Canine Friends

[jackharper]

Probably an odd question, and I wondered if this was definitely dolomite-related or not but I think it is.

What do people do (if at all?) about dogs in the back of a Toledo/Dolly? Particularly ones without rear seatbelts.

I think the law now says that dogs should be "suitably restrained" but I can't really figure out how to do that in our cars - really want to take our little whippet out on day trips in the old car!

Pic of said dog (Small Whippet) having a go at "driving" my Toledo

[xvivalve]

The issue is if you have to stop suddenly, or are involved in a collision, even a small flying dog can cause serious injury or death to a front seat passenger let alone any injury to the dog.

Beneath the rear seat are the mounting points for seat belts to which a strap can be bolted and fed out between the squab and upright to which the dog's harness can then be attached.

Also, dog claws can destroy bri-nylon which has gone brittle in the sun, so keep them off the parcel shelf.

[jackharper]

The issue is if you have to stop suddenly, or are involved in a collision, even a small flying dog can cause serious injury or death to a front seat passenger let alone any injury to the dog.

Beneath the rear seat are the mounting points for seat belts to which a strap can be bolted and fed out between the squab and upright to which the dog's harness can then be attached.

Also, dog claws can destroy bri-nylon which has gone brittle in the sun, so keep them off the parcel shelf.

Cheers. Were late model Dolomites fitted with rear seatbelts? Wondering if I can retrofit them to my Toledo (the buckles at least, then I can clip one of those dog harness leads into one)

As for claws I was planning on using a dog hammock in the back to protect the vinyl seats and parcel shelf underneath, the one I've got has a slot for the lead to go through.

[xvivalve]

All Dolomites and Toledos have the captive nuts for retro-fitting rear belts. Lift your rear seat squab and you'll see them.

[Macleesh]

You can get restraints that plug into a seat belt buckle so all you would need is one of those then whip the seat out, fit a buckle to one of the mounts and you're done. 10 minute job if you don't want full belts in the back.

[jackharper]

You can get restraints that plug into a seat belt buckle so all you would need is one of those then whip the seat out, fit a buckle to one of the mounts and you're done. 10 minute job if you don't want full belts in the back.

Cheers both - that's what I was thinking. I guess having a buckle but no belt will probably be OK at MOT time? maybe not such an issue if they weren't fitted to my car from the factory.

[Carledo]

You can get restraints that plug into a seat belt buckle so all you would need is one of those then whip the seat out, fit a buckle to one of the mounts and you're done. 10 minute job if you don't want full belts in the back.

Cheers both - that's what I was thinking. I guess having a buckle but no belt will probably be OK at MOT time? maybe not such an issue if they weren't fitted to my car from the factory.

I honestly couldn't say what the MOT perspective is, In theory, if a seatbelt is fitted, it must work, regardless of age of the car. Having only PART of a seatbelt fitted would imply that it IS fitted but CAN'T work because its incomplete, so should fail (this is me with my "Jobsworth" hat on!)

In practice it would be only the work of a couple of minutes to tuck the offending part UNDER the seat cushion before the MOT and retrieve it afterwards. What they can't see, they can't fail!

To be perfectly honest, it's my opinion that the rules for seat restraints for dogs are unlikely to be more stringent or more enforced than those for humans. And the human rules say that if your car was built before 1/8/1986 it does not need to be fitted with rear belts. If you own such a vehicle and choose to carry rear passengers unrestrained, thats your business (and theirs) I can't believe the law for dogs is any tougher.

OTOH, I can't understand someone who would wish to restrain their pet, but not care about any human cargo in the rear seat! Perhaps that's the old T shirt slogan in force, "the more people I meet, the more I like my dog!" Just go the whole hog and fit some rear belts for everyone to use!

This might be old fart me talking though. If I had MY way, seatbelt wearing would be voluntary. I'm old enough to have owned many cars that had no seatbelts at all (and wouldn't be obliged to have them now) and I liked it that way. My children (and grandchildren) throw their hands up in horror at my attitude and point blank refuse to allow me to transport their little darlings without belts so I have rear belts fitted!

How attitudes change, my own children (who now protest a lack of belts so vigourously) travelled unrestrained from their carrycot days and survived! Several times when they were small, both of them on the back "shelf" of my convertible GT6 with the top down and loving every second!

My 2p worth, Steve

[ian.stewart]

I have my pooch strapped in the back of our Toledo, as stated above, there are plugs under the rear seat, I used a cheap seatbelt off Amazon, but only used the buckle, also from Amazon was a fly buckle to attach the dog collar to the seatbelt, all in all it took about 20 mins to fit, I dont think its a MOT fail like this as there is no 2nd part of the belt attached.

[jackharper]

Thanks all for the advice.