The lap belt must lie snugly across the upper thighs, not the stomach. The shoulder belt should lie snug across the shoulder and chest, and not cross the neck or face. Never let a child put the shoulder belt under an arm or behind the back because it could cause severe injuries in a crash.
Seat-belt harnesses have several major benefits: Dogs are prevented from being ejected in an accident. Even “low speed” accidents can result in a dog being propelled at 20 mph or more through a windshield. The harness also absorbs deceleration forces much as a human seatbelt does, reducing injury.
So, should your dog wear a seatbelt? Not necessarily, but they do need to be restrained for their own safety, as well as yours. your passengers, other road users- and even the emergency services in case of an accident.
It's true that a harness is safer than a conventional inertia reel belt; the increased surface area in contact with the body transfers loads more evenly, and thanks to some really clever tech in the high-end belts they soften the deceleration in the event of a bump.
Of course the huge benefit of using harnesses in place of seatbelts is overall safety. Harnesses (4 or 5 point) greatly restrict the motion of the driver and passenger in case of a collision and spread out the force over a wider area by using more points of attachment to the vehicle's frame.
Humans aren't the only ones who should buckle up. Even if you've got the chillest dog on the planet and see no reason to confine her (as 42 percent of survey respondents believed) or you're just going on a quick drive, the short answer for “does your dog need a seat belt” is: Yes they do, says Lindsey A.
For larger plastic kennels, you may need to invest in safety straps that can be clipped onto your dog's kennel and buckled right into your seatbelt latch. If you're unable to find these, you may need to place the kennel in the cargo area of your SUV.
NHTSA recommends children remain in a forward-facing car seat with a 5-point harness until the child reaches the top height or weight limit allowed by the seat. At which time, the child can move into a belt positioning device. A belt positioning device should properly position the seat belt on the child.
1:429:15You clip every to the d-ring on the harness. And then this little part buckles in to the seatbelt inMoreYou clip every to the d-ring on the harness. And then this little part buckles in to the seatbelt in your car so it's not an issue.
The Direct to Seatbelt Tether attaches to the female end of your seatbelt, and can just live there. When your dog hops in, simply attach the opposite end to his harness via the included carabiner, and off you go—your dog safely in back, and you in the driver's seat (even if your dog wishes it was the other way around).
Seatbelts should be enough when securing a small dog travel crate. Be sure to put the crate lengthwise on the back seat. You must thread the seatbelt or a shoulder harness through the safety straps which are sewn on the crate. Once you are done, pull and tighten the belt and ensure that it “clicks” into the buckle.