Traveling with your pet is both fun and stressful, but dog seat belts make it simpler and safer. Securing your pup in the back seat of your vehicle with a seat belt keeps you and your pet safe from distractions and sudden stops that come with car trips. While most are intended to keep your pet from moving around in the back seat, some designs are crash-tested and certified to better protect your pup in the event of an accident.
We spoke with four veterinarians to learn about what makes a great seat belt, and using their guidance and our own research, we compiled a list of belts that’ll make travel a breeze. We’re confident there’s something on this list for every pup, but be sure to consult your veterinarian before making any major changes to your travel routine, as they know your animal’s care best. Here are our picks for the best dog seat belts to keep travel safe and fun for you and your furry friend.
Best Overall: Sleepypod Clickit Terrain Plus
When it comes to a seat belt for your pup, the best of the best are crash-tested by the CPS. This nonprofit organization evaluates the effectiveness of various popular pet products intended for travel. While it’s not a be-all and end-all, the independent nature of the organization makes its evaluations a good place to begin when looking for the best dog seat belt for your pup. The Sleepypod Clickit Terrain Plus is certified by the CPS for its effectiveness in protecting your pet in a car accident, which makes it an easy pick to top our list of the best dog seat belts. While the nonprofit also approved another Sleepypod harness, we selected this design as our best overall pick for its large size range – it’s suitable for wear by dogs 25 to 110 pounds.
While different from what we would consider a traditional seat belt, this harness is a smart way to keep your pet safe in case of an accident. The design of the harness (full belly coverage and straps over the shoulders) helps to distribute force across the body and keep your dog from flying forward in a crash. You secure your pet to the seat by sliding your vehicle’s seat belt under both shoulder straps of the harness and fastening it in the buckle like you would if you were clipping yourself or a child into the seat.
Attaching the harness to the seat belt is fairly self-explanatory, and Sleepypod provides helpful how-to videos to help you get it right. However, some users did experience trouble securing the harness to the seat, and they noted the increased time it took to thread the seat belt through the dog’s harness.
Specs
| List Price: | $126.49 (S) to $137.99 (XL) |
| Sizes: | S, M, L, XL |
| Material(s): | Nylon, neoprene, and metal |
| Safety Certifications: | Crash-tested for U.S., Canadian, and EU child safety standards; Five-Star safety rating from CPS |
Best Budget: Mighty Paw Headrest Dog Seat Belt »
Many of the best dog seat belts come with a hefty price tag, and while paying for your pup’s safety is worth it, forking over a large chunk of change isn’t in the cards for everyone. Fortunately, you can still pick up an excellent belt with the Mighty Paw Headrest Dog Seat Belt. This style is more in line with traditional seat belts we use in the car: The nylon strap resembles belts made for humans, but instead of attaching at the top and base of a vehicle’s seat, it secures around the headrest. After attaching the belt to your car’s headrest, use the strap and metal attachment point to connect to the back D-ring of your dog’s harness.
Dr. Georgina Ushi, relief veterinarian and founder of pethealthlove.com, says that regardless of the seat belt you choose to use, it should always be attached to a dog’s harness. Attaching a seat belt to a collar puts dangerous pressure on a dog’s neck and trachea and may cause severe injury in a crash. A harness can distribute force across the body instead of localizing it at the neck, which may keep your pup safer.
Ushi also says that one of the most important factors of a dog seat belt is its ability to keep your pup secure in a moving vehicle. While all of the seat belts in this guide can achieve that, remember that only some have been crash-tested by the CPS. Be aware that the Mighty Paw Headrest Dog Seat Belt isn’t one of the products to have undergone testing.
Specs
| List Price: | $16.99 |
| Sizes: | One size (adjustable between 18.5-30 in.) |
| Material(s): | Nylon, metal, and aviation aluminum |
| Safety Certifications: | None |
Best for Puppies: Leashboss Dog Seatbelt – Heavy Duty No-Chew Dog Car Restraint Seat Belt »
Puppies are known to be big chewers thanks to the teething phase they go through during adolescence. While this may be adorable in the short term, a chewing puppy can destroy even the best leashes, harnesses, and seat belts. That’s where the Leashboss Dog Seatbelt comes in. This belt is made from a steel cable that’s chew-proof against even the most enthusiastic puppies.
This belt works by attaching to your seat’s latch bar (the small bar made for car seats between the back and bottom of the seat) and securing to your dog’s harness. The belt itself isn’t adjustable, but you can purchase it in one of five lengths to ensure you have the optimal size for your dog. The perfect length will vary, but choosing one short enough to keep your dog in their seat is ideal. The brand advises using a tape measure to get the length from the harness’s attachment point to the floor at a 45-degree angle and then rounding up to the nearest size.
