3 Steps to Buckle Up Your Dog in the Car

Posted by on 03/05/2019

Did you know there is a correct way to buckle up your dog in the car? The first step is purchasing a crash tested harness, but the second step is understanding how to correctly strap your dog in for a roadtrip, using the harness.

So what exactly is a crash tested harness? At Kurgo, our Enhanced Strength Tru-Fit Dog Car Harness was tested at an established University testing facility using the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard for child restraint systems. This was tested for dogs up to 75 pounds and simulated using weighted dog toys, for realistic testing, and proved successful.

To learn how to use the Enhanced Strength Tru-Fit Dog Car Harness and buckle your dog up successfully, follow the directions and visual demonstrations below. For additional questions on car restraints, please reach out to us at info@kurgo.com.

To find the harness size that works best for your dog, use our size chart and helpful harness sizing video. When you have the right size for your dog, adjust the harness to fit. The Enhanced Strength Harness has multiple adjustment points to create the perfect, comfortable fit for your pup. It also functions well as a walking harness, so get your dog used to it by first taking your dog on walks, before testing it in the car.

Our crash tested harness comes with 3 pieces - the harness itself, a carabiner clip, and a nylon loop tether. The harness and carabiner are used to safely secure your dog in a vehicle, while the nylon loop tether can be used for other training and restraining purposes. The carabiner clip is the most important piece when attaching your dog's harness to the car's seat belt. Take the carabiner and attach it to both the waist and shoulder straps of the seat belt, as shown in the picture. Now, buckle the seat belt.

Once the carabiner is connected to both the shoulder and waist strap of the seat belt, attach the carbiner through the top layer of webbing on the back strap on the harness. Never attach the carabiner to the lead attachment. The metal ring is for using the harness with a lead only - it is not strong enough to hold during a crash.

After following these 3 easy steps, your dog is now safely secured into the car and you are ready to go! For additional information on how to use the crash tested harness, please reach out to us at info@kurgo.com.