I was skeptical when searching for a seatbelt for my dog. I've never used a seatbelt with a dog before, but it seemed like a prudent idea. Looking around, there are a lot of choices, and it's not clear the differences between them. I decided on the Roadie even though there aren't many reviews on Amazon for it because whenever I went to chat boards to find people with recommendations, this was always one of their top ones.But I have to admit, I was a little skeptical. It was more than I was expecting to spend. In the end, though, I think it was worth the extra money. It's really well made. When you take it out of the package, it feels like a person's seatbelt. And it fit my dog really well.
I will say, go to the Ruff Riders Roadie website and make sure you measure your dog carefully before deciding on a size. My dog is about 20 lbs, and is right in the middle of all of the measurements for the Small2, and it fits her perfectly (if it were any smaller, it wouldn't fit). So, it seems like if your dog is at the top of the measurement range, you should probably go with the next size up because there are no buckles on the main part of the seatbelt. The buckles on it seem to be just to hold it snug to them if it's a little loose. The main part of it is not adjustable.
A note about the sizing: be sure to consult not just Amazon, but the Ruff Rider website, as the sizing information is more detailed on the Ruff Rider site. Basically, there are two smalls, two mediums, etc. Be sure to measure carefully my dog measured for a Small 2, but at 48 lbs., I would never have expected her to be a small in anything. Also, go up a size if they are even close to the borderline. She was right in the middle of the range for this size but could probably stand to go up a size.
I ordered two of these, a Small 2 for my 48 lb. dog and a Medium 1 for my boyfriend's dog. Note that the medium had an extra adjustment strap on the chest (although we didn't find it useful) and had wider straps. Importantly, we were not able to fit my seatbelt buckles through the loops in the Small 2, but they fit just fine through the Medium 1. This means we had to use a large carabiner for the Small 2 to properly attach it to the car. *A note about carabiners*: if you are not already familiar with carabiners through rock climbing or related sports, be sure to familiarize yourself with them before using one for this purpose. You need to get a real one with a locking closure, not a novelty one, and it needs to be rated for the appropriate amount of force (usually given in kilonewtons). It takes a pretty heavy duty one to adequately attach your Ruff Rider Roadie (if needed), as 50+ lbs. of dog in an accident at 70 mph can exert a much greater amount of force than a person slipping and falling from a rock ledge.
The primary design flaw I encountered is that the dog can step on the seat belt buckle (accidentally or otherwise), thus releasing both the belt and their Roadie. A solution to this would be to use a high-quality carabiner to attach the Roadie to your vehicle's car seat attachments, circumventing the seat belt entirely.
Having said all that about sizing and attaching the product to the car, I have to say that the overall construction of this product is great. It is strong and the stitching is strong. I did a lot of research into this before making a purchase, because I was going on a cross-country roadtrip and wanted to keep my dogs safe in the event of an accident and also keep myself and my boyfriend safe 100 lbs. of dogs flying forward in an accident is not safe for anyone. I discovered that because dog seatbelts don't have to be approved by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration or anything like that, the quality can be really inadequate. Most are probably fine for keeping your dog from jumping around the car, but are not sufficient to protect you and your dog in an accident. For example, plastic buckles are unlikely to hold up in a high-speed impact. The manufacturers of sub-par products probably know this but are hoping that their customers either don't care about this aspect or won't apply critical thinking skills to the situation.
Both of our dogs seemed to not mind this product, even when being walked in it out of the car. My dog is squirmy but had no issues putting it on via setting it over her head first then pulling her legs through. However, she was able to back out of it once when I was getting her out of the car.
Altogether, I was really impressed with the quality of this product, particularly its construction. It's worth the money to keep your dogs, yourself, and your family safe in the car.
Buy Ruff Riders Roadie Canine Vehicle Safety and Training Harness - Size Small2 Now
So often you wonder, would this hold my dog in a crash? Or would this material or connecting system fail? NOT with the Roadie by Ruff Rider. Great quality and fit. I know my dogs are safe now.Our first Boxer went through at least four roadies (out grew them). I gave them to friends as she out grew them. My favorite was the sheep shin lined one. Also liked the way they clipped at the shoulder vs this style that has to slip over the head. Very hard to get on!!!!! It is not pleasant for the dog. You want your dog to enjoy the roadie not dread it! Once on it is comfortable I think.Want Ruff Riders Roadie Canine Vehicle Safety and Training Harness - Size Small2 Discount?
Let's face it....we too often just take the chance that the puppy will stay put and not interfer with driving. Or that we'll not have that accident that propells the pooch through the windshield! Don't buckle up your own safety belt without ensuring that your companion is also safely secured in the event of that unfortunate event! This one is crash tested and when fitted correctly is not at all difficult to put on. Plus, it easily detaches from the seat belt to serve as an expedient walking harness.Save 22% Off
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