Best Dog Harnesses for Car Travel: Crash-Tested Car Safety for Spot!

Pet Travel

WRITTEN BY:

Ben Team

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car harness for dogs

Many dogs love riding in cars, as it gives them a chance to check out the scenery, enjoy novel odors, and bark at the motorists in adjacent lanes!

Owners often love having a canine co-pilot too, so you’ll see plenty of pooches riding down the street on any given day.

But while car rides are usually fun for dogs and their drivers, few people understand that four-legged passengers can make driving much more dangerous than normal (and, let’s face it – driving is pretty hazardous in even the best of circumstances).

In fact, dogs not only raise your risk of having an accident, they can make accidents more dangerous too. So, you have to keep safety in mind!

Fortunately, there are ways you can help mitigate these dangers and keep your beloved bestie safe when riding around town.

Crash-tested car crates and dog car seats (which are more for canine comfort than actual safety) are both good solutions when riding in the car with your dog, but today, we’ll discuss harnesses designed to keep your pup safe during car trips.

No time to read the full article? Here are our top picks!

Best Dog Harnesses for Car Travel: Quick Picks

  • #1 ZuGoPet Rocketeer Pack [Best Overall Dog Harness for Car Travel]: Featuring a four-point restraint system and an “upright” orientation, this crash-tested harness is our clear favorite.
  • #2 Sleepypod Clickit Sport Utility Safety Harness [Best Dog Harness for Car Travel – Runner Up]: A very reasonable alternative to the Rocketeer Pack, the Clickit Sport is an effective harness that’s also available in several colors.
  • #3 Kurgo Tru-Fit Enhanced Strength Dog Harness [Most Affordable Dog Harness for Car Travel]: Though it hasn’t been tested by the CPS, this affordable harness may be a good choice for owners with limited budgets.

Crash-Testing Car Harnesses: Fact and Fiction

dog car harness

Unfortunately, a lot of car harness manufacturers use deceptive marketing practices when advertising their products. This can lull you into a false sense of security and give you the impression that your dog is safer than you think she is.

For example, many manufacturers label their harnesses as having been crash tested. However, this does not mean they passed such tests – only that they were put through the testing procedure.

Instead, you’ll want to find a harness that specifically is labeled as having passed crash test studies.

Other manufacturers may get their harness to pass a crash test, but the test was performed by their own employees or a subsidiary – hardly a way to get non-biased results. These types of studies are rarely published in detail, so it is impossible to determine if they were valid studies or not.

dog car harness

Instead, you want a harness that has been tested by a third-party group, and has passed the test – hopefully with flying colors.

Fortunately, the Center for Pet Safety (CPS) conducts exactly these types of tests and publishes their testing protocols and results so that pet owners can make informed choices.

Currently, there are only three car harnesses that have been crash test certified by the CPS.

However, we’ve also found two other harnesses that have been put through testing protocols we’re at least partially comfortable with. Neither was tested by the CPS, but we believe they still warrant inclusion.

One manufacturer had a university conduct the tests, and we’d generally consider it a safe option. The other only utilized their own testing protocol, so we’re a little less confident about that one. However, budget-limited owners may not have many other options, so we’ve included it anyway.

After all, just about any dog harness for car travel is better than no harness for car travel.

We certainly hold those that’ve been through CPS’s testing protocol to the others, but we wanted to be able to share several options with our readers. It is up to individual pet owners to weigh the various crash-testing procedures employed and make the best possible decision on behalf of their pets.

K9 of Mine vs The Other Guys

You may notice that while we only recommend five car harnesses, some other sites have published articles detailing 10 or more.

We’d gladly include more options, but we want to help owners keep their pups safe!

And unfortunately, the vast majority of car harnesses on the market simply haven’t been tested rigorously enough for our standards.

As mentioned, we do include one harness that doesn’t quite live up to the standards we’d prefer, but we do so only because we wanted to include an affordable option for cash-strapped owners.

If you come across any crash-tested car harnesses we’ve missed, please share them in the comment section below! We’ll check ’em out and add them if we think they’re up to par.

