Car Harnesses

It is in the highway code that a dog must be restrained in a car, we buckle up, why shouldn't our best friends? Minimise driving distractions and increase protection for both you and your dog. Bergan's harnesses meet V9DT B2009.1. Pet Safety Durability Test (see www.v9dt.com) . The minimum durability thresholds are designed to ensure confidence that a harness will withstand forces generated from sudden stops while minimising distractions from traveling pets. The complete harness system comes equipped with adjustable safety tether and two high-grade aluminium carabiners. The harness is durable but lightweight and comfortable.

Comes in 4 fully-adjustable sizes
- Xlarge: for pets 80-150 lbs
- Large: for pets 50-80 lbs
- Medium: for pets 25-50 lbs
- Small: for pets 10-25 lbs

Larry Copeland from the USA TODAY  looks at some of the issues relating to restraining dogs in cars.

Nearly 60% of dog owners have driven while distracted by their pets as passengers, according to a new survey by auto club AAA. Only 17% - about one in six - ever use animal restraints, which can prevent pets from being a distraction and protect them and other occupants in a crash, the survey finds.

In crashes, unrestrained dogs pose an unintended threat to the driver and other passengers, says Jennifer Huebner-Davidson, manager of traffic safety programs at AAA (US equivalent of the AA).

She says an unrestrained 10-pound dog in a crash at 50 mph will exert 500 pounds of force on whatever it strikes; an 80-pound dog in a crash at just 30 mph will exert about 2,400 pounds, she says. Unrestrained dogs also can prove distracting by climbing onto the driver's lap, interfering with the ability to steer or crawling onto the foot pedals.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals recommends that people use restraints on dogs and cats to prevent harm to the animals, the driver and other passengers, says Louise Murray, a veterinarian and vice president of the ASPCA's Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital in New York.

Pets not only shouldn't ride in the driver's lap, they also shouldn't ride in the front passenger seat because of the risk of injury from a deploying airbag, Murray says. "The best way for people to think about this is to compare the dog to having a child in the car," she says.

Pet restraints include harnesses, hard- or soft-sided travel crates and vehicle seats.

People are taking their dogs along for leisure rides, on local errands and on other trips, according to the online survey by AAA and Kurgo of 1,000 dog owners who have driven with their dogs in the past 12 months. Other risks of riding with unrestrained dogs: After a crash, the animal might run away or prevent rescue personnel from reaching injured motorists.

Almost four in 10 (39%) households in the USA have a dog, the American Pet Products Association says.

"Our dogs are traveling with us so much more this day and age," Huebner-Davidson says. "They really have become part of our family. We want to make sure we're buckling up our dogs but also keeping our focus on the road."

 

These harnesses are tested to human saftey standards.

What Does this mean? Click on V9T logo below and find out more. If your car harness is not tested to these safety standards then it is NOT a safe car harness for you or your dog. We would like you to buy the Bergan car harness, but whatever car harness you choose please check to see if it is tested to human safety stand. If it is not then it is unlikey that it will restrain your dog in the event of an accident, and either the webbing on the harness could cut through him or it will snap catapulting him through the air in an accident that could cause either his or other people in the car's death. Mischief and Arapahoe (the Xtra Dog dogs) say "put safety first".

Xtra Dog supports the Bergan Paws to Click campaign. Click here for more details

Dogs Today editor, Beverley Cuddy was on Radio 5 Live talking about car harnesses,  here is a transcript of what she said. Thank you Beverley for getting this message out there.

Talking about the laws surrounding restraining dogs

"As the rest of Europe seems to be doing it automatically I think it is only a matter of time before  we do too. If it's a clear rule I think people should know they should be doing it - We were all resistant to car safety belts for people, but when its the law you do it."

"I think the thing to notice here is at the moment when you are buying seat belts and car seats for babies there are standards you look for to make sure they are properly tested - there are not too many harnesses that are properly crash tested for dogs ....... At the moment anyone can sell you a harness and will not get done, they are not the same standards that you are getting for humans."