Driving with dogs in front seat

[Anonymous]

It confounds me when I see so many people driving cars with a dog in the front passenger seat (or even on the driver’s lap!). We don’t let our children sit in the front passenger seat without a seatbelt because we know that any accident, even small, could seriously injure or kill an unrestrained passenger. I assume most people dearly love their dogs so why are many so relaxed about dogs in the front seat?

[Anonymous]

I find it kind of hilarious. Makes me chuckle. Man’s best friend indeed.

[Anonymous]

Mine always calls shotgun …

I have to actively pre bet him from climbing up front. Big snow dog

[Anonymous]

I sometimes drive with my dog in the front seat but he is restrained (harness w/ attachment to seatbelt buckle). It isn’t as safe as the back due to the hard dashboard rather than the soft seat back, but yeah, sometimes I do it.

I also ate soft cheese while pregnant and swim alone sometimes. I live in the edge that way.

[Anonymous]

The dog is an extra pair of eyes to watch the road, barking an alarm if something dangerous could happen.

Dachshunds are especially vigilant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I sometimes drive with my dog in the front seat but he is restrained (harness w/ attachment to seatbelt buckle). It isn’t as safe as the back due to the hard dashboard rather than the soft seat back, but yeah, sometimes I do it.

I also ate soft cheese while pregnant and swim alone sometimes. I live in the edge that way.

It's dangerous because of the airbag, not the hard dash. Same reason you don't put little kids in the front.

But I also avoid the cargo area because that's a crumple zone. And real seat belt options (as opposed to just harnesses) are few - Kurgo has one - so there's no perfect solution even though the rear passenger bench is the safest spot.

[Anonymous]

Its stupid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The dog is an extra pair of eyes to watch the road, barking an alarm if something dangerous could happen.

Dachshunds are especially vigilant.

You’re kidding, right?

[Anonymous]

We have a large dog who doesn’t fit on a seat, so we keep a huge dog bed in the back of our minivan, attach our dog’s harness to a restraint system, and then he lays down on the dog bed. The restraint system gives him just enough leeway to stand up in between the two second row captain’s chairs. He only does that briefly during long, straight stretches of highway driving. He doesn’t want to stand if there’s a lot of stopping and starting or turning corners. I’m sure the restraint system poses its own safety risks, but it seems better than nothing. Our boy has never gotten to stick his head out the window of a moving car.

I always wonder why anyone allows a dog on the driver’s lap while a car is in motion. That seems crazy dangerous. Is that legal?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It confounds me when I see so many people driving cars with a dog in the front passenger seat (or even on the driver’s lap!). We don’t let our children sit in the front passenger seat without a seatbelt because we know that any accident, even small, could seriously injure or kill an unrestrained passenger. I assume most people dearly love their dogs so why are many so relaxed about dogs in the front seat?

Maybe MYOB?

[Anonymous]

Yea, this is why when people refer to dogs as fur-babies and claim to love their pets more than they would love a human child, I roll my eyes. Loving your child means you do everything in your power to protect them and keep them safe. If you're putting your dog in the front seat, unrestrained, you're not thinking about their well-being, you're thinking about what makes *you* feel good. Most people wouldn't even let an adult human ride up front without a seatbelt.

[Anonymous]

In my compact car, the only place my dog is comfortable is the front seat. We try to use the larger car when he joins us, so that he can be in the back. But he still doesn't have a proper seatbelt. He's very restless and moves about constantly. Not sure it's particularly safer, to be honest.

Oh, and dogs are not children. I love him, but I'm not treating him with the care I reserve for my kids. Too bad if you don't like it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I sometimes drive with my dog in the front seat but he is restrained (harness w/ attachment to seatbelt buckle). It isn’t as safe as the back due to the hard dashboard rather than the soft seat back, but yeah, sometimes I do it.

I also ate soft cheese while pregnant and swim alone sometimes. I live in the edge that way.

It's dangerous because of the airbag, not the hard dash. Same reason you don't put little kids in the front.

But I also avoid the cargo area because that's a crumple zone. And real seat belt options (as opposed to just harnesses) are few - Kurgo has one - so there's no perfect solution even though the rear passenger bench is the safest spot.

I think a medium sized dog is quite a bit tougher than a child. I blame evolution.

[Anonymous]

When I see the person driving with the tiny dog on their lap I always imagine the scene after the airbag deploys bag deploys and crushes that dog into the drivers chest and face. I also think about this when I see people in the passenger seat with their feet on the dash. It makes me queasy to even imagine it.

[Anonymous]

Dog people are insane.