|
Dmor,
My comment about small dog owners was made in jest, but you have really brought up a good point, that being childless, I have never thought about. You have a 13lb dog but I have a 110 lb dog so the logistics of restraint are more challenging. There is no way we could get our dog to sit on the seat because he does not fit nor will he stay in that position. He either stands or lies down in the cargo area with a collar and lease not a harness. I saw the pictures of what appears to be a lab with a harness attached to a ring on the floor. Since I do not have my MDX yet, just like you, I need to know from a current owner if there is any ring in the cargo area floor already, or does one have to put one in.
As far as claws go, my 3 Abyssian cats only ride to the vet, reluctantly mind you, and are always in carriers so I don't believe they are in harms way. |
|
|
|
The rings are there.
If you attach a pet to the ring it will probably get it's neck and/or back broken!!
The safest way you can transport a big dog in a vehicle is in as confined a space as possible. Primarly so that the bulky, massive part of their body (hind quarters and midsection) bears the force of any impact. A leash will break a dog's neck! The batzi belts are better for smaller dogs, as big dogs don't fit on the seat very well at all.
Airline-style pet carriers are best. Next are station wagon "fences". I will most likely get one of those. Way down the list are on the back (or third row)seats. The "pro" is that the backs of the front seats, and second row seats are pretty well upholstered/padded and offer alot of area to catch the animal in a collision. The "con" is there is a strong possibility a leg or neck is the first thing to hit, causing pretty nasty injury. (Our old shepard was in third second row seat of our Country Squire wagon and broke a fore leg in collision that harmed no one else in the car. She healed pretty well, but it really accellerared her aging.) Obviously front seats are even more deadly.
There problems with "doggy seat belts" and big dogs is the AREA that the belt covers is too small. In any kind of collision tremendous force is going to be exerted on the dogs' back and chest. The major area that "seatbelts" are supposed to apply force to in humans are the THIGHS. The lapbelt is supposed to be way down across your legs. The shoulder belt is supposed to keep your upper body from loosing contact with the seat and smacking into something, but the deacceleration is applied primarly to you lower body (just like in roller costers). For smaller dogs this isn't nearly as important, but the inertia that a big dog has sitting or lying on a seat is tremendous (technically greater than a person of similar weight has, because the human is SEATED and has some mass (their legs/feet) below the seat...) and they will be whipped around badly. The other problem is getting the damn things on big dogs. To get my 70 lbs. lab into the harness that goes on the belt took alot of tugging and fussing. Then in the car the seat belt has to be hooked to the thing. Then the dogs wants to move and the tension adjuster gets all pulled out. Then the dog feels uncomfortable on the belt and starts trying to mouth/tug at it. Not the best. My sister's wheatie (35- 40 lbs) is better suited to it, but still not as well protected as in a good "airline carrier". |
|
|
|
Here's another link to a doggie seatbelt in multiple sizes. We've been using it w/our Golden Retriever (70lbs) ever since we heard about it...before we used "the cage" but this really keeps her held in her seat when we have to hit the brakes or turn sharply -- and there's still enough slack for her to be comfy.
The straps are pretty thick and the harness appears, to me anyway, to evenly distribute the "load" over the chest.
They come in a variety of sizes, and were rated "best" by some dog magazine I read in our vet's office.
The site isn't the easiest to navigate so you might just start @ the homepage and poke around:
http://www.ruffrider.com
http://www.ruffrider.com/Morefacts.htm
http://www.ruffrider.com/shop/
|
|
|
|
renov8r and TheWorm,
I also had some of the same concerns about the kinetics of big dogs such as my Great Pyr versus something more along the size of my cats. Reviewed the ruffrider website and looks like their harness might work. However, I am still wondering about what to fasten it to. Renov8r's point about floor rings seems to be on target. What about the third-row seat belt harness? At least they are fastened to the frame and should be strong enough to carry a persons weight or a big dog. Interested in your or others thoughts. |
|
|
|
| My 100+ Choclate Lab likes to lay on the floor in fron of the second row. That was no problem in the Expedition but I haven't tried it in the MDX yet. He would be fairly safe on the floor (I think) unless of course we rolled... |
|
|
|
