Dog Car Harness

Dog car harnesses have become very popular over recent years and provide by far the best solution to keep your dog safe in the car.

A dog that is free to roam around a car is a serious safety concern if the driver needs to break suddenly or is involved in a crash. It can seriously injure or kill a dog and others in the car. A harness is essentially a dog seatbelt and provides safety reassurances for the owner and can help relax a distressed dog who doesn’t like travelling.

A dog car harness will keep a dog contained in one position inside the car. This means that should you break suddenly the dog will not continue to travel forward at high speed and go through the windscreen or hit the back of a seat in front which can kill the driver or passenger – even if they are wearing a seatbelt. Also, your dog will not escape the car, for example out of the window.

Dog car harnesses come in a range of sizes from extra small to jumbo. Be sure to buy the correct size for your dog to ensure maximum safety and comfort. Measurements relate to the chest circumference (otherwise known as girth), just behind the dog’s front legs.

A dog car harness will typically include an attachment that will clip directly into the seatbelt buckle. Others will simply wrap around the seatbelt. Almost all harness designed for cars can also be used to walk dogs, although because they have been manufactured with car safety in mind they are not suitable for long walks – you should get a walking harness that will be more comfortable for your dog.

There are a range of dog car harness manufacturers including the RAC and Clix. Premium brands focus more on comfort for the dog and attractive looks – they are more for the fashionable pet owner.

There are alternatives to dog car harness, such as crates and dog guards. However neither are as safe as a harness and are more bulky and less flexible. If you already have a harness for your dog then you can buy attachments that plug into the seatbelt socket.

Dog car harnesses typically retail from £10. They should be considered an essential purchase for any responsible dog owner.