Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Whenever I drive, my min pin jumps into my lap and he WONT leave. Obviously this is dangerous for the both of us, but I can't get him to stay in the passenger side or the back. I don't want to put up a cage (the ones that stop access to the front of the vehicle) because he'll still be flying around everywhere in the back. Nor do I want to put him in the kennel all time, as he likes to stare out the window. I've heard of doggie seat belts, but don't know if they would fit such a small dog. What kinds of things do you do to keep your minpin from jumping around in the car?

I don't have a MinPin and hopefully some other owners will be by to answer your question. I know for me and my three Shibas the varikennel works best. I know at least one member of the Shiba boards uses a seat restraint. I'm not entirely certain and would have to look in my catalogs but I think I remember seeing a seat restraint along with a booster seat.
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If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went.

The easiest thing I've found for my girls is this. They already have harnesses so what I do is either a/ get a short leash or b/ double over there leash, loop it through the seat belt, attatch it to the harness and poof, doggie seat belt, works GREAT especially if you have those types of back seat belts that lock in place if you pull the seat belt all the way out and let it slide back in or any kind that locks period. and you can either make it short to let them just sit or a little longer to let them roam a bit but still be strapped in. My girls never make a fuss over it, they just usually lie down and nap. Its great so that way all you have to have is a harness and a leash and not pay extra for expensive dog seat belts that you ONLY use in the car, most of them are only fancy looking harnesses anyway.

I use a crate- it's the safest if there's ever going to be an accident. My neighbor cleans cars after they've been in an accident and the horror stories he's told me about loose pets in a car have made me be much more strict about crating my dogs in the car. I'll spare you details, but trust me, no matter what my dogs want to do while in a car, they are safest in the crate.
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Chelle and the rest of the crew including, but not limited to Kita and Taiko (the shiba inu wrestle maniacs), Adi (reserved and dignified tabby cat), and all 28 reptiles

I use a harness/seatbelt combination with my dog, and I've seen a lot of small dogs with boosterseats and harness/seatbelt. Usually when I have my dog with me, I drive a truck and she rides in the extended cab just behind the seats. She nestles down in her bed (seatbelted in, of course) and just sleeps. Her bed has thick foam sides and she's pretty much surrounded. I used to use a crate with her in the car, so that's a good option too.

They make these short "tie-offs" made of nylon strapping w/ a clasp at the end. They're adjustable to about 2 feet, but as short as half a foot.

My little one is FIVE lbs, so I know if this works for her, it will for you. I just snap the clasp onto her halter loops. A halter is a MUST, not good for collars. B/c if you were in a wreck and wanted a chance of them living, you don't want their lil' neck snapped. Eeeek!

She has a bed in the backseat, and I clip the loop end of this nylon tie-off to a D-ring (you can find them at Target, Wal-Mart, etc.), and then clip that D-ring to a seatbelt that is snapped into the locked position.

I give her just enuff length to move around in her bed, but she's not able to jump off the backseat or up front w/ me! I like it...but ppl that have posted here about crates being safest are def right. But mine is a whiner! lol So, we meet in the middle w/ this attachment.

Hope this helps!

-K.