Betty's new seat belt
Bulldogs World Forum Archives
These archives contain a copy of the contents of the old Bulldogs World Forum for reference purposes.Posting is disabled in the archives.
Click here to visit the active Bulldog Forum
Betty's new seat belt
Submitted by DSimas on April 21, 2010 - 12:41amInspired by the tragedy with Cleo, maybe some of us will spare ourselves the same loss by rethinking the way we travel with our bullies...
In case you missed it in the discussion about seat harnesses below, I dug out Raven's seat belt. He was 120# and always wore it. I never would have dreamed it would fit Betty, but sure enough, I adjusted the sliding buckles as small as they go and it fits her. Except for I had to stitch up the sheepskin in front a bit so that it was a bit snugger in the shoulders. She is only 42#.
This is before I stitched up the front V together a bit higher: ![[linked image]](http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn47/DSimas_2008/IMG00032-20100406-1025.jpg)
And this morning after I did some hand sewing: ![[linked image]](http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn47/DSimas_2008/IMG00035-20100407-1238.jpg)
My sexy little model's Signature Over The Shoulder look: ![[linked image]](http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn47/DSimas_2008/IMG00033-20100406-1026.jpg)
Here is the harness. It has a loop with a large clip at the shoulders that you loop through a locked seatbelt. Today's seatbelts (not my '63 VW, but my pick up does) extend out freely as they move around, but will lock up and hold the dog tight if you hit the brakes. 
![[linked image]](http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn47/DSimas_2008/IMG00036-20100407-1241.jpg)
It's made by Travelin' Dog. Here it is on a Rottie model for Petsmart.
http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2755199
We are going on a vacation to Oregon to pick up my mustang at the trainer and taking the RV for a week, so I will feel much better now! Dawn
"Little Miss Betty Cuteface"
Toofie on the left, eyeball on the right. ![[linked image]](http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn47/DSimas_2008/IMG00608.jpg)
Raven (prior to tripawd surgery) and Betty ![[linked image]](http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn47/DSimas_2008/IMG00998.jpg)
Girth measurement
For this actual harness, it is measured by girth (Around the chest). Here's an ad:
![[linked image]](http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn47/DSimas_2008/IMG00608.jpg)
![[linked image]](http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn47/DSimas_2008/IMG00998.jpg)
http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2755199
The Large must be what I have because Raven was a 120# Rottie. The Large says 25"-42" girth. That is why it is still fitting Betty, but she could have used a Medium.
Dawn
"Little Miss Betty Cuteface"
Toofie on the left, eyeball on the right.
Raven (prior to tripawd surgery) and Betty
Thanks for sharing this
It looks really comfortable for the dog and the fact that they can lay down is a plus too.
you should go by girth measurement
more than weight.
Cathy
when she first came home
Betty, what size do you have?
My guys are both 65 pounds.
Kathy, Ollie and Chester
okay, that is now my favorite pic of Betty! what a flirty girl!
I'm going and getting one for Wyatt too...that scared the hell out of me too
spiffy
nice job, Dawn! Betty makes a lovely model too!
"I love Ozzy"
Karen and Ozzy
They can lay down with this one just fine
I just click the seatbelt like there's a person in it. But the dog sits in FRONT of it on the seat. I loop the clip through the shoulder harness. That's it. They can lay down, stand up, even walk back and forth on my truck's bench seat, Raven would lay with his head in my lap.
It was always wonderful for him and now for Betty.
![[linked image]](http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn47/DSimas_2008/IMG00608.jpg)
![[linked image]](http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn47/DSimas_2008/IMG00998.jpg)
But if I hit the brakes, the seatbelt would then lock up, and only then. Without it, Raven being 120# and top heavy, he'd end up in a heap under the dash.
Dawn
"Little Miss Betty Cuteface"
Toofie on the left, eyeball on the right.
Raven (prior to tripawd surgery) and Betty
Raven could lay down...
And stand up and put his face out the window in the wind. He could do everything he could do without one on. It's just that if the seat belt locks up (you know, how it does when you move to reach for something on the floor too quickly?), then it holds him in place.
![[linked image]](http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn47/DSimas_2008/IMG00608.jpg)
![[linked image]](http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn47/DSimas_2008/IMG00998.jpg)
Dawn
"Little Miss Betty Cuteface"
Toofie on the left, eyeball on the right.
Raven (prior to tripawd surgery) and Betty
very nice!
I would test it first though, pick her up completely with it to make sure everything holds and her shoulders stay in. ( that's how I test to see if I'll use a harnesses in the car for Audrey. I pick her up and see where the pressure is. If there is too much pressure near her neck, I won't use it. Or if the straps dig into her I won't use it either.)
I LOVE that over the shoulder look! Sexy Betty
Cathy
when she first came home
thank you Dawn
for posting this.
Cute!
I had a seatbelt harness just like that for Dixie, but I found she was more comfortable in a crate where she could lay down....she'd get too tired after class to sit up the whole drive home! LOL
![[linked image]](http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n256/jenwolfgang/glitteryourwaya3ea3f05.gif)
The one I have
is very similar. You put the seat belt through the loop, so they have quite a bit of flexibility, until the seatbelt locks. I was worried that there was too much flexibility!
Cathy
when she first came home
Thanks Dawn, I worry all the time b.c. I commute with Bella with
Hope everyone has a great day
Flirty Betty!
Nice work, Dawn!
Stella always rides shotgun with me in the car, and I do worry about her. My concern with the seatbelt is that she couldn't lie down. How much flexibility is there when they are wearing it. STella and I usually go on long drives and there is no way she could sit up the whole way.