I'm in the market for a really good seatbelt or harness to keep Finley safe in my car. I had a seatbelt for her that was working well until today when she pulled hard enough and it unclipped and she felt out of the window while I was driving. This was a HORRIBLE experience and fortunately she is fine and we are seeing a vet shortly. I'm not sure if she meant to jump or if she just fell because I didn't see since I was looking at the road, thank god the car behind me stopped in time and got out to help me keep her from getting hit. Any suggestions would be good, I don't want to crate her in the car though, I'd like her to be able to still enjoy the wind in her face! TIA

I don't know much about seatbelts since I don't use them. This thread offers a few brands.

https://www.itsahuskything.com/t1074-any-recommendations-for-a-good-lifejacket-seatbelt-brand?highlight=Seatbelt

Poor Finley though. That had to be terrifying for the both of you. I imagine she is used to putting faith in the belt holding her so when it didn't she got a ride she didn't know she could. Any belt or harness can fail. I would keep the window up enough that if the next belt fails she has to work to get out the window so you might notice before the worst happens. Hanging out the window can end up with dirt or foreign particles in the eyes that could cause problems. I don't let mine hang all the way out for fear of falling or something ending up lodged in their eyes.

I use a kurgo Haynes with stainless steel "nesting" buckles and the tether that comes with it. I them got another seat belt tether from Walmart but do not use it with the seat belt as I have read that they can let loose... Instead I use spring clips to attach to the child seat anchors on the rear deck behind the rear seats. But the kurgo tether had a big loop on one end that the car seat belt could be threaded through and clipped just like for humans. We keep the child locks on the rear doors and the electric windows locked when dog in car.

I don't have a suggestion for a seat belt although there are plenty on the market.

I would suggest, to avoid this potential issue of a belt failing and falling out the window in the future, that you only leave the window open a small amount...enough for maybe a head to stick out but not a whole body if you really must let your dog experience the wind in her face (shoot, you don't even need to stick your head out for that truthfully). And utilize the child locks as Amy suggested.

We had a forum member who lost their pup due to falling out an open window in the past and it's heartbreaking...not worth a wind in their face experience to me, but to each his own.

I am someone who crates in the car because it's the safest possible way to travel. I was not a huge fan of it early on until one day a member here shared her experience with what I believe was a rollover accident in which the dogs came out safely specifically because they were in crates at the time of the accident. Scared me straight but then again I am by nature a worry wart and not a risk taker. Of course, not everyone has an SUV and I understand that crates can be impractical in a car especially with larger and/or multiple dogs.

Sorry haven't been on here for a bit because of work! But yes, it was terrifying to see her laying in the road, especially during rush hour but luckily for me she was okay! I've decided to keep my windows locked so she cant accidentally push them down farther and she seems to be fine with the transition so far. Poor thing just loves to feel the wind in her face! I think if I had a big enough car, crating her would be a good option but mine just isn't big enough for her, especially when she gets bigger but that is a scary thought. The experience was definitely a wake up call! She didn't leave my side the entire rest of the night, I think it definitely scared her She's happy as can be now though! Thanks for all the suggestions. Amy, I'll definitely check out the kurgo you mentioned!

To give you added incentive on tethering since av crate isn't an option, son, against my nagging, did not use tether with his pup.  Stopped at small rural grocery on way to camping.  Getting out of car, out went Archer.  Do
And they went Josh, sprinting down busy main St for half as mile...

Oh my gosh that must have been so scary! I'm glad your pup was ok though. I had bought a restraint for my dog. It hooks onto his collar and then goes into the seatbelt buckle. But Balto chewed through it. Then he chewed through the 2nd one. So I'll be looking at these suggestions as well, because Balto gets anxious in the car!

I would say don't have the window rolled down far enough for this kind of thing to happen. Any seat belt can fail, especially with dogs who don't like to sit nicely in the car. Assume it will, at least until she's learned her car manners! I'm glad she's okay.

edit - Just noticed that someone already mentioned this! Sorry. In that case, I second it. But I wouldn't say it necessarily has to be forever. You can look up some helpful videos to teach car manners. My boy sits very nicely in the car, and he knows that if he stands up and moves around, he gets his window privileges revoked.

I just got 2 Sleepypod terrain harnesses for my little ones. They are a pain to adjust, but once it's done the dogs seem really comfortable. I usually let them roam around in the extra cab of my truck, but even a little fender bender could get them killed. Not worth it to me.

Weathertech mats, 4knines bench seat cover, these harnesses, and we are ready to road trip.