Crash Tested Dog Seat Belt Study | The Science of Pet Safety
Did you know: Within the "old" crash test standard a dog restraint can be "crash test certified" despite allowing over 10,000lbs of sustained force on a dog's body. That is similar to five giraffes!
Buyer Beware: Would you buy a bike helmet that only measured the size of dent in the concrete and not the impact on your head? That is what happens in dog crash testing right now. Read more below!
Three Reasons Why The Dog Seat Belt Crash Test Standard Was Broken
No Impact Measurements: Unlike human crash testing, a dog restraint can be "crash tested" without measuring the forces felt by the dog during the crash.
The Excursion Test: The main test used by pet brands only measures how far the dog dummy moves inside the car, NOT the dog's well-being or injury risk.
It checks distance traveled so the dog does not become a projectile inside the car
It does not measure how much force was exerted on the dog, if the dog would be injured or how the restraint protected them
Misleading Safety Signal: Judging a dog restraint by excursion alone is like judging a bike helmet by the dent it leaves in the ground, not the head inside it.
TL;DR - How Bark Belt Fixed the Broken Standard
Bark Belt Did it First: We are the first pet safety company to do crash testing just like they do child seat crash testing, using accelerometers and measuring real impact forces
Third Party Tested: All our testing, data capture and instrumentation was provided and handled by Calspan, a leading and accredited testing facility.
Custom Crash Test Dummies: We custom built crash test dummies that were fitted with three-tri-axis accelerometers to create a full impact picture
Biomechanic Experts: Working with leading biomechanic experts, accident experts, vets and dog trainers, we designed a testing program that mirrors FMVSS 213 (Federal child-seat crash test standards).
Leading the Way: We tested more than our products, we tested top restraint styles around the industry. Comparing impact forces and protective properties.
We did the first multi-restraint crash test study
Most pet restraints labeled "crash tested" rely on an outdated standard that does not measure real injury risk. So we built custom dog crash test dummies, ran side by side frontal crash tests, and measured what each restraint actually does for the dog.
What you see here is the first data backed comparison of the three main restraint styles. It shows which risks each system protects against and where they fall short in a frontal crash, which is the crash type that creates the highest injury forces for dogs.
These tests are VIOLENT, how did they become the dog seat belt crash test standard?
Where has the logic gone?: Why has the industry gravitated towards and supported a testing standard than can subject a dog to over 10,000lbs of sustained force on their body?
Humans Are Desensitized to Speed, Even a "Minor" Accident Can Be Deadly for Your Dog
There are no "minor" accidents for dogs: Even in an every day, hard-braking scenario, this can subject a 55lb unrestrained dog to over 500lbs of force on their body.
One of the most eye-opening things we learned during our crash test research? There’s no such thing as a “minor” car accident — at least not for your dog.
According to NHTSA data, the most common crash type is a frontal collision — the kind that happens at low speeds when someone slams the brakes or fender-bends you at a light. In human terms, it's the kind of accident where you walk away sore, annoyed, and late to dinner.
But for your dog?
That same crash can generate over 10,000 pounds of sustained force. And if they’re unrestrained, or in a restraint that doesn’t absorb or redirect that momentum? That force hits their chest, neck, or skull. Hard.
Even “crash tested” dog seat belts that pass the excursion test don’t necessarily prevent direct head impacts, internal injuries, or secondary collisions inside the car.
What Is the Current Crash Test Standard for Dogs?
Most pet restraints labeled “crash tested” are evaluated using a single method called the excursion test . It measures how far a dog dummy moves forward during a crash simulation. If the dummy stays within a specific zone and avoids hitting the front seat, the product passes.
But this test doesn't measure:
Whether the restraint reduces injury
If the dog’s head or chest absorbs excessive force
How the body responds to rapid deceleration
It’s a limited tool — useful for understanding containment, but not protection.
The Data Gap: Why We Built Our Own Dummies
As we dug deeper, we realized that the standard dog crash test dummies used across the industry lack sensors and do not collect impact data. They show movement, but not internal force. So we built our own.
