Like many dogs, my 5-month-old mixed puppy Ava loves to look out the window when she goes for a ride in my car. Unfortunately, she loves to look out MY driver's window, which can be quite a distraction and potentially unsafe. Not only is it a safety issue, but in California, the law requires that pets be properly restrained while in a moving vehicle. $12 for the Easy Rider car harness is an inexpensive price to pay to ensure the safety of your pet and avoid getting a ticket.

Other Car Restraint Options
I tried a few different products before using the Easy Rider car harness. The first was a pet carrier, but I found it extremely cumbersome to use in my 2-door car. Not only was the carrier a hassle to lug around, but the large size made it difficult to fit in my car without fear of scratching my leather seats or getting it jammed up against the dash or door. The second thing I tried was a Top Paws car leash that connects to the D-ring of any regular dog harness and attaches to the seatbelt with a loop. The leash wasn't short enough to prevent Ava from walking into precarious situations, like finding herself stuck standing on top of the center console and then getting tangled in the leash when trying to get back down.

How To Use The Easy Rider Car Harness
The Easy Rider is basically a heavy-duty dog harness with a loop attached to the back. First, put the harness on your dog, sit him/her down on the seat, and then fasten the seat belt through the loop. It helps if your dog is familiar with putting on a harness or can sit still through the process. If you have a three-point seat belt, you'll probably see a wide gap where the shoulder and lap belts meet inside the harness loop, but you can easily clip them together. Unlike large carriers, the harness is small and extremely portable if you need to use it in different cars.

Comfort
My puppy Ava now knows her limits and is content to just sit still in her seat. She likes to lay down, but it is just as easy for her to sit up. The harness is adjustable and comes in five sizes (XS, S, M, L, XL), so as she grows, I can adjust the straps around her neck and girth, or get her a new harness if needed. The front of the harness has a thicker, wider padding which helps keep her chest area comfortable. Ava is also used to wear a regular harness, but I believe the thicker padding in front of the Easy Rider encourages her to stay still by keeping her feeling more secured in place.

Safety
I am very impressed by the difference that the Easy Rider has made in my car rides with Ava. I am no longer distracted by her when she unexpectedly decides to crawl into my lap or stands up to look outside my window. She had a habit of getting especially excited when I made left or right turns, which were moments when I needed her to stay especially still. The Easy Rider harness completely prevents these unnecessary distractions by keeping her confined to her seat.

Another benefit to the harness is that, if you get into an accident, your dog won't end up going flying out the window the way he/she would if riding unrestrained. To maximize your dog's safety, you should also keep him/her in the back seat, away from air bags which would be dangerous to your dog if deployed.

Overall Recommendation
The Easy Rider car harness is one of the best items I am proud of buying for my dog. It is inexpensive, yet invaluable to both of our safety while going for a ride. When my friend's mom saw the harness, she also wanted to get one for her Labrador Retriever. I enthusiastically gave her the links to two web sites where this item can be found (www.petsmart.com, www.allpets.com). Allpets.com has a slightly better price. I have also seen this item at PetSmart stores, but they have a limited selection when it comes to finding the right size.



Recommended: Yes