Carseat thread is making me feel very bad about unrestrained dog in car

[EmsMum]

The dog is a dachshund. He travels on the back seat. A couple of times sudden braking has pitched him into the footwell.

We did try a canine 'seatbelt' on his predecessor, but it just didn't seem to work on a dog that shape.

I understand forces and momentum very well.

Any constructive suggestions please?

buy an estate car and a dog cage

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Dog cage. It's not just about your dog's safety but also the passengers. Even a small dog flying through the air after an accident will take your head off.

Dog cage for the boot.

Not worth the risk.

We have hatchbacks - I don't think an estate is required for a dachsie!

Will have to look at crates... does anyone know if there are smallish ones which could go on back seat and be restrained with the seatbelt?

You can get dog guards for hatchbacks.

Yes dog guard would be best - or even just one of those net things that fix across the gap to stop high-piled luggage from coming forward.

So if the dog (crated or not) is in the boot, where does the luggage go?

On the seat where the dog would have been? Possibly restrained in some way.

Um...suitcases bigger and heavier than dachshund!

As daschunds are small - squeeze the luggage in the back with the dog.

Or get a bigger car.

Definitely use a pet cage. Argos have them in 3 sizes, the small is 40x49x32 cm and costs £24.99. It has a mat in the base, but you could squeeze a small dog bed into it for extra padding if you have to brake hard. It should be O.K. to secure with a seat belt. Don't know where the 'door' is positioned on it so could be awkward getting the dog in and out, if placed on a car seat.

Thanks kitten. will take a look at that.

Why don't harnesses work? The ones I've used on various family dogs all adjustable for chest/neck areas and the newer ones clip around the clipped-in seat belt, so height not a problem. I've seen dachshunds in harnesses for lead walking, so shouldn't be a problem. If you can't get normal travel harness that will go small enough, use small harness and firmly attach this to the seat belt...

Mistlethrush, I'm trying to remember over 10 years back... the dog just didn't seem to be able to get comfortable. IIRC the strap part was quite short and didn't allow enough room to manouvre that long bod. Maybe theres better designs now... any recommendations welcome.

It would fit in a large cat basket... they only need one large enough to lie/turn round in.

Then, said basket could go in back, with seatbelt round it - or in footwell?

We have two mini schnauzers, bigger than your dash probably but we made an MDF shelf to go in the boot covered with carpet. They sit on this and the dog guard stops them leaping over the back seats of the hatch. The luggage then goes under the shelf. They love it as they are higher up and can see out better, though back window does get a lot of nose marks. Also benefit is you can get water bowls etc that fasten on to the guard so they can have a drink on the move etc and its easier for you to keep an eye on them via the rear view mirror than turning round to the back seat. The rest of the car is much cleaner without the sandy paws everywhere too! Everyone's a winner!

Emsmum - we got our dog car harness in PetsatHome - both the neck and the chest straps. Whereas the 'old' harnesses that my parent's dogs got about 16 yrs ago had a loop that you posted the seatbelt through before fixing it in, the 'newer' version that we got for our dog about 8 yrs ago has an opening loop - which means that you strap the seat belt in, get the dog in, then clip the loop of the harness around the seatbelt. This means that there is a lot more flexibility of movement in the harness loop - our collie sized dog can turn around (underneath) whilst strapped in safely. In fact, the only way she settles for long journeys is if she is in her harness - she sits in the passenger footwell for short journeys and whines all the way, but if she is in her harness she knows its a long journey and goes to sleep straight away.

It might be worth a look... I think you can take your dog into PetsatHome and try the harnesses on them there...

Couldn't you just persuade/train your dog to travel under your feet in the front? All our family dogs have always travelled there, and we have never noticed them being pitched forwards.