash for the active walker belt - double ended links

Active Walker Lead will adjust from 0.8 metres to over 1.5 meters. Fits active walker belt. Lead only belt is not included.

http://www.vetnpetdirect.com.au/active_walker_2

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I liked that one too but it was for a seat belt link - oopps - just looked closer - no it isn't - may have to invest in one of these ones- still looking around - it is amazing the things they have out there for dogs :D

I don't think I could fit a crate for Earl in the back of my car - my fault for buying a small pony *L*

ETA - just had a look at my car and i have the latch bars - learning something new every day :) The best way i think for Earl might be to fold down the back seat and use a ute tether to attach to the anchor point - gives him more room and secures him too

Thank you all for such an illuminating thread - off to look up ute tethers now :laugh:

  westiemum said:
Do you think that leash would hold in an impact? This one might be better - although it is more expensive it looks sturdier and is designed for purpose.

And on further looking at my car I have three (3) metal rectangular ring things on the top of each back seat (I have three westies so yes there is a God!!!) which will anchor a harness well so this shorter tether which SecretKei suggested will work well with a good harness.

But I do like the idea of good crates... hmn...

  KelpieHoundMum said:
This might be a goer - it's a leash for the active walker belt - double ended links

Active Walker Lead will adjust from 0.8 metres to over 1.5 meters. Fits active walker belt. Lead only belt is not included.

http://www.vetnpetdirect.com.au/active_walker_2

Edited by KelpieHoundMum
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Here is another option for restraining the dog, if you are worried about the dogs pullling the seat belt out too far then do up the seatbelt under the BSB and secure the tether to the very base of the seatbelt, right near the door, if you only have westies they are small enough that they should be comfy
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  KelpieHoundMum said:
I have the Running Dog BAck seat cover and that protects the doors as well - although the windows are still covered in drool regularly. I am planning to get the anchor point tethers for mine to attach to their harnesses as the seatbelts are covered

No complaints about it? do you think the material will deteriorate at all if its constantly installed in the car? my last one was good at first but the waterproof lining on the bottom has deteriorated and crumbled after only a few months use

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Sheridan, I'm no crating expert, so maybe Souff can give you some suggestions? Would a tether through anchor points somewhere help?

I feel for you having to leave Mini at home. With three westies I just don't feel thats an option for me so I need a solution where I can transport all three at once safely. And I've just tried a PP40 - I can get one on the back seat and another in the cargo area - I can get two westies in a PP40 at a pinch but its really not satisfactory - particularly for long trips (they can't both lie down). Which leave Sarah, my biggest westie without a solution. Mac has been known to get into the cats PP20 :D but that really isn't a solution either... unless there is a slightly smaller (particularly length-wise) hard-sided travel crate that anyone is aware of?

  Sheridan said:
I've been worried about this since Grumpy's had to travel in a crate. It's a travel crate since if he was in a wire crate, he'd have to be muzzled. Thus far I've put it on the back seat buddy because I haven't been sure how to secure it. Any ideas? Plus it takes up most of the back seat so Mini can't travel with us as she can't fit.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  GoldenGirl85 said:
  KelpieHoundMum said:
I have the Running Dog BAck seat cover and that protects the doors as well - although the windows are still covered in drool regularly. I am planning to get the anchor point tethers for mine to attach to their harnesses as the seatbelts are covered

No complaints about it? do you think the material will deteriorate at all if its constantly installed in the car? my last one was good at first but the waterproof lining on the bottom has deteriorated and crumbled after only a few months use

Mine seems to be pretty tough plastic and has held up well - I have left it up in the car for a while and it doesn't seem to show any deterioration - but the lack of holes for tethers - while I can see the reasons - is a pain.

My Bloodhound loves it though and will happily lie down on it while travelling - but am looking for ways to restrain him more securely - bit paranoid now :D

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Excellent post Souff. For those who don't want to, or don't have the room for a crate in their car, the PetBuckle Harness is the only crash-tested dog harness in the world. That's why we started importing them. They are also great for the back of a ute.

  Souff said:
Have posted this in the other thread but I think it is important to be here as well.

A doggy seatbelt—a harness arrangement that fastens to the car's seatbelt—is a reasonably good alternative to a crate, although it won't provide as much protection.

http://life.familyeducation.com/dogs/travel/45672.html

Souff

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Clever GG85... like I said, ask the DOL universe and it delivers... thanks very much for the suggestion.

  GoldenGirl85 said:
Here is another option for restraining the dog, if you are worried about the dogs pullling the seat belt out too far then do up the seatbelt under the BSB and secure the tether to the very base of the seatbelt, right near the door, if you only have westies they are small enough that they should be comfy
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  KelpieHoundMum said:
  GoldenGirl85 said:
  KelpieHoundMum said:
I have the Running Dog BAck seat cover and that protects the doors as well - although the windows are still covered in drool regularly. I am planning to get the anchor point tethers for mine to attach to their harnesses as the seatbelts are covered

No complaints about it? do you think the material will deteriorate at all if its constantly installed in the car? my last one was good at first but the waterproof lining on the bottom has deteriorated and crumbled after only a few months use

Mine seems to be pretty tough plastic and has held up well - I have left it up in the car for a while and it doesn't seem to show any deterioration - but the lack of holes for tethers - while I can see the reasons - is a pain.

My Bloodhound loves it though and will happily lie down on it while travelling - but am looking for ways to restrain him more securely - bit paranoid now :D

Does it have zips on both sides of the 'door'? its a bit hard to tell how its secured by the photos

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  GoldenGirl85 said:
  KelpieHoundMum said:
  GoldenGirl85 said:
  KelpieHoundMum said:
I have the Running Dog BAck seat cover and that protects the doors as well - although the windows are still covered in drool regularly. I am planning to get the anchor point tethers for mine to attach to their harnesses as the seatbelts are covered

No complaints about it? do you think the material will deteriorate at all if its constantly installed in the car? my last one was good at first but the waterproof lining on the bottom has deteriorated and crumbled after only a few months use

Mine seems to be pretty tough plastic and has held up well - I have left it up in the car for a while and it doesn't seem to show any deterioration - but the lack of holes for tethers - while I can see the reasons - is a pain.

My Bloodhound loves it though and will happily lie down on it while travelling - but am looking for ways to restrain him more securely - bit paranoid now :D

Does it have zips on both sides of the 'door'? its a bit hard to tell how its secured by the photos

It has a zip on both sides of the door that allow the 'flap' on that side to be pulled down to let the dogs in - it is secured by straps around the back seat headrests and the front seat headrests - these are adjustable :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yep I reckon you could KHM - but do you need the holes? Could you use an anchor point somewhere or the seat belt anchor point near the door as GG85 pointed out? Just a thought.

If I can't find a crate solution that fits I think I'll go the kwik connect tether and a harness - although the canine spirit 3-in-1 harness looks to spread any impact load better because of its spread across the chest. Anyway it will be either the pet buckle or the canine spirit 3-in-1 I think...

Anyone any mid-size crate suggestions for a small wagon back seat? (I read somewhere that they should be on the back seat if possible due to rear end collisions... do people think thats right?)

Thanks tons for your help and advice everyone...

  KelpieHoundMum said:
Could I combine the pet buckle harness and the kwik connect tether to secure my 55 kg Bloodhound - I am willing to put holes in the back seat buddy :D
Edited by westiemum
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share


×
×
  • Create New...