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Hi folks. Last weekend I was on my way to my parents with my dog in the back seat. We were in a car accident. While I was stopped to allow the vehicle ahead to turn left on a busy street, a Ford F150 rear-ended my Toyota Corolla - the car is a write-off, I have broken ribs and nasty bruising. The good news is that my dog (85lb Greyhound) is ok. I took him to the vet as soon as I was able and he was checked over. Aside from being a little nervous, he still wants to go for a car ride. What a trooper!

This begs the question - are seatbelts good or not for a dog? I've heard both good and bad stories about them. Some say it depends on the size of the dog. The type of vehicle. Etc. etc. I have tried harnesses for him before and the off the shelf ones don't fit my dog. Not a problem - I can get one custom made, but is this a sensible solution or not?

Any opinions or experiences you'd like to share?

Cheers
S

Sorry to hear about your accident that is aweful! I hope your doing better

I would have to say that seat belts are controversial but its like people too! I have a friend that was in acar accident and the EMT's told him that if he had had his seat belt on he would have died!! However look how many peoples lives are saved by wearing them!! I would say your pup is probably safer wearing one then not because if you were rearended any harder or he had decided for some reason to go into the front seat at that moment he could have gone through the windshield!! Also another friend of mine that was in an accident had her large X breed dog in the car with her and the EMT's would not help her get out because the dog was in the back seat barking (like most dogs would after having the car roll over) the EMT's waited for animal services to come and get the dog out before treating her!! So your dog having a seat belt on could mean you could get help sooner because your dog is restrained. Hope this helps you make your decision!

Interesting point... i guess i could see how they might be afraid to help you out, if there's a great big scared dog in the back of the car, that the paramedics might not touch you.. the dog is probably freaking out as it is.
We had our dog wear a harness in the car, attached to a seat belt for a while, until he learned how to ride in the car nicely. But even if you were to slam on the breaks it would save them from flying onto the floor, or the dash... mine likes to sit on the back seat, feet on the back-seat-bump, with paw/arms on the middle console. So, he would end up with a nose on the stereo.
It's probably a good idea to have one... just like in people, better off using the seatbelt than not. I was going to ask about that in class but forgot. I'm interested to hear what other have to say as well.

When Keymo was a small pup, we had him wear a seatbelt, and he sat on the back seat. It had a padded area on his chest.
As he got older and bigger, we had to change into a large size seatbelt and a different style - which he hated.
But we hated getting a nose in our ears as we drove !
Not to mention he was uncomfortable sitting on a slight angle on the seat which is also very cushiony for a dog's legs.
We decided to get a car barrier and put him in the rear compartment.
- we have a Jeep Cherokee

He has grown into that section well - it's not too big an area for him, nor too small. He enjoys looking our the rear at vehicles behind and beside us. He can also lay down.
He seems more amused and content there.

I can see how a seatbelted dog could be beneficial to him/her in case of an accident, but understandably, they are not capable of understanding the need to sit still and be confined by a belt, as a child would be.
We take chances driving with our pets and do the best we can. I can't imagine NOT taking Keymo places with us! That's one of the reasons we GOT a dog in the first place !

I have a seat belt for my dog because after reading about them I thought it would be in his best interests, he is a big dog with big teeth and more than one person has given him a wide berth just because of how he looks, I also dont know how he would act if I were unconscious (chances are he wouldn't be protective at all) and he is big 85-90 lbs, he could do a lot of dammage flying through the car.
When he is in my car or truck he is seatbelted, when he is with his sister in our family wagon or Grand Vitara they are in the back behind a pet barrier.
It doesnt really matter what you use as long as the animal is restrained in some way, just like KeymoFrisby said, they can be distracting, a wet nose in the ear, a paw stepping on your groin, or a loud bark can all distract you and cause an accident.
Meaghan/DragonRider

Well, if a kleenex box can be a dangerous projectile in an accident, imagine what a 85 lb doggy could do. It's probably a good idea to have them restrained. If we had a hatch back we'd have him in the back for sure.
We used to have a net that went in the car between him and us, but he ate threw it, and figured out how to go over or under it. So the harness with seat belt won.. he can at least move around in the back seat, stand, lay down, or lean on the console in the middle but is still restrained enough that he can't go too far in an accident.

Like Keymo's mom, we have a car barrier ... I got it at petsmart for about $50 ... and I have a car! It fits behind the driver's and passenger's seat ... Abby is 85 pounds and I'll be da**ed if I want to have my dog go flying through the windshield!

When she was a puppy I had her in a seat belt / harness but she kept figuring out how to wiggle out of it no matter how snug I had it ... she also figured out that if she hit the red button on the seat belt it popped out and she was no longer harnessed! ... then I had a puppy on my lap!

the barrier is the best thing!

I have seat belt for my smaller dog, but she is smart enough to have figured out how to work the actual button on the belt! She putzes around until she hears the 'click'- then she knows it's just a matter of a couple of turns. Damn cattle dog brains!