(He Said) Dogs love riding in cars. They do this best in the back seat or passenger seat. You will also find that some people say they must be contained in a kennel in the back of the vehicle. We don’t take things to that level, to each their own. Up until recently we could let our dogs just be free in the back seat with no issues. Our recent rescue dog Ryder Todd weighs in at around 22 pounds and has more energy that we have ever seen. He also likes to make a mad dash when a door is opened. We are working through that with training but that takes time. We don’t want to deprive him of having an open window. We also don’t want him falling or jumping out of the window or making a mad break for it when the door is opened.
We started with just the seat belt leash-
This was great for about 3 minutes until our overly ambitious dog stepped on the seat belt release giving him the freedom he really wanted. We found this out when we opened the door and he was gone like the wind. We knew something had to be done but didn’t know what yet. While I was surfing the Internet I came across an add for dog stuff and found buckle covers. They prevent accidental releases of the seat belt. This could be for kids or dogs. They go on the buckle before you put the seat belt or dog leash into the buckle. The prevent pressing of the release with some extra work. These featured here will release by using another seat belt end, your key or by lifting it up and pushing the release. We tried these with our tornado dog and even with him getting more steps in the back of the car than a whole jazzercise class does in two sessions. Problem solved. We got the 3 pack so we could have both cars and one in my semi for when I need a dog copilot.
We do recommend using a harness with this combo set-up so there is less chance your canine companion will find a way to get loose, or accidentally gets loose. This is the harness we chose for Ryder Todd.
Here is a general link to find a harness for your dog: Dog harness
Two dogs? No problem. Here is a seat belt leash setup for 2 dogs:
Ryder is a happy dog! Access to the window with no fear of falling out.
Ryder Todd, our mini Husky (?) posing at Riverside Park in La Crosse, WI
