Sleepypod review – How to have the Safest Traveling Dogs
Sleepypod review – How to have the Safest Traveling Dogs
The post contains affiliate links
We travel, it’s what we do. I will be the first one to tell you that I have been a bad dog mom in regards to restraints in the truck for the dogs. Sure, I’ve thought about it, but never really did anything about finding the best restraint. But recently I found myself looking more and more at what would be a good safe thing for the dogs. Torrey is in the back seat. She likes to look out the window, lay down sprawled out on the seat, and maybe have a nice chew of a toy now and then. But she also will stand up and put her front paws on the center console to see out the front window. Her favorite thing is to creep up behind me, and put her head on my shoulder. While this is cute and endearing, it’s not exactly safe.
Roxy has always been the queen of the front seat. She will ride on the console if there is a blanket for her, or she sits beside me in the passenger seat. Yep again, cute, but not safe. I started having nightmares of idiots pulling in front of us, Al slamming on the brakes, and two dogs going into the dashboard. So I started researching dog restraints. Life is full of coincidences, and this was a big one. Shortly after I started looking for restraints, the SleepyPod company contacted me. I looked at their website and couldn’t believe the quality and testing that goes into their products. They actually have a crash test dummy dog. They are the only company I know of that developed and uses dog crash test dummies. They put them in the same simulators that are used for people car restraints. You can read more on their safety page.
So after emailing the rep of SleepyPod and letting her know what our needs are, they sent us a SleepyPod for Roxy, and the Clickit three point harness for Torrey. My very biggest concern was they would hate being in one spot. They both have been able to move about the truck freely, and this was going to be a big change. For me, I loved the idea they would be safer, and that Torrey would stay in the backseat, not in the way like she can be sometimes.
I started by putting the harness on Torrey so she could get used to it. Same for Roxy and the Sleepypod. They recommend dogs get used to the SleepyPod by having it in the house for a while so they can lay in it, or even use it as a bed. Roxy didn’t want to use it as a bed, but I would put her in it, give her treats, talk to her nicely, and I put in one of her little blankets. The next step was putting it in the back seat without the top on it. I drove down the road, and she actually stayed right there.
Torrey wore the harness around the house for an afternoon. I am so impressed with the Clickit harness. Very well made!! Metal buckles and everything. The tethers that come with the Clickit are clipped to the child safety seat anchors that are in the back seat. They stay there all the time so I can put the harness on Torrey and just hook her in the back seat. This page gives more information on the safety and function of the Clickit harness.
With all of Torrey’s fur it took a minute to adjust it, but that’s a one time thing.
It obviously was OK.
The next step was a 30 minute drive to visit my mom. I put Torrey in the back seat in the Clickit. She couldn’t quite figure out what was going on, and why she couldn’t move very far. But she soon settled down, and pouted. Yep, she silently pouted the whole drive there. We put Roxy in the SleepyPod with the top on and put her in the front between us. This first trip, I wanted to be able to comfort her through the top if needed. They really aren’t supposed to be in the front because of the airbags. So I broke that rule, but just for that first short trip.
After that first trip, she now rides in the back were it’s safe. I thought she would whine about it, but she hasn’t made one sound. She will stare at me through the mesh in the top, as if willing me to get her out, but she eventually curls up and goes to sleep.
Torrey is OK with the Clickit now. Not thrilled, but OK. And again, no whining like I thought there would be. She can move enough to get comfortable and lay down, and that’s all she really needs. I love that she can’t sneak onto the front console, or bolt out of the truck when we stop. And there is a D ring on the back to connect her leash.
Our first long trip was last week when we drove to St. George. About 4 hours. Both dogs did great, and it was nice to have the front seat all to myself. We try to keep our driving days around 5 or 6 hours with lots of breaks, so I think the SleepyPod and the Clickit are going to be just fine for these guys. I know I feel much better knowing they are safe.
Disclaimer: I was sent the SleepyPod and Clickit in exchange for my honest review.
UPDATE: The harness that Torrey is wearing for this review, has been updated and is now the Click-it Sport. Read my review of the Click-it Sport here.
Just stopping by to say have a marvellous Monday.
Best wishes Molly
Welcome to the the safe riders club. It is so important for you two to be properly restrained! I think humans are part of the reason dogs don’t like to be restrained, but Mom just put the harness on us strapped us in and that was it, no coddling or anything and we accepted it. Even Bailie didn’t fight the harness on the first try. If it is a good restraint and you can still move around a bit, there is nothing bad about it. Heck people and kids sit still for hours, a dog can too. Glad you will all be safer!
Yep, it’s been better for everyone. Torrey still pouts, LOL, but oh well. She’ll get over it.
Thanks for this review – I’m like you, not as diligent as I should be with the restraints. These sound pretty good although I think my guys are too big for the sleepy pod…I might get one for myself ;)
I know huh, the SleepyPod would be great for people. LOL
we saw on the news about the virgin river gorge being closed with all those motorist stuck. It has snowed everywhere in Utah. Glad to hear the dogs are traveling safe now. Good article about this.
What a neat idea!
Did not realized how small Roxy? That Sleepy Pod is cool and stylish. Since we are doing lots of road trip, last August, I finally got a harness for the car. It’s good to be safe. Lots of Golden Woofs, Sugar
Roxy is the perfect size for the SleepyPod, I kinda wish Torrey was too.
Great post on safety…and that sleepy pod looks perfect for those with small dogs.
