The Importance of Seat Belts for Dogs

You probably put on a seat belt every time you enter a vehicle. It’s second nature to most people. Everyone knows seat belts save lives. It’s so well known, that the law now requires that people wear seat belts. Have you ever thought about your dog? When riding in the vehicle, is your dog restrained? Does he ride in a cage or is he hanging halfway out the window? Everyone wants the best for their dog, most of us think of them as family. Feeling the wind blow in their face as they ride down the road is one of a dog’s great joys. However, what happens in the case of an accident?

In the case of an accident, an unrestrained dog can suffer catastrophic injury or even death. A dog may become injured by falling, crashing into something, or being thrown from the vehicle. In the event that the dog survives the initial crash, a frightened animal is much more likely to behave erratically and run into traffic. In some cases, a dog may feel they are protecting their owner while actually preventing rescuers from assisting. The use of Dog Car Seat Belt can assist in keeping both you and your dog safe.

There are many products available on the market today to help your four-legged friend be as safe as possible in a vehicle. Generally the starting point for restraining an animal is a car dog harness. It is always recommended you use a harness when restraining your pet in a vehicle. In the event of an impact, a collar will place all the force of the restraint on your dog’s neck. This can cause the neck to snap. By using a harness, the force is spread throughout the chest area. It is not consolidated to one impact point. To attach the harness to the vehicle, use a dog leash belt or a dog car seat belt leash. This product attaches to the clip of the harness. The other end then clips into the normal seat belt latch of your vehicle. These seat belts for dogs are usually available from 16 to 27 inches. They allow the dog a certain amount of room to move around in the vehicle while still keeping them restrained at a safe distance from the driver.

Besides the restraining product, it is also advisable to invest in a car seat extender or a good and solid dog hammock. A car seat extender or pet hammock fills the space between the back seat and the front seats of a vehicle. It forms a barrier that prevents your dog from falling into the footrest area during sudden stops. This prevents injuries from unexpected falls and allows for a more comfortable ride, especially for large dogs in a small back seat.

Buckling our seat belt is an automatic response when we get in a vehicle. We do it for our own safety. Our pets deserve the same. Restraining your dog in a vehicle is a safety measure for both the owner and the animal.

Sabrina Harper is the spokesperson for LYZZO, a company who is dedicated to understand the difficulty between dogs wish to be with their owner at all times, yet owners often dread taking the furry friend along for fear the animal will become injured or the car covered in dog fur. With a dog car seat belt, this concern is eliminated as the device prevents the animal from jumping up front.

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