Riding in vehicles

[dutchman]

OK folks since it's a topic that always comes up I decided to do a little poll on how you and your dogs ride in motor vehicles. The first part is on your seat belt use and the second is on how the dogs ride in the vehicle.

[Juneysmom]

I ALWAYS use my seat belt. I used to fight with my son when he was little about using the seat belt and then one day when he was about four years old, he watched a show about what happens to kids that don't use seat belts, and I never had a fight with him again. If his friends are in the car, I will not move the car until they put their seat belts on.

My pups ride the My Buddy Lookout car seat. They are happy to ride in the car and get really excited. I tried a large crate, but they didn't like that.

[Kim H.]

seat belts for us and crate for girls :)

[Sausage Mom]

Always a seat belt and always a crate. Both do wonderfully on long trips - it's the short ones to the vets that they don't like :D

[quavec]

My children are the 'seat belt' police. If you are in a car w/them, they will not let up until you buckle up :) . I have always worn one and after getting into a bad wreck where not having would have meant I would not be here, well, it is a habit that I refuse to give up. Cricket travels to and from the vet and on rare occassions on outings w/us. He sits on the passenger floorboard and naps until we get to where we are going. He rides real well down there. No whimpers, no roaming. A couple of times, he has been crated for the drive.

[PennyLover]

I usually always wear my seatbelt, but am guilty of not wearing it when going around the corner or somewhere under a mile or so. Pippit has a special seatbelt-harness type device that he uses(on our vacation, I let him go "free" while we were on the bridge(an hour not-moving one way and over an hour not-moving the other) He LOVES sitting in the back window and will jump right up there (he is not allowed to stay there while we're moving)

[Susa]

I always wear my seatbelt. Isabel has a carseat that she rides in, in the back seat with a seat belt.

[lotsadox]

I'm speaking for myself. The DH doesn't always use his seatbelt. He does use it when I'm driving. I insist on it. He's also bad about not seatbelting the kids in. Luckily, he rarely takes them anywhere.

I've always been good about seat belt use and last year I was in an accident coming home from work. I was hit from the side fairly hard. I didn't get hurt at all. I had a bruise on my head where it hit the side window and that was it. My chiropractor couldn't believe it. He said that side hits usually cause problems. He also said that I probably didn't get hurt because I had my seatbelt on and it tightened up when I got hit. Made even more of a believer out of me.

[Patt]

CA state law, seat belts are required! ;)

For the dogs it depends if we ride in the car or the truck.
If the car we have two crates for Gretel & Trixie. The truck we have one crate for Gretel and Trix rides in my lap.

[Tasha's Mom]

My mother always made us wear seat belts, and I've always done so as an adult, no matter how far I'm going. My Dad, who's a big fellow, never would wear his until we were in LA on a vacation and a car load of teens ran a red light and hit us--totalled the rental car but no injuries, thank goodness. Ever since then, he always wears one.

Tasha has the seat belt piece from the Lookout (but no car seat) and we strap that thru the hug-a-dox.

[Janna]

Humans in our cars always wear seatbelts. My dad saw a safety video at work when my brother and I were little...from then on (even now that we're adults) he doesn't move the car until everyone confirms they're wearing a seatbelt. I feel naked (and scared for my life!) without one. Luckily, hubby was taught to wear his seatbelt from an early age too so that's one less thing I have to nag him about :D
SC has a seatbelt law that's pretty much a joke...wonder why we're one of the top in the country when it comes to motor vehicle deaths :dunno1: :rolleyes:
As an aside...we're also the only state in the country (I think) that doesn't have a helmet law for motorcycle riders.

For now, Schroeder is in a travel carrier in the car...he would bounce all over the place if he wasn't, plus I want him to be safe. I want to get him a hug-a-dog/seatbelt/carseat in a few months when he's closer to fully-grown.

[Courtknee]

Always wear my seatbelt, no exceptions.

The dogs are in their My Buddy Lookout - it is the best thing EVER. It's worth every penny I spent. They are comfy and happy, I know they are safe, and it's easy to get them in and out.

[Schatz's Mom]

In Virginia ONLY the front seat passengers are required by law to wear seatbelts! Stupid Law...All passengers in my vehicle either belt up or walk! Schatz has a Lookout II car seat. Bones hates the car but when necessary he rides in Schatz's car seat. Since my car has bucket seats in the back I purchased an additional Lookout II for Buddy. I agree with Courtney, the car seats are well worth the expense.

