How to Make a Seat Belt for Your Dog

Driving with your dog in the car without securing him for safety is not only dangerous, but is also illegal in some areas. A dog is in just as much danger of getting injured or killed in a car accident as a human of the same weight. Keep your dog safe by securing him into a seat belt.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Purchase a harness for your dog that fits him well if he does not already have one. If your dog is still growing, buy an adjustable harness to accommodate him as he grows. Put the harness on the dog.

2. Decide where in the car you want the dog to sit, then choose a lead to use with the harness that restricts your dog's movement adequately. You want her to be able to stand, sit and lay comfortably and without restriction, but you do not want her to be able to travel around the car.

3. Take the lead and make a slip knot out of it, over the headrest of the back of the car seat. Hold the end of the lead that gets attached to the dog and stretch it out in all directions to see how far it allows movement. If the movement is too far or not far enough, use a different length lead.

4. Place the dog on the seat and clip the lead onto the dog's harness.

Tips & Warnings

• Commercially sold pet seat belts are available at most pet stores.
• If your dog has troubling adjusting to the new restrictions in the car, slowly get him used to it by taking him for short rides to fun places.
• More cars have front seats with headrests than back seats. It is safer for your dog to travel in the back seat of the car. If your seats do not have headrests you may need to purchase a seat belt adapter for your harness so you can secure the harness to the car's existing seat belt, if you can not find a way to secure the lead safely to the seat.
• If your dog, or any other pet, is traveling in a carrier or crate in a moving vehicle, you should secure the carrier or crate to restrict movement in an accident.

Resources

• Dog seat belt solutions