Dog Seat Belts

[Nean]

Hi. Ideas on dog seat belts, which are crash tested? The info online is so confusing. My husband is worried about safety to the front passenger.

 

[Ian Bosman]

I oubt there are many crash tested.

However a harness is recommended and a strop yo an anchor point.
We had a j9 harness and a 1m Web tether that slotted into a rear seat belt clip. (he was 20kgs and not allowed on the furniture). That allowed him to lay under the table or between the front seats.
We also had "Tommy tippy" type, water bowl within his reach during travel.

We bought a harness and a strap designed to fit in a car seat belt anchor from Pets at Home designed to stop the dog injuring itself and others in the event of an accident.

 

[Minxy]

One way to keep a dog safe when traveling in a MH is to have it up against a fixed barrier, eg behind a seat, up against the front of the cab centre etc. We don't tether ours so they lay in these places. If we had a head on accident the structure immediately next to them would prevent their 'continued travelling' at speed and being strangled/having their innards compressed etc by a collar or harness.

If a harness is used by owners it should be one which won't disintegrate and held tightly against whatever it is attached to as any slack at all will add force in an impact as the dog will keep moving forward. Never use tethers IMV.

 

[Wightman]

One way to keep a dog safe when traveling in a MH is to have it up against a fixed barrier, eg behind a seat, up against the front of the cab centre etc. We don't tether ours so they lay in these places. If we had a head on accident the structure immediately next to them would prevent their 'continued travelling' at speed and being strangled/having their innards compressed etc by a collar or harness.

If a harness is used by owners it should be one which won't disintegrate and held tightly against whatever it is attached to as any slack at all will add force in an impact as the dog will keep moving forward. Never use tethers IMV.

But isn't it now law dogs have to be restrained?

 

[ontheroadagain]

One way to keep a dog safe when traveling in a MH is to have it up against a fixed barrier, eg behind a seat, up against the front of the cab centre etc. We don't tether ours so they lay in these places. If we had a head on accident the structure immediately next to them would prevent their 'continued travelling' at speed and being strangled/having their innards compressed etc by a collar or harness.

If a harness is used by owners it should be one which won't disintegrate and held tightly against whatever it is attached to as any slack at all will add force in an impact as the dog will keep moving forward. Never use tethers IMV.

I agree.
Yes, restrain your dog if it is likely to move about when travelling, but in the event of an accident any form of restraint is likely to do more harm than good. For those of you worried about having an accident and being hit on the head by an airborne dog, I would be more concerned about the fridge, cooker etc which are held in position with four wood screws!
Rightly or wrongly our dog also travels unrestrained. He will lye in his bed between the front seats and is happy to remain there for many hours.

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[Minxy]

But isn't it now law dogs have to be restrained?

It is detailed here, how they are restrained is not definitive, just examples given: https://www.highwaycodeuk.co.uk/rules-about-animals-other-animals.html

57
When in a vehicle make sure dogs or other animals are suitably restrained so they cannot distract you while you are driving or injure you, or themselves, if you stop quickly. A seat belt harness, pet carrier, dog cage or dog guard are ways of restraining animals in cars.