Best Dog Harnesses for Car Travel

If you drive with your dog frequently, you’ll want to select a good car harness, which has been crash-test certified and provides all of the things you’d want in a harness.

The following three are the best available options and the only harnesses that have been crash-test certified by the CPS. These are the safest car harnesses out there!

1. ZuGoPet Rocketeer Pack

Best Overall Dog Harness for Car Travel

This is a sponsored placement, in which an advertiser pays a fee to be featured in this article. Learn more

ZuGoPet Rocketeer Pack

ZuGoPet Rocketeer Pack

A crash-tested, “upright” dog car harness system that doubles as a dog carrier once you arrive at your destination.

About: The ZuGoPet Rocketeer Pack is a complete car harness kit, which is designed to keep your dog safe, secure, and comfortable while riding in your automobile.

The really nifty thing about this harness is that you can take it with you upon reaching your destination and use it as a wearable dog-carrier.

The ZuGoPet Rocketeer Pack is designed for fairly small pups, but it does come in five different sizes. This helps ensure you’ll end up with the perfect fit for your pooch.

The sizes vary based on your dog’s body length, so be sure to get out the tape measure before hitting the “buy now” button.

Features:

  • Secures your dog in an “upright” orientation for maximum safety and security
  • High-quality metal buckles are easy to operate, yet strong
  • Available in 5 sizes, including extra-small, small, medium, large, and extra-large

Crash Testing Info: Earned a 5-star rating from the Center for Pet Safety.

Connection Method: This is a two-part rig. You’ll attach the anchor portion to the backseat of your car (rather than using the seatbelt connectors) and fit the harness portion to your dog. From there, you’ll use the Velcro patches to hold your dog in place while you wrap the included canine seatbelts around your pet.

Pros

  • Four-point restraint system is awesome for keeping your dog secure
  • It’s quite comfortable for dogs
  • Works well with a variety of breeds

Cons

  • The largest size is only certified for dogs weighing 25 pounds or less
  • Frequently out of stock, so you’ll need to grab one when available

2. Sleepypod Clickit Sport Utility Safety Harness

Best Dog Harness for Car Travel [Runner Up]

This is a sponsored placement, in which an advertiser pays a fee to be featured in this article. Learn more

Sleepypod ClickIt Sport Crash-Tested Car Safety Dog Harness (Medium, Jet Black)

Sleepypod Clickit Sport Utility Safety Harness

A highly rated, crash-tested dog car harness that’s available in several sizes and your choice of eye-popping colors.

About: The Sleepypod Clickit Safety Harness uses a minimalist, yet effective design to keep your dog safe during road trips.

Specifically designed to spread and distribute potentially dangerous forces across your dog’s body, this harness is especially wide, which helps keep your dog comfortable while traveling.

The Sport Utility is one of the few crash-test-certified car harnesses available in a variety of colors. It can also function as a walking harness, thanks to the included D-ring on the back of the neck.

Sleepypod also manufactures one of the few crash-test-certified dog car crates as well, so they really know their stuff when it comes to keeping your fur baby safe.

Features:

  • Automotive-grade seatbelt webbing and ballistic nylon exterior
  • Manufactured in four colors, including Jet Black, Orange Dream, Robin Egg Blue, and Strawberry Red
  • Available in four sizes, including small, medium, large, and extra-large

Crash Testing Info: Earned a 5-star rating from the Center for Pet Safety.

Connection Method: This is a one-piece safety system. You’ll put the harness on your doggo and then slide your car’s seatbelt strap through the harness’s included Infinity Loop system.

Pros

  • Relatively affordable
  • Keeps canines comfy and safe at the same time
  • It’s a small thing, but we appreciate that it’s available in multiple colors
  • Specifically designed to spread the impact force throughout your dog’s entire torso

Cons

  • A few owners complained that the harness bunched around their dog’s legs
  • Some other harnesses utilize one more point of restraint

3. Sleepypod Clickit Terrain Safety Harness

Best Dog Harness for Car Travel and Walks

This is a sponsored placement, in which an advertiser pays a fee to be featured in this article. Learn more

Sleepypod Clickit Terrain Dog Safety Harness (Robin - Medium)

Sleepypod Clickit Terrain Safety Harness

A great option for dogs who hate putting on their harness — this one will keep your doggo safe in the car AND while walking.

