Tips For Dogs Riding In Cars & Jeeps

Written by Lynnette on May 6, 2008 | Comments (4)

Like most people, we take our dogs for car rides... a lot! We have for years.

Then, when Jim & I purchased our first Jeep Wrangler several years ago, we then started taking our dogs on Jeep rides (...instead of car rides).

Here's what we've learned, firsthand, about dogs riding in cars -- particularly, the safest way to travel with your dog in a car or a Jeep.

Dogs In Cars

Three things come to mind when it comes to dogs riding in cars:

1. Make sure your dog can't jump (or fall) out of the window.

2. Make sure your dog can't roam around too much inside the vehicle (...see below).

3. If you want your dog to have the ultimate car riding experience, then get them a doggie chin rest.

First and foremost... dogs can fall out of the car window. Yep, while your car is moving. And even if the window is mostly rolled up!

It happened to me.

Second, lots of people don't want to secure their dog in place when riding in a car. They think it takes the fun out of it for the dog. Trust me, it doesn't. Especially if you start using a doggie seatbelt & harness (similar to the ones mentioned below) when they are still young. We didn't always secure our dogs in the back seat, but I can tell you that our car rides became much more enjoyable -- for all involved -- the day we started doing it.

Third, many dog owners like to try lots of fun new gadgets that are dog-friendly. That was how we came to love the doggie chin rest called Comfort Cruiser. It was relatively inexpensive, and seemed to serve a purpose: to cushion your dog's chin while resting his head part-way out the car window. Our dogs love these!

Dogs In Jeeps

When we had 2 dogs, we took them both for car rides in the back of our Jeep Wrangler. And now that we only have 1 dog, we do it practically every day. Tenor is our "Jeep Dog".

Here's what we do to secure our dog in the back of the Jeep Wrangler... without fearing that he'll jump out, or be tossed out while we're driving...

1. The dog wears a standard chest-harness (goes over his head and around his front lets & attached closed around his chest).

You can buy a dog harness that's specifically made for use in cars, but you don't need to. There is a metal ring on most standard dog harnesses (that rests on top of their back) that can be used to secure your dog inside the vehicle.

2. Use a doggie seatbelt adapter that clips into your standard car seatbelt on one end & your dog's harness on the other. I've only seen these inside the stores here in the U.S. -- not online. We got ours at PetSmart... there were a couple different styles to choose from. (Similar to this one and this one.)

The seatbelt adapter can be lengthened or shortened to give your dog "more room to roam" or "less room to roam". We make it so they can just barely stick their head out the very back window/doorway of the Jeep Wrangler.

It is this combination of the harness and the seatbelt adapter that keeps our dog safe and secure inside the back of a Jeep Wrangler. The dog harness "centers" his weight and makes it less likely that he'll be propelled out (during a turn, for example). And the adjustable seatbelt adapter dictates just how far he can extend his head beyond the back of the Jeep.

JEEP BONUS TIP: The 2 lower corners of the Jeep window/doorway area (where the metal jeep rail protrudes a bit in order to secure the bottom of the vinyl Jeep window) aren't really sharp enough to hurt your dog, but they do stick out enough to catch a dog collar -- IF worn at the same time as the dog harness in the back of the Jeep. One of our dogs got "hooked" from the neck/dog collar and was unable to move until we rushed back there and unhooked his collar from the corner of the rail. We now take off the dog collar each time we put the dog harness on. (P.S. Our dog wears one of those part-nylon, part-choke chain type of dog collar... it's the metal part that got caught.)

Here are the things I always take along whenever we're out & about with our dog.

Some Pictures Of Our Dogs Riding In Cars

Puppy's First Car Ride

Anyone Up For A Jeep Ride?

The Wind In My Fur

Some Articles About Dogs Riding In Cars & Jeeps

Our Jeep Dogs

Warning: Dogs Fall Out Of Car Windows

What To Take On A Car Ride With Your Dog

Check Out This Doggie Chin Rest: Comfort Cruiser

A Dog's Eye View Of The Natchez Trace Parkway

PetBuckle: The Dog Seatbelt System

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4 Comments

Shawn said:

Hi there! Thanks for sharing this solution! You have a gorgeous lab! I have a Wrangler and a young lab myself and was looking into something like this. Do you feel that the dog harness ring being on the dog's back makes it any more unnatural than if the loop was on the bottom? Was the carpet/rug you laid down to protect the pup from the metal protusions from the Jeep's floor (e.g. where the seatbelt latches attach). Thanks! -Shawn

September 17, 2008 11:28 AM | Reply to this Comment

Lynnette said:

Hi Shawn,
Nope, I don't think the harness ring being on top makes it any more unnatural -- for the dog or comfort level or safety or anything.

You'll notice that's the way the harness was made, so he's wearing it properly. But I think I understand what you're saying... it seems as if it would feel unnatural and tug strangely. But it doesn't. There's enough slack from the seatbelt extender to the harness, that he just steps over it occasionally. It's always in the "right" position.

As for the extra piece of carpet... actually it doesn't go far enough back over the metal bars in the Jeep's floor (where the back seat goes in). So the carpet was just for padding from the metal bars up to the door.
I would PREFER that the carpet go over those metal rods, as they would seem painful to a dog's foot or toe.

That's why we placed an old dog bed over that part, and we cover that (very loosely and in an over-stuffed kind of way) with an old king-sized bed sheet. He's got a cushy pad in the back of our Jeep, that's for sure! :o)

September 17, 2008 11:53 AM | Reply to this Comment

Shawn said:

Thanks Lynnette! I can't wait to get this setup. The harness to seat belt latchet solution seems so effective and easy to implement. And I've got plenty of padding to go back there to help them out. Looks like we'll be heading camping soon!