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FAQ

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FAQ

Product Compatibility and Specifications

What cars is Rubicon Dog™ compatible with?

Rubicon Dog™ is compatible with most 4-door sedans, wagons, SUVs, and trucks.

Is the Rubicon Dog™ Open Top Dog Crate patented?

The Rubicon Dog™ car seat is a patent pending product.

What is the recommended dog weight for using Rubicon Dog™?

Rubicon Dog™ is designed for dogs weighing between 40 to 80 lbs or most dogs that currently fit in an intermediate size kennel. Keep in mind that this is just a guideline; compatibility varies by breed, gender, and other factors. For example, a very tall ~80 lbs giant breed like a Borzoi (male height ~28") might feel a little cramped while a thick, short ~100 lbs Rottweiler (female height ~22-25") would likely fit more comfortably.

Please check with your veterinarian if you're concerned about your dog fitting in the Rubicon Dog™ car seat.

What are the dimensions of the Rubicon Dog™ Open Top Dog Crate?

Rubicon Dog's dimensions are as follows:

Shipping dimensions: 36” x 21” x 20”.

Internal floor dimensions: 27" x 17".

Car seat external base length (as measured from the center of the back seat to the back of the front seat): 31". In most vehicles, the front seat occupant gives up ~2" of maximum legroom when using the Rubicon Dog™.

What is the Rubicon Dog™ Open Top Dog Crate made of?

Rubicon Dog™ is made of the same double-wall plastic construction that is found in the world’s best premium brand hard coolers, minus the insulation to keep it lighter.

How much does Rubicon Dog™ Open Top Dog Crate weight? Will I be able to lift it?

The main structure of Rubicon Dog™ weighs ~23 lbs (without doors) and is easy to lift with built-in grab handles.

Where is the Rubicon Dog™ Open Top Dog Crate designed and manufactured? Do you have customer service?

The Rubicon Dog™ car seat is designed, manufactured, and quality controlled in Baxter, Minnesota, made alongside other innovative outdoor brands such as Maluna Coolers and DÜHA. We also have dedicated customer service here in the USA.

How well does this product hold up in extreme temperatures?

Rubicon Dog™ is built like the best premium double wall plastic coolers (minus the insulation) so it is very durable. However, it is not recommended to leave it in vehicles for extended periods of time when temperatures inside exceed 100oF (~38oC).

Usage and Safety

How much movement does Rubicon Dog™ allow for my dog?

Rubicon Dog™ allows your dog to sit or lay down in a forward position. It is recommended to use a reasonably tight-fitting car seat that provides lateral support, ensuring your dog doesn't get bounced around on winding roads or off-road terrain.

Note that the internal floor dimensions of the Rubicon Dog™ car seat do not need to be as big as a kennel, since the car seat has an open top and doesn't require the dog to go in head-first and turn around.

How do I clean and maintain Rubicon Dog™?

Rubicon Dog™ can be easily cleaned with soap and water, similar to cleaning a premium double-wall plastic cooler.

Can I use the Rubicon Dog™ Open Top Dog Crate for anything other than travel with my dog?

YES! Over the last year of testing, we discovered the Rubicon Dog™ car seat just stays in our vehicle when not in use. Going grocery shopping? Wine bottles, pasta sauce jars, milk containers, wet clothes, dirty boots, or just about anything that can make an awful mess in your vehicle can go in the Rubicon Dog™ car seat. Need to organize the backseat so that you can have passengers in the car? Use the Rubicon Dog™ car seat so that your things don’t fly all over the car.

Can I put the Rubicon Dog™ Open Top Dog Crate in the front seat of a car?

It is not recommended to use your Rubicon Dog™ Open Top Dog Crate in the front seat of your car. Just as child car seats are, the Rubicon Dog™ Open Top Dog Crate is designed specifically for use in the rear seating of your car. It fits snugly in between your front and back seats, and leverages your car's seat belt system to fully secure the car seat. Placing a Rubicon Dog™ in the front seat would likely put the dog’s head right in front of the airbag. Also, with the dog in a sitting position, the driver's view of the passenger-side rear mirror would be blocked, creating hazardous conditions for the dog as well as the vehicle’s occupants.

