The 3 Safest Seat Belts for Dachshunds
Just a quick stop of your car could potentially inflict serious neck and back injury to your Dachshund. Using a high-quality dog seat belt can effectively prevent injury and safeguard your beloved Doxie’s life.
There are many dog seat belt choices online, but very few have been crash tested and have actually passed!
After researching several dog car seat belts, I decided to purchase the Sleepypod ClickIt Sport Car Safety Dog Harness for my Miniature Dachshunds.
This seat belt passed the CPS crash testing with 5 Stars, and they have a video to prove it!
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Table Of Contents
Why Use a Seat Belt For Your Dog?
Dogs who aren’t properly restrained in the car are a hazard to the driver and other passengers in the vehicle.
Keep in mind, a car’s safety features are designed for humans only, not dogs.
A dog car seat belt should maintain your dog’s stability in the car and restrain their movements under a lot of force.
A 10lb dog (unrestrained) can generate up to 500 pounds of projectile force. 1
As Dachshund owners, we all know that our precious pups have delicate spines. Safely securing your doxie in the car can help reduce the risks of injury or death.
Related Post: How To Reduce The Risk Of IVDD
Do Dog Seat Belts Really Work?
Yes, using a high-quality Dog Seat Belt that has passed crash testing and is CPS certified can help prevent driver distractions and injury.
Note: American Automobile Association says “One in five dog owners surveyed has admitted to taking their hands off the steering wheel in order to prevent their dog from climbing in the front seat.” 2
Dog seat belts consist of a full body dog harness that attaches to the car seat belt or headrest.
If an accident occurs, the seat belt dog harness will spread out the pulling force of a leash along your dog’s chest and back, minimizing the force along the neck.
Note: The safest place for your dog is to be buckled in the backseat of your vehicle.
Can Seat Belts Reduce Motion Sickness In Dogs?
Yes, using a dog seat belt not only keeps your dog safe, but it will also keep them facing forward and sitting still.
This helps to reduce your dog’s chance of getting motion sickness while traveling.
Post You May Like: How To Prevent Motion Sickness in Dogs
How To Choose The Best Dog Seat Belt
Most importantly, the seat belt you choose for your doxie needs to have Passed Crash Testing and be CPS certified.
It should also be adjustable and comfortable for your dog’s size, so make sure to measure your pup properly.
How To Measure Your Dog Correctly:
Accurately measure your dog before purchasing any car restraint. Here is a video to help you measure your pup correctly: How to Measure a Dog’s Neck & Chest Size.
Crash Test Certified:
Dog Seat Belt performance requirements for CPS Certification include:
- Center for Pet Safety Accessory
- Canine Excursion
- Hardware/Webbing Migration
- Hardware and Stitching Integrity
Check out the Center For Pet Safety Website for more details on each of these requirements.
“A National Highway Safety Traffic Administration study concluded that people who drive with pets in their cars are much more likely to get into car accidents than those who drive without them.” 3
Best Seat Belts For Dachshunds
I found two dog car seat belts and one travel carrier that have passed crash testing with 5 star ratings. You can watch the crash test videos in the descriptions below.
Beware of any seat belt that hasn’t officially passed crash testing.
#1 Choice: Sleepypod ClickIt Sport
The Sleepypod ClickIt Sport Car Harness is a wide supportive vest that distributes damaging forces. It is certified for dogs from 18 to 90lbs by the Center for Pet Safety.
Five-Star Safety / Infinity Loop Technology
The Sleepypod Clickit Sport dog seat belt went through the same Crash Testing used for child safety restraints.
Clickit Sport earned safety certification and a five star rating from the Center for Pet Safety (CPS).
Here are Sleepypod Clickit Sport’s Crash Test Videos.
The Sport’s Infinity Loop design, in combination with an energy absorbing padded vest, is engineered to work together to distribute and reduce damaging forces in an accident.