Working with biomechanical engineers, we developed custom canine crash test dummies equipped with:
Sensors in the head, chest, and spine
Accelerometers to capture deceleration and impact force
Anatomical fidelity to better reflect real-world outcomes for dogs
These dummies allow us to measure how a restraint performs during impact — not just whether it keeps the dog in place.
With New Crash Dummies, Testing Just Our Products Wasn't Fair-So We Tested Other Top Crash Tested Dog Products
We crash tested:
Bark Belt (with and without our harness)
Leading competitor harnesses
Crash-rated crates
An unrestrained dog dummy (for baseline comparison)
And we didn’t just watch what happened — we measured it.
Even at 30mph, a restrained dog can experience forces of over 19,000 pounds. Many systems allowed direct head or chest impact with the vehicle cabin, even while technically “passing” under the old standard.
Bark Belts Are Designed for Every Day Accidents - Not Extreme Head On Collisions
Because no restraint can protect a dog in every crash. But we did build it to protect them from the most likely danger.
Bark Belt is designed for:
Frontal crashes – which account for ~62% of all accidents
Unrestrained momentum – the #1 injury risk to dogs
Secondary impacts – like your dog hitting the dash, seatback, or window
Our system uses a multi-point restraint and load-absorbing design to arrest forward motion , not just contain it. It reduces force transfer to the chest and head — especially in the first seconds of a crash, which are the most deadly.
We tested it against crates, traditional harnesses, and unrestrained setups — and while no product eliminated all risk, Bark Belt consistently showed lower force readings and reduced direct impacts in frontal collisions.
The Real Issue: The Standard Needs to Evolve
nspired by the testing framework for child car seats (FMVSS 213), we created a new set of metrics: The B.A.R.K. Standard — Biomechanic Anthropomorphic Restraint Kinetics.
It evaluates restraints across five key safety measures:
Head Injury Criterion (HIC): Measures likelihood of head trauma
Whiplash Reduction: Assesses differential deceleration between head and chest
No Contactable Surfaces: Ensures no hard surfaces can impact the dog during a crash
Structural Integrity: Tests whether the restraint withstands sustained force
Excursion Distance: Retained for context, but now one part of a more complete picture
This standard is data-backed, measurable, and repeatable — and we share it because we believe dog safety deserves the same rigor we expect for people.
Our Mission: Raise the Bar for Canine Safety
We didn’t set out to challenge the industry. We simply saw an opportunity to build something better. Bark Belt exists not just to provide a product — but to contribute to a safer standard for all pets on the road.
We encourage dog parents to ask more of the gear they use and to expect data when safety claims are made. Whether you use Bark Belt or another product, the most important thing is to make informed decisions based on evidence — not assumptions.
Because your dog is more than precious cargo. They’re family.
What’s the Best Pick?
We wish there were a one-size-fits-all solution. There isn’t. Instead, here’s how we break it down based on accident type:
Frontal Collisions
🧠 Most common (around 62% of accidents)
💥 Primary risk: Your dog slamming forward and hitting hard surfaces
✅ Best defense: Bark Belt + harness — prevents forward momentum, limits impact force
Rollovers, Side Swipes, Rear-End Collisions
📉 around 37% of accidents
📦 Primary risk: Your dog getting tossed around the cabin
✅ Best defense: Crash-tested crate — contains the dog and prevents crushing
High-Speed, Fatal Crashes
💀 No current restraint can protect against the full forces involved
🚫 Best defense: Prevention (drive safely, minimize highway distractions)
Would you be open to or did you try testing multiple things, like the bark belt and harness with a crate? Because part of my worry about having no crate is stuff flying around the car and hitting them or stuff from the other car hitting them.
Comments
Would you be open to or did you try testing multiple things, like the bark belt and harness with a crate? Because part of my worry about having no crate is stuff flying around the car and hitting them or stuff from the other car hitting them.