[PennyLover]

What are these Buddy seats? I think it's something Pippit would love--he doesn't like his harness/seatbelt thing because he can't see out.

[Schatz's Mom]

What are these Buddy seats? I think it's something Pippit would love--he doesn't like his harness/seatbelt thing because he can't see out.
The Lookout II is a car seat for the puppers. The My Buddy Lookout is big enough for two dogs. Here is a picture of Schatz's seat. It hooks in with the seatbelt and it has a strap that hooks to your harness. Schatz loves his because it puts him up to where he can watch out the window. It's cushy and comfy and the cover is washable.

http://www.ezprints.com/albums/602621/260503/preview/290961_00000_preview.jpg

[nonnyd]

illinois law...use a seatbelt. i said sam had free roaming in car...but actually he mostley stays in back seat. goes from one window to the other! sometimes he comes up front and sits on hoodads lap. he doesnt ride a bit better now than he did the first time we took him for a ride. hes a wiggle-butt!

[roxysmom]

I have always worn my seat belt and won't let anyone ride with me without wearing a seat belt(it is the law, you know!). Roxy rides in the front passenger seat next to me on short trips(in town, to Petsmart 3 blocks away,etc). On the freeway she rides in the back seat and has a harness and a strap that the seat belt fits through to keep her safe.

[Doxie Duo Mom]

We always wear our seatbealts, and Clay and Rocky have the harness/seatbealt combo and that works well for them. In his former home Rocky loved to go for rides (something I do not feel is safe unless it has to be done) however he *thinks* he has to ride on the drivers lap (as he did in his former home) when getting him into the car it's priceless as we put him in the car he jumps right to the drivers seat, then it's a few minutes of play getting him in the back seat and strapped in...where he feels he must protest by barking on the drive. Thankfully the vet's office is within 5 miles.

[Golfer_Girl]

Seatbelts are always on in our cars.
And the pups always are in the My Buddy Lookout.

[KBanister]

I always crate my two. When I first was taking Snooter home on Gotcha Day, our breeder said to always put her in a crate, or else...and I quote: "She's going to fly thru your windshield like a missile if you have to stop suddenly." :yikes:

[LUVMYGUNNER]

Mine have the Lookout Seat.

[Heide]

seat belts and our dogs are in crates.

[Tammara]

We wear our seatbelts faithfully, and ours have been in a crate together since their trip home (together) from the breeder. It's a larger crate now, but whenever they see it, they park their butts in it to go for a ride. On a long ride, they go right to sleep.

I was in a major wreck Dec 03. (Totalled a 97 Mustang convertible :sob: )Without the seatbelt, I would've gone through the front window and down the road at 40 mph. (I hit black ice going downhill and hit a much larger vehicle at that speed, that's why the impact was so brutal.) I said something about the airbag while I was at the hospital, and the cop came unglued. Said the airbag kept me from getting injured, (worse) but the seatbelt kept me in the car! Said LOTS of people now figure since they have airbags, that they don't have to use their seatbelts. Had I done that, I would have gone right over the airbag in the momentum of the accident. Boy did he shut me up fast. :blush:

[Kim H.]

if there was an accident, my dogs would be jerked back and forth in the crate and injured :( so I am a VERY defensive driver when I have my girls in the car! :D

I think the seats where the dog has a harness that is secured by a strap in the back are probably safest?

[doxyzoo]

I always wore my seatbelt and pestered my kids, as well. I was never really sure if they did wear them when I wasn't around until six years ago (8/20/1999) when my kids were in a head on collision where both cars were doing around 50 mph. If it weren't for their seat belts (and air bags) I would have lost both my kids in that instance. As it was Tony snapped his femur (thigh bone) in half and Rachel shattered a vertebrae in her back. They think she was slumped down in the seat and not wearing the seat belt low enough across her hips (think about this next time any of you buckle up - get it in the right position). Also, think about what the people you leave behind will be feeling if the worst happened to you. I know how it feels (for a second there before being reassured that the kids WERE STILL alive) and you don't want others to feel that because of you.

SEAT BELTS SAVE LIVES!

