Car seat/restraint recommendation required.

[MrB.]

So, after what seemed like an eternity debating, discussing and researching, our new four-legged friend arrives on Tuesday. I want to get a cushion/bed/resraint for the car for him, and so wondered if there was a preferred recommendation. I've seen this one - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Me-My-Pet-Seat-Cushion/dp/... but it seems to get marked down on quality. He's only a little Havanese and so I don't want him in the boot behind a guard, I'd rather he was comfy on the back seat on a bed or cushion, but I need him secured as per the law.

Can anyone help with a recommendation?

[parakitaMol.]

Hi
I would recommend that anyone transporting their dog in a car, look at the following crash test research on harnesses, seats and crates. It is pretty shocking! http://www.centerforpetsafety.org/ the research is carried out in the USA so many of the products are not UK brands however you get a very good idea of how each type performs.


I have 2 Dachshunds and a medium Terrier cross, after seeing a Beagle loose on the M25, petrified and bolting into the oncoming traffic - I took mine off the back seat harness and cushion arrangements and installed a Safedog crate in the boot. Good luck with your research

[bakerstreet]

MrB. said:

So, after what seemed like an eternity debating, discussing and researching, our new four-legged friend arrives on Tuesday. I want to get a cushion/bed/resraint for the car for him, and so wondered if there was a preferred recommendation. I've seen this one - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Me-My-Pet-Seat-Cushion/dp/... but it seems to get marked down on quality. He's only a little Havanese and so I don't want him in the boot behind a guard, I'd rather he was comfy on the back seat on a bed or cushion, but I need him secured as per the law.

Can anyone help with a recommendation?

Why can't he/she go in the boot? Dogs go in the boot IMO. If you have a saloon car, then go out out buy a hatchback or an estate.

Last place I want a dog is on any of the car seats and free roaming over the back seats. I've seen the seat strap/harnesses and I didn't like the look of any of them.

As for comfort, My wife's C-Max has a dog bed in the boot and it's always in there, so ours is always comfortable. He sleeps on most journies.

[PositronicRay]

I use an Ezydog harness, back seat and he's fine (terrier cross). He's started as pup so just got used to it, when in the car curls up and settles down.

We just have a blanket in the back. One of our cars is a convertible with leather seats so want to protect him from the hot leather.

Get him used to cars and harnesses as soon as possible.

[parakitaMol.]

bakerstreet said:

Last place I want a dog is on any of the car seats and free roaming over the back seats.

https://www.themotoringlaw.uk/driving-with-dogs/

Dogs should always be restrained in a car.



If you look at the link I posted earlier in the thread you will see that lots of restraint methods are pretty ineffective and could actually kill or seriously injure your dog even at low speeds.

[opieoilman]

I have a fabric crate in the boot, I don't see the need for a metal one with 2 fairly well behaved jack russells. My Old staffy cross used to sit in the front seat and lean into corners, but the JRs are too hectic to have in the front, they have a habit of standing on the electric window button and trying to get out.

[MrB.]

PositronicRay said:

I use an Ezydog harness, back seat and he's fine (terrier cross). He's started as pup so just got used to it, when in the car curls up and settles down.

We just have a blanket in the back. One of our cars is a convertible with leather seats so want to protect him from the hot leather.

Get him used to cars and harnesses as soon as possible.

Well, he arrived today and I've ordered a cushion that secures to the seatbelt (a bit like the pre-isofix child seats) and a separate strap that secures into the seat belt buckle and the other end to his harness. I have a Volvo C30, so this will be ideal for my car, and for my o/h's XC60, but I will invest in a boot crate for when we have more people in the XC60. No-one goes in the rear of my car, so it can be his domain. He's a very quiet dog and he's been used to going on a car, so I don't see an issue, but he will be out with us most of the time we are, so he'll be in the car a fair bit.

Thanks for all the advice.