About: The Terrain Safety Harness is another high-end car harness made by Sleepypod.

Built with all of the high-end features you’d want in a safety harness; the Terrain helps keep your dog secure and comfortable while riding in the backseat of your car.

It even features shock-absorbing “sleeves” to help reduce the strain on your dog’s body during sudden braking or collisions.

However, the Terrain Safety Harness is also designed (and strength-tested) to work as an everyday walking harness too.

Features:

  • Three-point restraint securely grips your dog’s torso
  • Shock-absorbing webbing sleeves reduce the chances your dog will suffer an injury
  • Available in 4 sizes, including small, medium, large, and extra-large

Crash Testing Info: Earned a 5-star rating from the Center for Pet Safety.

Connection Method: Like the Clickit Sport, the Clickit Terrain is a one-piece safety harness. You’ll put the main part of the harness on your doggo and then slide your car’s seatbelt strap through the harness’s included Infinity Loop system.

Pros

  • We love the padded, shock-absorbing design
  • Quick-release connectors offer additional convenience
  • The ability to use it as a walking harness will be a game-changer for some owners

Cons

  • It doesn’t appear to work well with greyhounds or other long-and-lean breeds
  • Using it for walks and car rides means it’ll wear out more quickly than car-only options

4. EzyDog Drive Dog Car Harness

Most Convenient Dog Harness for Car Travel

This is a sponsored placement, in which an advertiser pays a fee to be featured in this article. Learn more

EzyDog Drive Safety Travel Dog Car Harness - Crash Tested US (FMVSS 213) - Premium Vehicle Restraint Vest for Protection and Comfort - Easy One Time Fit and Use with Car Seat Belt (Medium) Black

EzyDog Drive Car Harness

A unique take on canine car harnesses, this model is designed in a way that eliminates the need to make adjustments every trip.

About: The EzyDog Drive is a premium-quality car harness for canines that’s been designed to be compliant with USA (FMVSS 213) testing.

To keep your pooch safe, EzyDog has incorporated aluminum alloy tri-glides, the webbing is all made from seat belt materials, and the chest plate is padded for additional pupper protection.

But this dog car harness is not only designed with safety in mind, the manufacturer also kept pet-parent convenience in mind too.

For example, you only need to fit this harness to your hound once, and then it’ll be ready to go every time you need it — no more having to make adjustments for each car trip (see the video to the right).

Crash Test Videos

For whatever reason, EzyDog has elected not to host their crash-test videos on YouTube, Vimeo, or any other third-party platform. Accordingly, we can’t share them with you here — you’ll have to go to their site to check them out.

Features:

  • Comes with Dual SR buckle closure system for maximum convenience
  • Ergonomic, molded chest plate protects your pooch in the event of an accident
  • Available in 3 sizes; the large is suitable for dogs in the 65-pound range

Crash Testing Info: Tested by the Automotive Safety Engineering in Australia and confirmed to meet USA (FMVSS 213) requirements.

Connection Method: The EzyDog is pretty easy to attach to your car. You’ll simply put the harness on your pooch and then thread your car’s seatbelt through both of the back handles.

Pros

  • Owners rave about the “one-time fit” nature of the harness
  • It’s available in sizes suitable for pretty big doggos
  • Several owners report that it feels solid when held, which made them feel better

Cons

  • We wish the Center for Pet Safety tested it
  • A few owners had trouble achieving a great fit

5. Kurgo Tru-Fit Enhanced Strength Dog Harness

Most Affordable Dog Harness for Car Travel

This is a sponsored placement, in which an advertiser pays a fee to be featured in this article. Learn more

Kurgo Tru-Fit Enhanced Strength Dog Harness, Crash Tested Car Safety Harness for Dogs, Includes Pet Safety Seat Belt, Steel Nesting Buckles, Front D-Ring for No Pull Training, L, Black

Kurgo Tru-Fit Enhanced Strength Dog Harness

A lightweight, durable dog car harness that makes it easy to hook your dog to a seatbelt when it’s road trip time.

