At 50 km/h, your pet hits like a small rhinoceros. Most shop-bought restraints snap instantly.
Whether on the M50 or a winding lane in West Cork, physics is relentless. An unrestrained dog becomes a projectile, threatening everyone in the car.
Many retail harnesses use plastic adjustment slides. Under crash friction, these melt or snap. You need all-metal, load-rated hardware.
Static weight is irrelevant in a crash. Look for equipment tested to survive forces exceeding 20kN (kilonewtons) without disintegrating.
For estates or SUVs, a crash-tested crate is a survival cell. It must have built-in 'crumple zones' to absorb energy before it hits your dog.
Every centimetre of slack increases the final impact force. If your dog moves too far forward, they hit the front seats with bone-shattering speed.
Narrow straps cut into soft tissue. Wide, padded plates distribute the impact across the strongest parts of the skeleton: the ribcage and sternum.
Single-point back anchors can cause violent body rotation in side-impacts. Broad support prevents the 'whiplash' effect that causes spinal fractures.
Most Irish cars since 2006 have ISOFIX points. Use them. Anchor your pet directly to the car's chassis for maximum structural integrity.
Never attach a car tether to a standard walking collar. In a sudden stop, the concentrated force causes immediate, fatal cervical spine failure.
Under Irish law, an unrestrained dog can lead to 'careless driving' charges. Worse? It could invalidate your insurance if an accident occurs.
A restraint doesn't just keep your dog in one place; it manages kinetic energy to save lives. Choose gear based on kilonewtons, not marketing buzz.
See the exact engineering specs and metal hardware you need before your next trip. Don't risk it.