Crash protection: Sleepypod Clickit Sport, rated 5 stars by the Center for Pet Safety.
Basic tether on a sturdy harness: COOYOO.
A clean SUV: PETICON liner, which is not a restraint.
In this guide6 sections
A hard brake sends a loose dog into the front seat. Three pieces of car gear, three different jobs: one restrains, one tethers, one protects the car.
Head to head, need by need
Crash protection: Sleepypod wins
A padded vest that connects to your car's own seatbelt. CPS crash-tested the Clickit Sport in all four sizes and rated it 5 stars. CPS rates the Small to 25 lbs and the bigger sizes up to 90 lbs. Buckle him in the back seat, never the front. Sleepypod runs a crash replacement program if the harness is ever in an accident.
A basic tether for a commute: COOYOO wins
It clips into any standard seatbelt buckle, and the retractable line lets your dog shift while keeping him from launching forward during braking. You get two in the box, so a two-dog car is covered. The catch: it is not crash-tested, and it is only as safe as the harness it clips to. Use a sturdy harness, never a collar.
Mud, hair and a wet dog: PETICON wins
A waterproof SUV cargo liner with a bumper flap and a non-slip backing. It protects the car, not the dog. Setup takes a little time, then it lives in the car. Check your cargo space before you order.
Crash protection: Sleepypod. Basic tether on a sturdy harness: COOYOO. A clean SUV: PETICON.
How to choose
Want crash protection? You need a harness that connects to the car's seatbelt.
Want a basic tether for short drives? You need a tether and a sturdy harness.
Only need a clean car? You need a liner, which is not a restraint.
A car harness: rating, size, fit
Size. CPS rates the Small to 25 lbs and the Medium, Large and X-Large up to 90 lbs. Measure before you order.
Fit. A padded vest that connects to your car's own seatbelt. Put it on before he hops in.
Bonus. It doubles as a walking harness, with reflective strips for night walks.
Common mistakes
Skip these
Riding in the front seat. Buckle him into the back seat.
Ordering the harness without measuring. CPS rates the Small only to 25 lbs.
The catch on each
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Sleepypod: measure before you order, and put the full vest on before he hops in. It is not a clip-on tether.
COOYOO: no crash testing, and a collar is never the right place to clip it.
PETICON: SUV cargo areas only, and it is not a restraint.
Who should skip each
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Skip these
Sleepypod: your pet is small enough to ride in a carrier. A carrier strapped to the back seat keeps a cat or toy dog contained.
COOYOO: road trips are the job. Get the Sleepypod Clickit Sport.
PETICON: your dog rides on the back seat. The URPOWER Dog Car Seat Cover Hammock covers it.
Which one to buy
Road trips and holiday drives, or a dog up to 90 lbs: Sleepypod.
Daily commute with a dog who already wears a sturdy harness: COOYOO.
Dog rides in the SUV cargo area: PETICON, plus a restraint for the ride.
What is the safest way for a dog to ride in the car?
In a harness that connects to the car's seatbelt, buckled in the back seat. The Sleepypod Clickit Sport is the one CPS crash-tested, and it rated it 5 stars.
Is the COOYOO dog seatbelt crash-tested?
No. It is a basic tether that clips into a seatbelt buckle. Clip it to a sturdy harness, never a collar.
What size Sleepypod does my dog need?
Measure before you order. CPS rates the Small to 25 lbs and the bigger sizes up to 90 lbs.
Does a cargo liner keep my dog safe in a crash?
No. The PETICON liner keeps mud and water off the car. It is not a restraint.
