At 100km/h on a Kiwi highway, a "crash-tested" sticker won't stop physics. Don't find out the hard way on the SH1.
A 20kg Border Collie carries nearly 600kg of force in a sudden stop. If your restraint is only rated for 'static' weight, it will snap instantly.
Narrow webbing concentrates impact. Look for wide, padded chest plates that distribute those 600kg across the ribs, not the soft neck.
Side-release plastic clips shatter on impact. For NZ road speeds, only trust nesting metal buckles or mountaineering-grade carabiners.
If the stitching doesn't look like climbing gear, it's not for cars. Box-X patterns ensure the harness holds even if one thread pulls.
Long tethers act like a pendulum in side-impacts, swinging your dog into doors or the console. Shorter connections are always safer.
Every centimetre of slack is more speed before the stop. Keep the connection to the seatbelt system as tight as possible.
Most NZ car headrests aren't designed to hold 600kg. They can snap off. Anchor to the seatbelt or floor-mounted cargo loops instead.
If you can fit more than two fingers under the harness, 'slack creep' will fail your pet. Check the fit before every trip.
Brands often test at low speeds or only on small sizes. If they won't show you the sled-test video, the claim is just marketing fluff.
Look for third-party verification from groups like the Center for Pet Safety. Don't let a generic supermarket brand gamble with their life.
A dog restraint isn't a car-leash; it's a technical safety device designed to fight physics. Choose engineering over aesthetics every time.
See the full engineering breakdown and the exact brands that actually pass independent sled tests in NZ.