I'll climb down off my soap box now :blush:

[kpm_tex]

I always wear a seat belt and I don't let anyone ride with me unless they do. The pups are now always in a crate. Recent events have convinced me that the absolute safest place for your pupper in the car is in a crate. I used to think the Buddy Car seat ( I have one) and a harness /seat belt would do *BUT* Just this week I know of 2 accidents where in one the crates saved the lives of the 3 dachshunds riding in the mini van.. in the other the dogs were not crated and one dog was thrown from the car and killed when the SUV rolled on top of it and the other dog in the SUV while being thrown free is now missing.
Both accidents were roll overs. In each case what do you think would happen to a little dachshund that was wearing a seat belt? Most likely a broken back or neck from being snapped around at the end of the belt. Even if the vehicle doesn't roll over the force of a sudden stop could still injure or kill a dachshund wearing a seat belt despite the fact that they are attached to it via a harness.
I was hit broadside while I was in my RAM 2500 truck last year... the other car wasn't going that fast but it pushed my truck across 2 lanes of traffic, blew out a tire and left a HUGE bruise where the seat belt grabbed me. It really hit home what kind of force a sudden stop or change of direction can exert.

[doxyzoo]

Are the crates secured in any way? If not, couldn't they go flying, as well?

[Kim H.]

Thank you, Karen, that makes sense since I also drive a truck (higher rollover risk).

[Kim H.]

Are the crates secured in any way? If not, couldn't they go flying, as well?

probably best to fasten them down with the seatbelt somehow?

[kpm_tex]

Yes, crates strapped in would be best....
One other idea from one of my friends...

I have tags on my crates.............NOT with my dog's names and accomplishments but with vital phone numbers. The home phone number, my husband's cell, my cell and the Vet's number are on the crates. I have an understanding with Dr. T (although it's time for a refresher course with the desk staff) that a phone call regarding my dogs from ANYWHERE in the nation will prompt him to retrieve them..........no matter what it takes...........and to take care of them until further notice.

[dutchman]

One way to fasten a crate in the back seat especially if you have fold down rear seats is to take a rope secure it to one headrest support loop it through the handle of the crate then secure it to the second front seat headrest support.

[Janna]

Both accidents were roll overs. In each case what do you think would happen to a little dachshund that was wearing a seat belt? Most likely a broken back or neck from being snapped around at the end of the belt. Even if the vehicle doesn't roll over the force of a sudden stop could still injure or kill a dachshund wearing a seat belt despite the fact that they are attached to it via a harness.


Wow, that's really scary. I never thought about this before, but I drive and SUV too, so the rollover risk is a concern, but I never thought about what would happen to Schroeder if he was in a rollover accident with me. I posted earlier in this thread that Schroeder is crated for now, but I wanted to get him a Lookout seat. Now I'm not so sure...he does fine in his crate, and I seatbelt it in so it can't go flying.

Thanks for starting this thread, dutchman. I'm getting some good info, and it's great that so many of the people that voted wear seatbelts :appl: to all of you!

[Joyce]

Seat Belts for us and the crate for Dexter

[PennyLover]

I was seriously looking at a lookout--and Pippit is using the seatbelt/harness right now. Well, starting tomorrow I'm going to be crating and seatbelting him in. He's going to hate it.

[Julius_Mama_Ali]

CA state law, seat belts are required! ;)

Mmmhm! I'm always buckled up, and the furkids are buckled in via their harnesses.

[Orchid Crazy]

Humans ALWAYS wear seatbelts. I don't care who you are, if you are in MY vehicle, you wear a belt.

Kids: okay as a mom and as someone who is big time into seatbelt safety for children, this is a point of contention with me. I see moms who will fasten their own belt, then let their child roam free. I see moms who are more concerned with the fabric of their child's carseat and whether or not it fits with their aura, then they are abotu the ratings of a particular car seat or booster seat. I see parents who haven't a CLUE how to install a car seat. I see parents who haven't a CLUE about who should be foreward facing; who should be rear facing; ages; weights. You go through 9 months of pregnancy doing the best for your child, you do everything possible to have the best delivery, then you stick them in a seat that matches your car interior and don't even have it installed properly. Mom's will read up on anything about pregnancy, childbirth, but then be ignorant on car seat safety. Okay, off my rant. In a perfect world, there would be a place you could call and report these people who put their children in danger.

My kids: never ride with anyone who doesn't use car seats or booster seats if they are supposed to. I don't care how much your kid whines about it, if they are safest, then deal with the complaining, they'll get over it. My oldest son is now 8, only 66 pounds. Our state doesn't have a law requiring car seats over age 4, only a recommendation for a booster till age 8/80 lbs. My son is 8, he sits in a booster seat and will till his body develops more in order to sustain his organs better in case of a crash. Right now a seatbelt alone could do damage to his internal organs, not a risk I will take.

