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Sat, Nov 3rd 2007

Kurgo Kurgo Auto Zip Line

Freedom to roam

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PRODUCT
DETAILS
product kurgo auto zip line
type restraint
price $25 to $75
manufacturer kurgo
rating 3 out of 5 paws

Kurgo Auto Zip Line: The Kurgo Auto Zip Line is simply a line of nylon webbing that attaches between the two rear passenger side handles. The Kurgo dog harness attaches to it, allowing the dog wearing it to move around freely in the back seat. The sample we received was a bit big for Bella or Twyla, so guest reviewers Audrey Pavia and Nigel, a 25-pound Pembroke Welsh Corgi, tried it out for us. Here’s Audrey’s report:

The medium size fit Nigel fairly well, although I struggled a bit trying to adjust the straps. It was easy to set up in my car using the illustration in the instruction sheet.

I like the Zip Line because it allowed Nigel freedom to move around in the backseat of my SUV. He was able to change positions and readjust himself for comfort. I didn't feel he was as secure as he might have been with a regular seat belt harness, however. If I were to stop short, I worried he would fall off the back seat and hit the back of the driver or passenger seat. With a regular seat belt harness, he would be as secure as a human wearing a seat belt.

The Zip Line trades some security for freedom of movement. For dogs who won't tolerate being confined to a seat belt, the Zip Line is a good alternative.

The Kurgo Auto Zip Line comes in small, medium, large and extra large sizes and includes the harness, leash and tether. It’s available from pet supply stores, hardware stores and online. It costs $45. Contact Kurgo toll-free at 877-847-3868.

-- Kim Campbell Thornton

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Comments

Another note on the above carabiner set up, we’ve used this in my Audi that doesn’t have child seat anchors by clipping a carabiner to each side of the metal headrest supports in the rear. This wasn’t ideal but the rear headrests don’t pull out and is far more secure than using the handles that aren’t anchored very securely.

We’ve also used it in a number of SUVs that have cargo anchors. This works better than any set up we’ve used so far since it is almost exactly what the cargo anchors were designed for.

2008-01-23 14:01:15

We built something like this using some climbing carabiners and runners/slings from REI and a harness that looks like the one in the picture (I’m not sure of the brand of ours). We use one runner and clip a carabiner into the 2 farthest child safety seat anchors. We then attach a second gear sling to the first with a carabiner at one and a carabiner at the other end hooks into the harness. This second gear sling we use is something like a 4 foot sling. We triple it up by looping several loops through the carabiners when he is in the vehicle and then we can use it at full length as a leash with a carabiner as a handle when he is out. This works really well and people are always asking us where we got it!

In an accident I think the passenger handles would pull right out with any force providing no security to your animal in anything other than a quick stop. He occasionally twists the gear sling up and shortens it a bit (but it won’t twist very much anyway) and it never tangles.

Here are the approximate costs:

Bluewater 48inch sling $11
Metolius 60cm sling $5
Blackdiamond wiregate carabiners 4 ($6) $24
Four Paws fleece lined harness – large $15——————————-
approx. $55 for a large dog
locking gate carabiners are preferable at $8 each so $63 total depending on what harness you use (we already had one for seatbelt use but it tangled to easily that way)

The locking gate carabiners are better because if the dog moves around a lot the sling can press on the gate of the carabiner and open it up and then the dog will be loose if the it also slides out. The problem we ran into was that with the angle of the rear windshield in our Accord it was very difficult to slip the locking gate carabiners through the hole in the child safety seat anchors due to their larger size. Narrow nose wire gate biners would be good there with locking gates attached at both ends of the longer sling (one at the harness and one around the short sling).

2008-01-23 13:53:51

Looks easy to use. Great Idea.

2007-11-19 10:41:38

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