If you've done any research into dog seatbelts, then there's a good chance you've come across the Sleepypod Clickit harness. It's a special dog harness that has loops on the back to allow the seatbelt to link through and click into place — essentially a way for your dog to wear an actual seatbelt.
There are a handful of similar car safety harnesses on the market, but the Sleepypod Clickit is unique in that it's the only one that's actually been crash tested. In fact, Sleepypod created their own dog crash test dummies in common pet silhouettes to accurately test the security of their car safety harnesses, with DUKE 3.0 and DASH 1.0 being the latest generation of dog dummies in a long line of good boys and girls that started way back in 2012.
“Crash test pets are critical for testing Sleepypod’s car safety restraints throughout the product design process so that we can expose possible flaws that could compromise the safety of a pet in a car crash,” says Michael Leung, Sleepypod co-founder and lead product designer. “Sleepypod’s crash test pets take the hard knocks in crash-testing as part of Sleepypod’s Safety Test Program to help keep pets and the humans who ride with them safer in cars,” says Leung.
This innovation isn't without cost, though. The Clickit Sport Plus harness will run you $103, while the Terrain Plus is $126 (the Sport Plus runs a little cheaper on Amazon). If the price seems steep for a dog harness, then you're not the only one, and it's no surprise that you might be hesitating before purchasing. Is all that research really worth it? I (and my Country Living Pet Lab pup!) put the Sleepypod Clickit Sport Plus harness to test to find out.
I've tried more than a handful of different dog safety restraints in the car before and I can say, without a doubt, that the style of harness Sleepypod produces is the best. The restraints that clip onto any regular harness or dog collar and click into the seatbelt buckle are practically useless, in my experience. I've had two dogs pull multiple different brands of this type of restraint out of the seatbelt buckle.
The Sleepypod harness is different in that it utilizes your car's seatbelt, which is sure to provide restraint that will keep your pet locked in place. The harness has two loops along the back that the seatbelt slides through before being clicked into place.
How I Tested the Sleepypod Clickit Sport Plus Harness
I got the Sleepypod Clickit Sport Plus harness in a medium thinking it would fit the smaller of my two dogs, who has a 14.5" neck and 22.5" chest girth and weighs right at 30 pounds. But, the harness was a bit too big for him and ended up being a better fit for my larger dog, who has a 17" neck and 28" chest girth and weighs 50 pounds. So, right off the bat, I can say that the Clickit Sport Plus runs a little large
Honestly, Lottie was probably better suited to test the harness, anyway. She has pulled previous car safety restraints out of the seatbelt buckle and loathes any sort of harness, so I knew she'd really give the Clickit Sport Plus a run for its money.
Even though the harness should've been a little too small for her, I still think that the fit runs a little large. The Sleepypod harness has definite gaps in the fit, whereas normal harnesses adjust well to fit snug against her frame. But, because I mainly have her wearing this harness on long car rides, I like that she has plenty of breathing room and isn't uncomfortable. I figure as long as she can't slip out of the harness then she's plenty safe.
And slipping out was never an issue for Lottie during the hours of use we gave the Sleepypod harness. She definitely didn't enjoy having the harness on, but I wouldn't say that she dislikes it any more than any other harness. She tolerates it enough to still get comfortable and lay down on her seat while safely buckled in, which is a huge accomplishment in comparison to other car restraints. However, I don't think I'd use the harness as my sole way of restraining her when taking her on lead out of the car, though the harness does have two metal D-rings to attach to a leash.
The Sleepypod Clickit Sport Plus was super easy to put on and adjust. I've been testing tons of dog harnesses recently and have tried my fair share of ones that threw me for a loop when trying to put them on my pups, but this one was delightfully simple. Seeing the seatbelt loops on the back is definitely disorienting at first, but now it just helps me to know exactly what part should go under her chest versus along her back. Lottie also loves that the Sleepypod harness is easy to put on, for obvious reasons.
