How do you safely transport a large dog?

[K-Bum]

Hi all!

I'm in the market for a large dog. I realized the other day that while my car, a Honda Fit, is technically big enough to fit a giant crate in it to transport a dog, it may or may not be practical to crate a Giant each time we go somewhere. I can already see the difficulty in squeezing in a full sized crate.

So how do you guys move your dogs safely? Are there doggy seat belts big enough for a mastiff-type dog? I don't want my dog to just lounge in the backseat and be able to get in my way while I'm driving, or to become a hundred-pound missile and fly through a window in case I'm in a wreck.

All advice appreciated!
Thanks

 

[Tunride]

I purchased these- http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FR8249U/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
They lock into the seatbelt buckle and latch to the collar or harness.

 

[Smokeycat]

I have a barrier to keep them from getting into the front as there is no way that I could fit crates in my car.
If you do choose to use seatbelt style restraints be sure to attach it to a harness and not their collar. Attaching to a collar could potentially break a dogs neck in an accident as that is where all the force would be located to stop the dogs movement.

 

[irina]

Ours travels in the cargo compartment of Subaru Forester. He loves it there.

 

[TWW]

Chevy trailblazer suv, set the seats down and attach a catch type net (Her vehicle) Chevy sierra full size king cab truck, catch net between front and back (my truck).

 

[musicdeb]

Titan sits in the back seat. I've read horrible stories about seat belts because they were not secured correctly.

 

[QY10]

My dogs just sit in the back seat. The only one that ever comes up front is Thalia and that's only because she can sit on my lap when I'm in the passenger seat.


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[remi]

I use the same restraint that was mentioned by another that buckle into the seatbelt receiver and attach to the harness they use as service dogs. I used to have a crate in the rear of my suv but that is in the "crush" area of the vehicle (to keep passenger compartment intact) so I got a hammock for the backseat to keep dogs falling into the foot area then added the restraint. The dogs are in a safe section of the car and also protected from airbag injuries. Dogs also are restrained so if I'm hurt the rescuers can care for me without risk of my dogs being set loose.

 

[TricAP]

We have a "hammock" in the back seat of our Ford F150 extended cab. Both our dogs love it - spending road trips napping.
Seat Protector - Scout's Seat Saver - Duluth Trading

 

[DennasMom]

Denna is loose in the back seat of the F350, or in the cargo area of the Subaru - with seats flat... She no longer tries to get up in the front seat with us (just a few training sessions cured her of that idea). I do worry about her becoming a missile in an accident though... but I'd rather she get thrown clear with scrapes, bumps, bruises and broken limbs, than decapitated from a "seat belt" harness - I've read the reviews on those and they weren't pretty.

A crate is really the safest option... but unless my baby rides in the bed of the pickup (which ain't happening), we don't have room for a crate she'd fit in inside the cars.