To be honest, we did not think much of leaving dogs loose before Toby had a panic attack once and tried to climb out the window while we were on the Cross Bronx expressway in heavy traffic. It was not pretty, i was actually crying while trying to hold 85 pounds of freaking out Labrador back while my hubby drove. We bought a crate at the next Petco we passed on that trip, and Toby has been crated ever since.
We also keep Meadow crated, but I can’t fit a third crate big enough for Leah in either of our vehicles, so we keep her behind the crates so she can’t climb up into the front seat with us or go flying out the front windshield in an accident (We also bungee the crates in so that they won’t smash into her in an accident either.) She is fourteen and has never had any kind of panic attack and she just lays back there and behaves, so she still has her freedom, (as much freedom as you can have in a small area with just enough room to lay down in), and we give her a bed and she’s happy.
Oh wow, I bet that was scary! It is nice that the dogs are always out of the way now. And I know they are safe.
Great tips Roxy! You look so cute in those pics!
great safety tips, we dont often go for car rides but we need to remember seat belts for the pups
retro rover
How very cool! I love that your dogs didn’t resist the harness and pod. How encouraging! And how very sad that you’re snowed and iced in. :(
I have always let my dogs loose in the car, but recently we had a very bad accident on the freeway near our town caused by a dog who got under the driver’s feet. I’m re-thinking my traveling. Thanks for the ideas.
How scary, that would you motivate you to be safe.
Oh, what good doggies – even if there was a wee bit of pouting! I really need to start trying Rita out with the harness. With our first dog, Bailey, we let her roam free in the car. She loved to sit on the hub’s lap – and I used to worry about the airbag going off! Abby had a harness because she was a banana. I’d put her in the back dn she’d try to climb into the front – but she was way too big to be up front. Plus she tried to crawl under my legs once while I was driving! Yikes! So, in the harness she went – but it was still not ideal as she’d buck and leap around back there and get herself all hog-tied in the thing. Rita stays in the back seat and has never once tried to come up front, so I’ve let her get away w/ not wearing the harness, but I really should try it on her. I keep saying I’m going to and not doing it… soon. I swear.
Hope you get good driving weather soon! Didn’t realize you hadn’t made it to AZ yet!
The very very first time Torrey was in the harness was a short drive to my friends. When we got there she had twisted herself into a knot. That was the only time though.
It’s great that both dogs are now safely secured in the car. We’ve been using a car safety harness on Daisy for most of her life, and she’s fine with it. Ours has nice soft fleece lining inside the front, so it’s very comfortable on her. She doesn’t mind it one bit. Roxy looks adorable in her pod, and Torrey definitely looks a bit pouty and not too happy with her restraints. But still, better that they’re safe, especially with all the driving you do! :)
Hey Thanks, gonna write that down and check it out, not sure we will get Susie in there, after her puppy mill ordeal, Bites will be fine!
The Mad scots
I have their Air carrier and love it. I’ll be getting the click it soon, since I would chew right through the Pod.
Nola
Nice review. I read some nice things about these on another blog. Good to see they work out for your girls too.
We have always seatbelted our dogs, and I saw the recent study that came out. Unfortunately, they didn’t test our seatbelt brand but I suspect it wouldn’t have done as well as the Clickit. I’m thrilled to hear that Torrey is okay with the Click-it. I wondered if it would be SO constraining that our dogs wouldn’t be comfy. It sounds like they’d get used to it…
Now, our only problem is that our vehicles are all more than 15 years old, which means that they must be retrofitted to accommodate the 3 point harness of the Clickit…
Thanks for this informative post!
I’ve heard a lot of good things about the sleepy pod products/
Was there a reason you picked that carrier over the Air? I’ve been looking at them both.
Basically, they offered me the sleepypod. I looked a little at the air while roaming around their website. I think this one is better suited to car travel. The sides are hard and the way it is used with a seat belt make it really safe. I hope that helps.
Those look like great products. Thanks for the review. Hope the roads clear for you so that you can drive safely.
I love my Sleepypod Clickit! I just lie down and go to sleep and I am sure Torrey will figure out that is the best way to ride int he car as well. Roxy’s Sleepypod is pawesome! I wish I was small enough to ride in my very own seat/pod!
*high paws*
Oz
YAY! You just got the two BEST PRODUCTS EVER!!! I can’t believe how well the ClickIt is at keeping Maya in her seat. She hates being that restrained, but she’ll get used to it. It is for her own safety, after all. I don’t have a pet small enough to use the Sleepypod carrier, but I absolutely love them. I love the fact that they are crash tested.
These products sound great. The sleepy pod looks like a step up from a crate…soft and cozy instead of cold and hard. We don’t travel a lot, but when we do we are guilty of letting the dogs stay loose. Cricket also wants to be on my lap and I know that’s the worst. I am writing this down to look into…thanks for the great review!
Thank you so much for that info. I’m going to rethink the way Cooper rides in our truck on the long drive up to Idaho and back each summer.
Oh I hope you got defrosted by now :)
Their car safety gear sounds great, does Torrey’s have a front leash clip to, or just the back, my Mum might eventually change my harness as it’s not the best fit ever :)
Wags to all,
Your pal Snoopy :)
Thanks for your thoughts on this. I struggle with ways to secure the dogs while traveling and still can’t quite decide which product I wish to go with, but I’m glad to hear what others think. And it seems they adjusted fairly quickly to it.
Delilah will typically lie down and sleep but Sampson is a mover. He will probably hate it.