As an added security measure, the Clickit harness also has extra padding on the inside portion. The straps are fairly easy to modify, but the metal adjusters are a bit more difficult to slide than normal plastic ones. I do appreciate the velcro portion along the straps that allows any excess to be tucked away instead of hanging down.
Attaching the harness to the car seatbelt is even easier than it is to put on your dog. The harness comes with a buckle protector and S-clip to make sure the actual seatbelt doesn't unnecessarily lock, but, I'll be honest, I didn't use either. I haven't found the seatbelt locking to be an issue and saw no reason to use the buckle protector. To my knowledge, neither adds any extra safety precautions to the harness.
I've used the Sleepypod Clickit Sport Plus harness many times now on 2+ hour drives and my dog doesn't seem too bothered by it (any more than she is any normal harness). She doesn't like that she can't just jump out of the car willy nilly as soon as we arrive, but I consider that to be a plus for me even if it's a negative for her. She's still able to comfortably relax while on the drive.
In all honesty, I don't use the Sleepypod harness often on short drives. I know it's far less safe, but if we're not going over 55 mph, then I personally don't hassle with it. Lottie sits in the third row of our SUV, and getting back to click her in is a bit cumbersome. But, that is admittedly more based on her location than the harness itself. While the Sleepypod harness feels slightly more difficult to install in the car than car restraints that click into the seat belt buckle and attach to a regular harness, I don't mind doing the small bit of extra work for longer drives to ensure her safety.
Fortunately, I have not been able to crash test the Sleepypod Clickit Sport Plus harness. I can tell you that Lottie, who is a notorious puller when it comes to being buckled in, has stayed safe, secure, and comfortable in her princess parking in the back seat. You'll just have to trust the crash test dog dummies for how the harness actually behaves in a car accident situation!
And, fortunately for you, Sleepypod has done extensive crash testing. The harness has been tested to U.S., Canadian, and U.K. child safety seat standards as well as the Center for Pet Safety Certification with a 5 Star safety rating. Not to mention, Sleepypod will give you a free replacement if your pup is in a crash with you while wearing the harness. Similar to a car seat, the Sleepypod harness can incur unnoticeable damage that can cause changes in its efficacy.
Is the Sleepypod Clickit Harness Worth It?
I haven't found any other brand that has put the extensive research and testing forth on their car safety harnesses the same way Sleepypod has. I hope I never have our Sleepypod harness actually crash tested, but I have higher hopes that my dog will make it out unscathed knowing the thousands of hours of product engineering and testing that went into this harness.
Is that safety worth the $100+ price tag? That's a totally personal decision, but, to me, it is. I see far too many posts of frantic pet owners looking for dogs that have run away after a car accident, and I can't even begin to imagine how devastated I would be if my dog got injured in a crash and knowing it could have been preventable.
Sleepypod Clickit Harness Pros:
- Unparalleled research and product testing (crash test dog dummies!)
- Easy to put on your dog and install in the car
- Comfortable for pets to wear
- Free replacement if in a crash
Sleepypod Clickit Harness Cons:
- Expensive
- Sizing seems to run a bit bigger
What's the Difference in the Clickit Sport Plus and the Clickit Terrain Plus?
While I only tested the Sport Plus edition of the Clickit harness, you can rest easy in knowing the both the Sport Plus and the Terrain Plus went through the exact same crash testing. The main difference in the two harnesses is that the Terrain Plus is more geared toward service animals. It includes a spot for optional velcro patches to put on your dog's harness, and was made with all-day wear in mind — in and out of the car. Additionally, there's a Terrain Pack that can be bought and put on the Terrain Plus harness but not the Sport Plus edition. The Terrain Plus edition is also $23 more expensive.
Hannah Jones is the Commerce Editor for Country Living. Her eye is always on the next up-and-coming products to include in gift guides and she's ready to test everything from dog beds to garden tools for product reviews. When she’s not scoping out the latest and greatest items on the market, you can find her hanging with her two rescue dogs.