A downside of this seat belt is that there’s a plastic cover over the attachment that connects to your pup’s harness. Ushi recommends avoiding materials like plastic, as it can be harmful if ingested. Most users didn’t have an issue with it, but if left unsupervised with the belt, an eager pup may be able to gnaw through the plastic covering.
Specs
| List Price: | $17.98 |
| Sizes: | 16, 21, 26, 31, or 36 in. |
| Material(s): | Steel, heavy-duty vinyl, and plastic |
| Safety Certifications: | None |
Best for Small Breeds: Sleepypod Clickit Sport Plus »
The Sleepypod Clickit Sport Plus is the only other dog seat belt certified by the CPS. That makes this a great pick for most dogs, but we like this particularly as a harness for small breeds because of its lighter design. While this harness works the same as the Terrain model (with two loops on the back that allow you to thread a seat belt through), there’s less coverage on the belly and sides of the harness. This creates a smoother, less bulky design ideal for agile or small dogs that may be overwhelmed by a thick full-coverage harness.
The Sport Plus’s sleeker design cuts back on bulk, but it doesn’t sacrifice safety. This harness is crash-tested for dogs as small as 25 pounds and as large as 90 pounds. As with any car harness, it can be restrictive to your dog since they’ll be restrained in the back seat. Some users also noticed that this model can be stiff upon initial use.
Specs
| List Price: | $86.24 (S in Subaru) to $126.49 (XL in Fear Free Happy Homes sky blue, Fear Free Happy Homes charcoal grey, robin egg blue, orange dream, strawberry red, jet black, first blush, or charcoal grey) |
| Sizes: | S, M, L, XL |
| Material(s): | Nylon, neoprene, plastic, and metal |
| Safety Certifications: | Crash-tested for U.S., Canadian, and EU child safety standards; Five-Star safety rating from CPS |
Best for Large Breeds: Kurgo Direct To Latch Swivel Tether »
In the author’s experience, keeping a big dog secure during a car ride can be challenging. Large pups can easily step on seat belt buckles to unclip their restraints or move across the car with a tether that’s too long for them. The Kurgo Direct To Latch Swivel Tether is a dog seat belt that addresses both issues. It secures to your vehicle via the latch bar, preventing pups from accidentally releasing the belt during travel. It also has a slightly shorter length than most seat belts, with an adjustable range of 12 to 22 inches on the strap itself. The author found the shorter belt length a highly effective way to restrain larger dogs while letting them sit or lie in the car.
Keep in mind that the shorter length might not work for every dog. Some users found that their pup couldn’t move much during car rides with this belt. While keeping your dog comfortable during travel is important, securing them in the car is vital to keeping them and you safe. The best dog seat belts prevent your pup from walking around in the car while you’re driving, so a short tether isn’t always a bad thing.
Specs
| List Price: | $23.99 |
| Sizes: | One size (adjustable between 12-22 in.) |
| Material(s): | Polyester, aluminum, iron, and steel |
| Safety Certifications: | None |
Best for a Custom Fit: EzyDog Drive Dog Car Harness »
The EzyDog Drive Dog Car Harness is one of the few dog seat belts to offer a custom fit that’ll suit almost any pup. Like our overall pick, this harness works by threading your car’s seat belt through two loops on the back of the harness. Yet unlike our top selection, this harness has a padded chest plate that can be molded to hug your dog efficiently. Many users found this to be a helpful feature that gave their dog a better fit. Editor Kayla Randolph has this seat belt for her 55-pound German shepherd mix. While it takes some time to nail that initial fit, you only have to do so once. After that, it clips on as easily as any other harness. She finds the range of motion it allows her dog to be ideal, as her pup can sit to look out the window or lie down and rest her head on the console (but not get into the front seat!).
This harness also stands out because of its inclusive size range. Even some of the best dog seat belts struggle to fit extra-small pups, but this suits dogs as small as 15 pounds. Inclusive sizing and a moldable chest plate give you a good chance of nailing the perfect fit for your dog right off the bat, but be sure to measure your pup (and fit them) for this harness, as some users said their pups could wiggle out of the harness when it wasn’t properly fitted. Another feature to note is that while this harness does meet child safety seat standards in the United States, it has yet to be officially crash-tested by the CPS.