About: Kurgo is a pretty well-known dog-gear manufacturer, who makes a ton of different dog-care items. But one of the things they’re best known for are their harnesses. So, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that they make one specifically for car use.

Known as the Tru-Fit Enhanced Strength Dog Harness, this piece of safety equipment will help your dog remain safe during car rides, and it doubles as an everyday walking harness too!

Crash-tested at Calspan Corporation, the Tru-Fit is super easy to use.

Simply hook one end of the included seatbelt attachment strap to the harness and the other to one of your car’s seatbelts — voila! Spot is safe and ready to ride!

Features:

  • Crash-tested for dogs weighing up to 75 pounds
  • Like all Kurgo products, the Tru-Fit is backed by the manufacturer’s lifetime warranty
  • Available in 5 sizes and 2 colors

Crash Testing Info: Passed tests conducted by the Calspan Corporation.

Connection Method: You’ll put the harness on your dog and then use the included carabiner to clip your dog to both the waist and chest straps of the seatbelt.

Pros

  • This car harness has better owner reviews than any other we’ve encountered
  • Lightweight design will be more comfortable for some canines
  • Extremely affordable
  • We love Kurgo’s lifetime warranty policy

Cons

  • As with the EzyDog, we wish this were tested by the Center for Pet Safety
  • There’s no real padding involved
Used by Van-Life pros

Our staff dog behaviorist and van-life enthusiast Kayla Fratt uses the Kurgo harness when traveling across North America in her Sprinter van!

Check out Kayla’s full list of 31 tips for van life with a dog if you too have the #vanlife bug!

Things to Look for in a Good Car Harness

car harness for dogs

Aside from selecting a harness that’s been crash-test certified by the CPS, you’ll want to look for one that satisfies a few additional characteristics and features. Some of the most important considerations include:

  • Look for harnesses that are easy to adjust. A proper fit is imperative for safety, so you want to select a harness that provides several different places for adjustment. This will help ensure your dog fits well in the harness, no matter her size and shape. This is especially important for thin, lanky breeds, such as greyhounds and a few others.
  • Look for harnesses that have dual functionality. Some of the best car harnesses are easy to take out of the car, allowing them to be used as a normal harness. This makes it much easier to get your dog strapped in, especially if you must let her hop in and out several times over the course of a single trip.
  • Look for harnesses that have comfortable, wide straps. Although safety (and passing common safety standards) is the most important aspect of a car harness, you’ll also want to make sure it fits your dog comfortably and doesn’t cause discomfort. Wide straps help spread out the forces on your dog and provide a much more comfortable fit than narrow straps do.
  • Look for harnesses that are available in the appropriate sizes. Unfortunately, some of the best car harnesses for dogs are only made in sizes suitable for small dogs. Big dogs are at just as much risk of injury during an accident (and, as explained previously, they represent more of a danger to you), so a good harness is just as important for them as it is their smaller counterparts.

Understanding the Danger For Dogs in Cars

Driving or riding in a car is a dangerous practice in any situation, and it is probably the most dangerous activity in which most people engage on a regular basis. But adding a furry four-footer to the mix makes you more likely to have an accident, primarily because dogs have a tendency to distract drivers.

In fact, 65% of drivers in one survey, who bring their dogs along in the car admit to engaging in at least one potentially distracting activity – and that’s only the ones who admit it! Many others probably become distracted without having the courage to admit it.

distracted-driving-with-dogs
infographic from carrentals.com

These types of distractions can occur if your dog simply moves around while the car is in motion, or if you pet her or give her a treat. And because taking your eyes off the road for as little as two seconds doubles your risk for having an accident, this is a serious problem, which must be avoided as much as is possible.

But dogs aren’t just a distraction that increases the chances that you’ll have an accident – they can also cause additional damage and injuries if you are in a fender bender. That’s because unrestrained dogs may fly through the cab of your car or truck if you are in a wreck.