Buddy: so now I am reading a crate will be better. He sits in a Lookout carseat, properly installed I might add (haha) with a Lookout harness and a hug-a-dog harness.

[HawaiiDoxieLover]

humans have seat belts; puppers in a carry bag on the floor of the back seat- away from the airbags.

[Lambdawg]

I'd use a seat belt even to go to the mail box, lol. I was in a horrible car accident 8 years ago. If I hadn't had been belted in, I wouldn't be here now.
Sometimes, I think I don't have one on and gasp and reach down to feel if it's there or not.
I'm guilty of letting my pups be free in the car. They stay in the back and look out the windows and back window. I usually give them a chewie to keep them occupied. But, recently, I've seen the light. I'm trying out different ones. So far, the best and cheapest is at WalMart @ $15 and some change.

[Chapo's Mom]

I ALWAYS use a seatbelt.

Chapo gets to sit on my lap for quick trip to the corner store.
On the highway...he's crated.

[alfina]

I always wear a seat belt even if dirving down the street. Just a habbit when I get in the car. And so do Natasha and hubby. Even when we have someone riding in the back seat, we always have them buckle in even if it is an adult. You'd think why bother? But in case of accident an unbuckled person becomes a serious weight being thrown around. And that is dangerous to anyone around in that car.

I always have dogs in Sherpa carriers and strap them in. Rumble is too big for any crate that would fit in my car. He has a Roadie harness and gets also buckled in. On their web site they say that crates can explode in a collision for a dog hitting the carrier hard. That's a possibility. I think having a dog in a crate is better than having them roam around or worse yet riding in your lap where they will get flattened by an airbag.

[graci67]

I ALWAYS wear my seatbelt.... If I dont I feel uncomfortable. Graci sits on the lap with me but if we're going on long trips I bring her crate.

[kerie0408]

Do all of the LOOKOUT seats have fleece on them? Oscar would try to eat fleece. We have a thing that looks like a short leash that straps to the seatbelt. It's the only thing we tried that he is good in. It doesn't seem that safe, though. He's also in my lap sometimes, which scares me so I try to limit that. Would love to get a car seat. I have a 2 door coupe, so it is a pain to get to the back seat, but I'll do it for Oscar!!

[LUVMYGUNNER]

All the ones I have seen have the fleece.

[doxunzX3]

Even for people that don't like to wear them. I am guilty of letting the dogs take turns riding in the front on my roommates lap. But it isn't a good idea I know. We have been lucky seeing as how I seem to be an accident magnet. :pullhair: I have had a truck and 2 vans totalled. OUCH! No wonder I have such a bad back hey! :chin:
Anyway my friend that also has doxies said not to let them ride in the front ever because of the air bags. The doxies are mostly together in one BIG crate. They seem to be the happiest together. None of the dogs have ever gotten hurt in any of the accidents. They love to do the Doxund Pile even in the crate. :love0059:

[maddoxies]

I have worn a seat belt since they first came out as options in a car (ok, so I am OLD)

Valentin is in his crate and I have a D ring from the handle to the seatbelt. I used to put the seat belt around his crate, but it would slip off (seatbelt is fastened behind crate, then Dring attaches crate). I worry more about Heidi in her Outward Hound car seat. In the car seat she has more movement and more potential for injury. She will not ride in a crate, bangs the door until her nose bleeds.

I saw the more horrible accident last summer. Pick up truck rolled on the highway, pinning people under it. Their chow riding in the back (fastened to a chain by his collar) was thrown on the first roll. The force snapped the chain. I think he died of internal injuries, I gave my phone number, but no one ever called me. He was bleeding interally. I stopped (was on the scene before EMTs) and sat in the ditch with Chico's head on my lap, trying to staunch the blood coming from his anus. The EMTs freaked when they saw me with an injured chow chow, saying "he is in shock, he will bite you" Well, if he has't bitten me in the last 20 minutes, I dont think he will now. They gave me a pediatric oxygen mask, saying to try it but they had never had much luck getting it on a dog. I am not saying I am that good, but within 5 minutes I had the O2 mask right up to his muzzle. I think he did not fight the O2 mask because poor Chico was that injured. The O2 did seem to help his pain.

Animal control was called to take charge of Chico. Firemen and EMTs made faces and said they would never send their pets to that kennels.

MY POINT??? ONE: Do not put pets in the back of pick up trucks. TWO I have a letter on the crate and in my wallet in case I cannot speak for my self. The written instructions say that my guys (and any foster with me) do not go with Animal Control, but to a vet for safe keeping and names numbers of family members who will guarantee payment. Medications, feeding and special instructions are in the letter too.