Sleepypod ClickIt Sport Features
Sizes
Sizes are determined by chest measurement around a dog’s rib cage, just behind the front legs. Here is the sizing guide for Sleepypod seat belts.
- Small (16.5-22 inches) Crash Test Rated to 25 lbs.
- Medium (22.5-28 inches) Crash Test Rated to 45 lbs.
- Large (28.5-34 inches) Crash Test Rated to 75 lbs.
Note: Sleepypod recommends using their seat belts on dogs that are at least 18lbs. If your doxie weighs less than 18lbs, please consider using the Sleepypod travel carriers below.
This doggie seat belt also passed CPS Crash Testing with a 5 Star Rating. It is certified for dogs from 18 to 110lbs by the Center for Pet Safety.
Here are the Sleepypod Clickit Terrain Crash Test Videos.
This harness has a three-point design for use in the rear passenger seat and secures your dog’s entire torso.
The Sleepypod Terrain can also be used as a walking harness, so this is really the only harness you will ever need!
Sleepypod Clickit Terrain Features
Sizes
Sizes are determined by chest measurement around a dog’s rib cage, just behind the front legs. Here is the sizing guide for Sleepypod seat belts.
- Small (17.5-22 inches) Crash Test Rated to 25 lbs
- Medium (21.5-27.5 inches) Crash Test Rated to 90 lbs
- Large (26-32 inches) Crash Test Rated to 90 lbs
- Extra Large (31.5-39.5 inches) Crash Test Rated to 90 lbs
Note: Sleepypod recommends using their seat belts on dogs that are at least 18lbs. If your doxie weighs less than 18lbs, please consider using the Sleepypod travel carrier listed below.
The Sleepypod Air is a travel pet carrier that passed the CPS crash test for dogs less than 18lbs and is rated with 4 stars.
Here are the Sleepypod Air Carrier Crash Test Videos.
Sleepypod Air Features
Size
The Sleepypod Air is 22-inch long, 10-1/2-inch wide, and 10-1/2-inch high. Here is the sizing guide for Sleepypod carriers.
The Sleepypod Atom is a travel pet carrier that passed the CPS crash test for dogs up to 8 lbs and is rated with 5 stars.
Here are the Sleepypod Atom Carrier Crash Test Videos.
Sleepypod Atom Features
Size
The Sleepypod Atom is 17 inches long, 8.5 inches wide, and 10.5 inches thick. Here is the sizing guide for Sleepypod carriers.
How To Get Your Dog Used To A Seat Belt
Some doxies may find car seat belts uncomfortable at first, so it is important to introduce them gradually.
Here is what helped my dachshund get used to his doggie seat belt:
- Confirm that your dog is wearing the correct size for comfort. (Always take measurements before purchase)
- Put the harness on your doxie for a few minutes, then take it off.
- Gradually increase your dog’s time in the harness and follow up with verbal praise and a small treat.
- Take their blanket along to help them stay calm while riding in the car.
- Keep the experience positive.
Does your Dachshund use a Seat Belt? Let us know your experience below.
Up Next: How To Avoid IVDD In Dachshunds
Hi, We are currently using the Kurgo Tru-Fit Enhanced on our doxie and the front plate moves to one side because of his chest bone. Is it the same problem with the Sleepypod?
Hi Linda, the ClickIt Sport is pretty broad in the front, which is nice for the barrel chest of the doxie. I don’t personally notice a whole lot of major shifting.
I had written Sleepypod specifically asking about the Clickit Terrain Safety Harness vs the Sport Harness. For doxies I was told the Sport is the better option because it is lighter weight. However, if my doxie is under 18 pounds, the harness was not recommended but rather a carrier would be better. Smaller dogs have, of course, smaller, finer bones and the harness could possibly do more harm than good in the event of a crash. Just thought I’d pass this along. Thank you.
Hello Linda, Thank you so much for sharing this info about the Sleepypod dachshund seat belt. It is very helpful.