In a best-case scenario, your dog will only slam into you and give you a few bruises; but in a worst-case scenario, your dog may crash into you with enough force to cause serious bodily harm. Even a 10-pound dog will create 500 pounds of force in a 50-mile-per-hour accident. Big dogs are even more dangerous: An 80-pound dog in a 30-mile-per-hour crash can impart 2,400 pounds of force.

unrestrained-dog-collision

These types of forces can certainly injure you, and they’ll likely hurt your dog badly too. But, it is also possible that your dog will hit a window instead of you. This could effectively launch them from the vehicle, which will certainly lead to catastrophic injuries.

It’s the Law (in Some Places): Buckle Your Dog Up!

In some states it’s actually against the law to have an unrestrained dog in your car.

States that have laws stating that your dog must wear a canine-specific restraint in a vehicle include:

  • Maine
  • Massachusetts
  • Minnesota
  • New Hampshire
  • New Jersey
  • Rhode Island
  • Connecticut
  • Hawaii

Hawaii actually forbids drivers from having a dog on their lap. Several other states have regulations regarding unrestrained pets in truck beds.

Just be sure to investigate the laws in your state, as some may require (for example) that dogs wear harnesses that use leash attachments to connect directly to the car’s seatbelts, while others may require you to use crates.

pet restraint laws

Where Should Your Dog Ride In The Car?

In many ways, you’ll want to treat your dog like you would a baby or small child. This means not only using an appropriate harness but also making sure that they ride in the safest part of the car.

Generally, this means the back seat.

The back seat of a car provides the most protection for your dog, as she’ll be contained between and shielded by both rows of seats. Additionally, by being secured in the back seat, you can prevent your dog from crawling around the cab and distracting you.

For dogs who get car anxiety, this back seat also tends to induce less stress; it allows your pup to be positioned fairly close and allow her to see you, which can be a lot less stressful than being in the back cargo area.

By contrast, the rear cargo portion of most SUVs is a crumple zone, which is specifically designed to deform in the case of an accident. This makes the cargo area a very bad place to allow your dog to ride. The front seat is also problematic, as your dog is not shielded from the windshield, and airbags can often injure dogs when they deploy – especially small dogs.

So, be sure to strap your dog in with a good harness, and have her ride in the backseat to keep you both as safe as possible.

car crumple zone

Whether You Use a Harness, Crate, or Some Other Kind of Restraint, Secure Your Dog!

Restraint harnesses aren’t the only methods for securing your dog in the car. Dog hammocks, zip lines, booster seats, cage barriers, and car crates are all alternative methods for restraining your dog in the car.

However, it’s worth noting that only harnesses and car crates have been evaluated with any kind of crash test from the Center for Pet Safety.

Other types of restraints — while still worthwhile for keeping your dog from distracting you — are unlikely to provide very much protection in the event of an accident. Nevertheless, using a zip line or one of the other alternative restraint methods is still better than using nothing.

Dog Harnesses for Car Travel: FAQ

There’s a ton to learn about car harnesses before picking one out and hitting the road. So, we’ll try to answer some of the most common questions about them to make the process easier!

How do dog car harnesses attach to your vehicle?

Car harnesses for dogs can be attached to cars in a couple of different ways. However, most either use the car’s seatbelts to remain connected or they feature straps that wrap directly around the car seats.

What is the best dog harness for car travel?

Ultimately, the *best* dog harness for car travel will depend on the specific needs of you and your pet. However, we thing that the ZuGoPet Rocketeer Pack is the best overall choice. However, large dog owners will be better served by the Sleepypod Clickit Sport.

What is the safest car harness for dogs?

We think that any of the three CPS-tested car harnesses discussed above — the ZuGoPet Rocketeer Pack, the Clickit Sport, and the Clickit Terrain — would arguably qualify as the “safest” car harness.

Can I use a regular dog harness in the car?

This is a tough question to answer, given the incredible variety of dog harnesses on the market. Many will keep your pet safer than wearing no harness at all, but some may actually put your dog at higher risk of injury or death in the event of an accident.

Accordingly, the best solution is to go with a purpose-built, crash-tested dog harness that is specifically designed for car travel.

***

Do you have a good car harness for your dog? We’d love to hear about the model you use and your experiences with it. We’d also love to know how strict our readers are about strapping their dog in and keeping safety in mind when riding around.