Specs
| List Price: | $125 |
| Sizes: | Small, medium, large |
| Material(s): | Nylon, polyester, and metal |
| Safety Certifications: | Crash-tested for Australian, U.S., and U.K. child safety seat standards |
The Bottom Line
The best dog seat belt for you and your pup will vary, but if you’re looking for a product that straddles the gap between restraining your dog and keeping them safe in a crash, the Sleepypod Clickit Terrain Plus is our top pick. It meets safety standards set by the CPS, is adjustable, and doubles as a walking harness, which lets you stretch its use beyond just the car. However, if the high price tag is a barrier, plenty of other excellent seat belt options on our list will stop squirming pups from distracting you while traveling.
Things To Consider When Buying Dog Seat Belts
Safety Certifications: Dr. Jessica Apted, veterinarian and medical director of Sploot Veterinary Care, says that few regulations are in place to ensure dog seat belts are safe for your animals. While we consulted the CPS’s certified picks for this guide, Apted notes that its crash testing is limited, and companies that conduct their own crash testing may lack objectivity. Our experts agree that if you can splurge for a crash-tested belt, it’s best to opt for one certified by the CPS. However, that doesn’t mean other seat belts can’t also be used. Apted says that dog seat belts can be used in most vehicles, as long as the belt fits with your car and seat belt system.
A different dog seat belt design is the tether. It’s important to note that these are intended for use as a restraint for your pup and shouldn’t be relied upon to protect your dog in the event of an accident. However, that doesn’t mean they aren’t useful in their own right. Dr. Raymond Spragley, veterinarian at Zen Dog Veterinary Care, says restraining your pup in the car is a safety measure in its own right. “If a dog is able to move freely it is more likely to cause the driver to take their eyes off the road which can cause accidents,” he says.
Size: Purchasing the best dog seat belt for your pup will require a bit of measuring. If you’re opting for a harness, follow the company website’s measuring instructions. Getting a proper fit will usually require you to take measurements of your pup’s chest and neck.
If you’re selecting a tether option that secures your pet to the seat via a belt connecting to their harness, be ready to play around with the length to find the right option. Ushi says a dog may sit or lie in the car if they cannot move freely. You may want to opt for a longer belt to allow your pup to lie down on long car rides, but don’t be afraid of a short belt, which is ideal for keeping dogs seated in the car. If you’re between sizes, choose a shorter belt length to prevent your dog from moving around too much. They may not be the most comfortable, but short restraints are a better option for safety.
Material: When it comes to the materials that make the best dog seat belts, Ushi recommends avoiding plastic, which can easily break and be chewed. Instead, she advises choosing a seat belt with metal attachment points. Most belts and harnesses are nylon or polyester, which are standard materials used in most products for dogs. These materials can work well for a dog harness or seat belt, but Apted says to ensure they also have strong stitching to secure your dog in a crash. She recommends opting for an adjustable belt as well so you can get the perfect fit for your pup.
You may also find belts with reflective trim and padding. These elements are nice to have but not strictly necessary and ultimately come down to owner preference.
Vehicle Compatibility: Most dog seat belts are compatible with any vehicle. However, if you opt for a model that clips into a car’s latch bar, you’ll need to check to ensure your car has one. Required by U.S. law to be installed in every new vehicle made after 2002 that weighs less than 8,500 pounds, the “latch” in latch bar stands for Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children and is intended to serve as an attachment point for a child’s car seat. Dog seat belts that use the latch system only clip into the lower anchor, which is the bar wedged between the back and bottom of your vehicle’s back seats.
However, while most seat belts will work in any vehicle, it’s important to remember that they should be used only when a dog is in the back seat of a car. According to Ushi, dogs may be injured if an airbag is deployed during a crash, so be sure to only use dog seat belts in the back seat of your car.
Type: There are a few different styles of seat belts available, such as harnesses, tethers, and ziplines. Harness and tether seat belts limit a dog’s movement the most. While popular, a zipline harness – one that connects to two seats via a line between them, allowing your dog to walk around in the back seat – defeats the purpose of keeping your dog stationary in a seat, so we didn’t include any belts of this style.
This article first appeared on US News and was Written by Kayla Randolph
Dr. Carol Osborne is an author and world-renowned integrative veterinarian of twenty-plus years. After graduating from the Ohio State College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Carol completed a prestigious internship at the Columbus Zoo. Shortly afterward, she launched a very successful private practice and became the founder and director of the non-profit organization, the American Pet Institute.
Dr. Carol offers traditional veterinary care for dogs and cats with a softer, natural touch. Her approach highlights the importance of nutrition and utilizing holistic avenues in combination with traditional treatments. Currently, she offers holistic therapies and traditional veterinary medical care for dogs and cats at the Chagrin Falls Pet Clinic in Chagrin Falls, Ohio. Call our Office Today at (855) 372-2765 or complete this Form to Email our Office.
