Sleepypod expands crash-tested dog harness line with Clickit Range: full analysis

Sleepypod is expanding its automotive safety lineup with Clickit Range, a newly launched dog car harness that the company says was designed to protect a wider spectrum of canine body types while maintaining independent crash-test credentials. The product has been certified by the Center for Pet Safety with a 5-star rating, and Sleepypod says the harness is rated for dogs from 18 to 110 pounds in both Regular and Long configurations. (sleepypod.com)

The launch lands in a category that has long had a credibility gap. More than a decade ago, the Center for Pet Safety’s crashworthiness work helped expose how many pet restraints marketed for vehicle use did not perform as claimed. In its 2013 study, only one harness, Sleepypod’s Clickit Utility, met all of the group’s criteria, and CPS has continued to frame independent testing as essential because there is no government standard specifically governing pet travel harnesses. That history helps explain why Sleepypod continues to emphasize third-party certification and why new product introductions in this space tend to lean heavily on test data. (vetstreet.com)

According to Sleepypod, Clickit Range builds on the company’s earlier Clickit Sport and Clickit Terrain models, but was engineered to address a more diverse set of canine conformations, including sighthounds, Golden Retrievers, and Bulldogs. On its product page, the company says its PPRS technology secures the torso while absorbing frontal-collision force, and that shock-absorbing sleeves, wide webbing, and a padded vest are intended to spread damaging forces across the chest and torso during a crash or sudden stop. Sleepypod also says it used dynamic crash testing and static tensile testing on hardware, webbing, and stitching during development, and that crash-test dummy dogs representing different body builds were used in evaluation. (sleepypod.com)

The independent piece of that claim comes from CPS. The organization’s certification page lists Sleepypod Clickit Range in small, medium, large, and extra-large sizes, notes testing in November 2022, and shows a passing result with a 5-star rating under protocol CPS-001-014.01. Sleepypod’s own product page goes further, stating that the certified range covers dogs from 18 to 110 pounds and that the harness is intended for rear-passenger-seat use with a three-point design. (centerforpetsafety.org)

Industry reaction appears to be centered less on controversy than on the practical gap the product is trying to fill. Pet Age described Clickit Range as a new entry aimed at “inclusive pet travel safety,” while Sleepypod’s media roundup highlights coverage focused on fit for hard-to-accommodate body types. Although I didn’t find fresh outside expert quotes specifically about this launch from veterinary specialists, the broader expert consensus in this category has been consistent: restraint quality, proper fit, and verified crash performance matter, and generic “car harness” claims are not enough. Consumer Reports and PetMD have both echoed the point that pet travel restraints lack the kind of formal standards consumers may assume exist. (petage.com)

Why it matters: For veterinary teams, this is a useful reminder that travel safety is increasingly part of preventive care conversations, especially with pet parents who routinely drive with their dogs. The key clinical takeaway isn’t brand promotion, but the importance of recommending properly fitted, independently tested restraint systems rather than improvised tethers or standard walking harnesses. A product that explicitly addresses difficult body shapes may also help close a real-world compliance gap: if a restraint doesn’t fit comfortably, pet parents are less likely to use it consistently. In that sense, a broader-fit certified harness could matter as much for adherence as for engineering. That’s an inference based on the product’s design goal and the longstanding fit problems documented across the category. (sleepypod.com)

There’s also a broader safety implication for people in the vehicle. CPS and other consumer safety sources have stressed that an unrestrained dog can become a projectile in a crash or hard stop, raising risk not only for the animal, but for human occupants as well. For practices that counsel on puppy visits, pre-surgical discharge, rehabilitation, or chronic mobility issues, travel restraint advice can be a practical extension of injury prevention and client education. (vetstreet.com)

What to watch: The next question is whether Clickit Range becomes a meaningful category standard for larger dogs and atypical body shapes, or remains a premium niche product. Watch for additional retailer uptake, veterinary recommendations, comparative reviews, and any future CPS-certified entrants that expand competition in independently tested canine travel restraints. (centerforpetsafety.org)