Like it? Share it!

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Written by

Ben Team

Ben is the managing editor for K9 of Mine and has spent most of his adult life working as a wildlife educator and animal-care professional. Ben’s had the chance to work with hundreds of different species, but his favorite animals have always been dogs. He currently lives in Atlanta, GA with his spoiled-rotten Rottweiler named J.B. Chances are, she’s currently giving him the eyes and begging to go to the park.

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  1. K Store Avatar
    K Store

    Great article you shared, Thanks for sharing such type of precious article.

  2. Wendy Avatar
    Wendy

    EZY Drive car harness is excellent for medium to large dogs. It has been crash test approved in EU, AUS, & CN. I think it was not submitted for testing in US because it was not available at the time the product was developed. The straps are made from seat belt webbing & are continuous limiting any weak points in which contact points might become detached when under duress. This harness is better for bigger dogs as it is fairly stiff but softens up a bit with use.

    1. Ben Team Avatar

      Thanks for sharing, Wendy! We’ll check it out next time we update the article.
      🙂

      1. John Quinn Avatar
        John Quinn

        Hi Ben, I was looking at the EzyDog Drive car harness as well. It seems like it might be better than SleepyPod because it ensures sure the harness covers a large surface area and distributes the weight evenly. Although, it’s not padded.

        According to Pups Pal and the Ezy Dog website, the harness was tested USA (FMVSS 213), Europe (ECE Regulation 21), Australia (ADR42/04) for certification of Child Safety Seats. It’s unclear if they “passed,” haha, but maybe you’ll have better luck than me.

        https://pupspal.com/best-dog-car-harnesses/

        https://store.ezydog.com/safety-tested-vehicle-harness/

        I’d love to hear what you think of the harness and its certifications (or lack thereof).

        -John

        1. Ben Team Avatar

          Hey, John. Let me look into it and I’ll get back to you with my thoughts!
          Thanks for checking out the site.

  3. Kim Avatar
    Kim

    You listed certain breeds that two of the harnesses do not work well for. Would this also include a Belgian malinois ?

  4. Love My Fur Babies Avatar
    Love My Fur Babies

    I was hoping for a review that was not slanted toward just one product and one seller.

    1. Ben Team Avatar

      Not much we could do about that! There are only so many harnesses (especially crash-tested models) on the market.
      But thanks for checking out the site!

  5. karrn allen Avatar
    karrn allen

    my dog keeps unbuckling the seatbelt. Are there safe alteratives that attach to the headrest?

    1. Ben Team Avatar

      Hey, Karrn.
      You may want to check out Kurgo’s Zipline Tether System. It may be a helpful workaround for your pooch.
      Best of luck!

  6. Mike Forney Avatar
    Mike Forney

    I’ve used the Big Dog Seat Belt on my 80 lb Golden Retriever for 2 years. He runs, walks, and swims in it. I feel he is very safe riding in the front seat (air bag switched off) of my single cab truck. Very satisfied. Check it out.
    https://bigdogseatbeltcompany.com/

    1. Ben Team Avatar

      Thanks for the tip, Mike.
      We’ll check it out.

  7. Phyllis A. Wilks Avatar
    Phyllis A. Wilks

    I have a dachshund. He is 17 lbs and very hard to find a harness that fits him well due to his girth.
    They are either to small or too big.

  8. Matt Sailors Avatar
    Matt Sailors

    We have had excellent results with the Champion Canine Seatbelt System with our basset hounds (50-65 pounds). We have used these products for more than 10 years and have had no problems with the products and no injuries to our dogs. USA K9 Outfitters offer a number of different sizes and their system also includes straps and links to hook your canine friend into the seatbelts or other secured points.
    They also have an even larger size for 80 – 200 pound dogs.

    http://usak9outfitters.com/CCSS.htm

    I am in no way affiliated with the manufacturer or any retailer of this product.

    1. Ben Team Avatar

      Thanks for the info, Matt! We’ll check ’em out!

  9. Jenifer Avatar
    Jenifer

    What did you do to my home state of Michigan on your map?!