In case of a car accident, I want my babies to have the same quality of emergency treatment that I will receive.

[kpm_tex]

Since this poll has been brought up to the top and since I was just discussing this very thing with friends at my Dachshund Club Christmas party yesterday... I'll have to tell my story of the Look out car seats once again.

I have 2 of the Look Out car seats.. a single and an oversized. They are both acting as expensive doggie beds in my home office now. Why? Over a year ago I was coming home from agility class, it was dark out by that time. Merry was in the Car seat, in her Hug-a-dox harness and strapped in with the seat belt that comes with the car set. Merry, after class, liked to stretch out in the oversized seat and roll on her back in typical doxie fashion. After a little while I reached over to pet her and realized she was not moving. I swerved over to the side of the road, slammed the truck in park and turned on the lights. There was Merry wrapped up in that seat belt strap, not moving and barely breathing. The strap had not been that long but somehow she had gotten tangled up in it and it was all I could do to get her unwrapped. I had to Rub her HARD to get her back to being responsive. I can only think it was divine providence that made me reach over to pet her.. had I not she would have been dead.

I know we all have our preferences and we all have to make our own choices but I can tell you all of my dogs are now crated... even a softsided crate is better IMO than a seat belt of any type. In the event of an accident your pupper will be thrown to the end of that seat belt and then snap back... causing who knows what type of injury. Having been bruised badly by being thrown against my own seat belt in a minor accident you just can even begin to imagine the force of even a minor impact until it actually happens.

Sorry to have been so long winded.. I'll step down from my soap box now. :)

[Bailey'sMom]

We are just having to face the fact that we need to purchase car seats for our dogs. Where did you guys get them? We just made a 9,000 mile trip w/5 dogs; can you imagine? Dennis took back seat out; replaced it w/a mattress; took console out so they could run back & forth between front & back seats. Worked okay but we could see the eventuality of car seats in the near future
& it was also obvious it is just too easy to be distracted this way. Gay

[beausmom1]

We always wear seatbelts!

Beau rides in his crate because I had never seen those doggie car seats before, how comfy do those look!?
(yikes, i wrote that and then read the seat belt horror story...scary...i think it was divine power! so glad you pulled over to save her!)

Anyway, I read in a book somewhere that not only is it important for our pups to be secure because they could easily fly out in a car accident, but also because if you did get in an accident and were unable to care for your dog, you are assured that he or she would not run out of the car when the EMTs got there!!

Buckle up... :angel:

[Alexis' Mommy]

Actually, Alexis was always scared of car rides until I got her the Snoozer lookout car seat. Now when we grab her harness, she knows she gets to go for a car ride & loves it since she's free to look out the window & move around a little. My question is, we are getting ready to get another pup. For now he will ride in a crate until he's big enough for the harness we bought him. When he graduates to the car seat, will there be enough room for both of them to lay down? We are taking a trip to Canada next year & want them to be comfortable & safe.

[Teckle Mom]

Seatbelts are required by law here. For short trips to the vet, groomers, etc., we use the loop provided in the harnesses & belt them in. For long trips, definately the crates.

Charlotte

[longtimecouple1]

My granddaughter always puts hers on, I got her used to it very young, she's now 14 and still does it automatically. I do most of the time for long rides, especially highway driving, but not as good about it if only running quick errands (I know, not an excuse, I agree). Hubby only does it when hounded by me, or if he sees a cop at a construction/ roadwork site.

As far as the dogs, they have a special pet seat, with 4 sides, but the front rolls down so they can see us. But they are harnessed into it, no roaming. They are able to sit up and look out the window, because the seat sits on a suitcase base which really comes in handy when travelling with them. I store all their food, treats, toys, water, etc in there.

[JacksonsDaddy]

When I was about 10 years old, my Grandmother and I were driving down the street. Her dachsie, Chelsea, was in the back seat, loose. Someone pulled out in front of us, and we T-boned them.

Chelsea was just starting to climb over the armrest from the back seat to the front seat when my G-ma hit the brakes. The result was a flying wiener dog that hit the console. She was ok, thank goodness, but I learned then and there that everyone in the car should be straped down.

Jackson rides in his crate perpendicular to the front of the car, and the crate is secured with a seat belt in the back. Always in the back because of the passenger air bag.

[PetMother]

We ALWAYS wear our seatbelts. The doggies are either free roam, carrier or lap. It just depends on how long the ride is and who is with us.