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Dogs are part of the family and we want to make sure they’re safe in the car just like everyone else. That’s why dog seatbelts are becoming more popular as a way to keep our dogs safe on car trips.
Should Dogs Wear Seat Belts?
Legally speaking, the rules about how to secure a dog inside a car vary across different states. Check with your local road traffic authority to find out what applies to you. For example, in Queensland there’s no legal requirement to restrain animals when being driven.
⚠️ Restraining Is Still Strongly Recommended
Even where there’s no legal requirement to restrain your dog, it’s still strongly recommended — both to keep your dog safe, and to prevent your pet from distracting you while driving, which would be an offence. A seatbelt is one of several options available to you.
What Is the Safest Way for a Dog to Travel in a Car?
The safest way for a dog to travel is safely restrained in the back seat, or in a crash-tested car travel crate. You can restrain your dog with a dog seatbelt attached to a harness. To protect your car from hair and slobber, you can use a car seat for dogs or a car dog bed. If you have a small dog, a dog booster seat is another option. And if your dog struggles to get into the car, consider a dog ramp for cars.
🚨 Never Travel With Your Dog in the Front Seat
Airbags can kill young children riding in the front seat, and the same risks apply to dogs. Always keep your dog in the back seat.
Do Dogs Need a Harness in a Car?
If you use a dog seatbelt to keep your dog safely restrained, it’s best to attach it to a harness — not a collar. Attaching a seatbelt to a collar puts dangerous pressure on the neck in a sudden stop or collision.
Where to Get a Dog Seatbelt
Dog seatbelts are available at most pet stores and online from retailers like Amazon. There are two main types:
🔍 Two Types of Dog Seatbelts
Clip-in type
Clips into your car’s seatbelt buckle like a human seatbelt. Simple and familiar, but some dogs can accidentally unbuckle it by stepping on the release button.
Over-headrest type
Loops over the headrest instead of clipping in. Easier to attach and your dog can’t accidentally unbuckle it. The downside: if you have a heavy dog and a car that beeps when there’s weight on the seat, you’ll still need to clip in the seatbelt to silence the warning.
Image: SlowTon | Available from $16.99 | View on Amazon →