    1. Ben Team Avatar

      It would appear that Michigan was involved in some sort of terrible Photoshop accident. We meant no offense and apologize to the entire Wolverine State.
      😉

  10. Emily Avatar
    Emily

    I think something that may be worthy to note; very few crash tests have actually been done. The Center for Pet Safety did this single study way back in 2013. While I don’t necessarily question the safety of the products listed, I do question the relevance of the Center for Pets Safety. In the last 6 years there have been many changes in the industry; new products have been designed and companies that failed to pass in 2013 have since made many changes and advancements. For this reason, I do not trust the results since there is no accurate comparison of products that are listed on the market today. I do not think consumers can look to the Center for Pet Safety for any up-to-date information for car safety.

  11. Gill Key Avatar
    Gill Key

    I volunteer as a Pet Adviser for the Dachshund Breed Council and I am horrified that the Rocketeer is being recommended for all breeds of small dogs. Dachshunds are known to be the breed at the highest risk for intervertebral disc disease, with up to 25% affected at some point in their lives. Sitting upright like that for extended periods of time is highly likely to put significant additional pressure on their discs and increase the odds of them being affected. So whilst it might be one of the safest harnesses in a crash, the odds of such an event are way, way lower than the risk that such a harness will increase the chances of a back condition that may cause intense pain, paralysis and even death.

  12. Patricia Downey-Eagan Avatar
    Patricia Downey-Eagan

    I have a 60 lb medical service dog who needs to be in front seat. I am looking for options for restraint device that still allows him to do his job.

  13. Julie Davidson Avatar
    Julie Davidson

    Regarding greyhounds and slender breeds, the safest thing to do is use a crash tested travel crate. Crash tested products can be found here https://www.centerforpetsafety.org/cps-certified/

    1. Meg Marrs Avatar

      Hey Julie – all the harnesses we detail here are crash tested by the CPS (Center for Pet Safety), which is the group you are linking to! We only selected harnesses that were crash tested by the trusted CPS.

  14. Casey Avatar
    Casey

    Good info. Only problem is I have a greyhound. Any recommendations for her- she runs between 58-60lbs.

    1. Ben Team Avatar

      Hey, Casey.

      Unfortunately, there don’t seem to be any great options for greyhounds (and other lanky breeds) on the market at the moment. At least, none that we could find that were crash-test certified.

      So, I’d recommend just going with one of the non-crash-tested options until somebody starts addressing this gap in the marketplace. Just make sure to have your pooch ride in the back seat and drive carefully in the interim.

      The Pawaboo Harness looks to be pretty good for a non-crash-tested product, and there were a few photos posted by owners of skinny dogs with pseudo-greyhound builds.

      Let us know how it works out! Sorry there isn’t a better option!

  15. William Avatar
    William

    ZuGoPet Rocketeer Pack is not crash tested as you state in the article . Their website clearly state it isn’t a safety device, (under faq)

    1. Ben Team Avatar

      Hey, William.
      The Rocketeer Pack is crash tested — the Jetsetter (a different product) is the one that is not intended as a safety device.
      Kudos for looking out for your pooch though!

  16. Donna Fish Avatar
    Donna Fish

    I ordered a Sleepypod for my small schnauzer and could not get it small enough to fit her. I ordered a small but apparently needed x-small which they don’t make. Any recommendations?

  17. Becky Ludy Avatar

    I am looking for a car harness for my daughter’s dog. Do the harnesses you recommend allow him to sit up and lay down while traveling?

  18. Martin E.C. Rother Avatar
    Martin E.C. Rother

    Looked at a lot of harnesses. Which one would be best for a husky.

    1. Meg Marrs Avatar

      If you want one that will actually keep your dog safe in the car, it really has to be one of the harnesses listed here. If you’re just looking for walking harness, that’s a different situation (and we’d probably say go with something from Ruffwear).

  19. Cynthia Lauer Avatar
    Cynthia Lauer

    Thanks for the good info. If you make another video though, please be sure the background music is off d/t it is very distracting and makes it hard to hear you.

  20. Dan Avatar
    Dan

    I have the Zugopet, And We love it!