Can I use Rubicon Dog™ Open Top Dog Crate without a dog car harness?

In theory yes, but we do not recommend it. Check your local and state laws because the driver could be subject to a citation for leaving the dog loose inside a moving vehicle. Your Rubicon Dog™ Open Top Dog Crate comes with all the accessories you need to secure your dog. It is designed to very quickly and easily connect the dog’s harness to the seat belt. We recommend that you use the Rubicon Dog™ Open Top Dog Crate as intended for the sake of your dog and all the other occupants in the car. Your dog can become a dangerous projectile in a collision.

Has Rubicon Dog™ been crash-tested? What happens to my dog if we're in an accident?

a. Rubicon Dog™ by itself is not crash tested because it is currently in prototype state, CNC-built using the same CAD file design as the final product. Additionally, it is an ergonomic device that provides comfort and support to the dog, just like bucket seats in a sports car or the plastic seat component in a child car seat system. The safety aspect is addressed in the same way as seat belts for adults and harnesses for children: a sturdy dog harness designed for cars. Rubicon Dog™ car seats can work with most available dog car harnesses, including many that have gone through crash testing, and have components with similar breaking strengths as seat belt webbing material requirements specified by the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 209:

"Under S4.2(b), webbing in the pelvic restraint portion of a Type 2 seat belt assembly must have a breaking strength of not less than 22,241 N (5,000 pounds). The upper torso portion of a Type 2 seat belt assembly must have a minimum breaking strength of 17,793 N (4,000 pounds)."

b. Rubicon Dog™ was designed to allow for a quick and safe extraction of a dog after an accident. The use of a tether built with certified rock climbing gear - all components exceeding the minimum breaking strengths mentioned above - means that the dog’s leash can be connected to the dog’s harness before the carabiner disconnects the dog from the seat belt. Therefore, the dog is always 100% under control and unable to jump out and run off into the street.

My dog has anxiety and/or gets car sick, will this help?

Yes. Rubicon Dog™ will definitely help with keeping your vehicle clean if the dog gets car sick, but a major cause for anxiety and car sickness is the lack of support for the dog under various driving conditions. In panic situations where the driver has to brake or swerve suddenly, the dogs are traumatized because they’re thrown forward into the footwell or flung around the vehicle, with no way to brace themselves. The Rubicon Dog™ car seat is designed in a way that it should reduce your dog's anxiety and propensity to car sickness while in the car.

What if my dog is a big chewer?

We realize that chewing can be a problem. We will offer chew guards in the near future, but the fact that the Rubicon Dog™ Open Top Dog Crate has an open top and the dog is in full view means that you have the opportunity to immediately correct the chewing behavior. We recommend having a chew toy available for your dog if you're worried about them damaging the car seat. Also, make sure to not leave the dog unsupervised in a Rubicon Dog™ Open Top Dog Crate, just like you wouldn’t leave them unsupervised without the Rubicon Dog™ Open Top Dog Crate, unless you want to find your headrest or entire vehicle interior chewed up!

Assembly and Accessories

Does Rubicon Dog™ require any assembly on my part?

Easy assembly in less than ten minutes. Four stainless stell bolts connect the main two pieces together and two additional bolts complete the door latch system (tools included).

Do I need any additional pieces or tools to use Rubicon Dog™?

No additional pieces or tools are required to use Rubicon Dog™.

Will you be offering additional sizes and accessories in the future?

Yes. Sign up for our newsletter so you are among the first to hear of any new products or accessories on Rubicon Dog™.

Shipping, Returns, and Support

Where are you shipping to?

Currently we are shipping to the continental USA. Lower 48 States.

Do you offer free shipping?

We do offer free shipping on all orders over $75.

What payment types do you accept?

Currently, we accept all major credit cards, shop pay, PayPal, and Google Pay.

What if something arrives broken or damaged? Who can I contact?

Please contact us at ask@rubicondog.com if your product arrives broken or damaged.

What is your return policy?

Returns of the product after acts of god or accidents are not permitted. Product must be unused and in original packaging. Customers are responsible for paying the shipping fees for returns.

Do you offer warranties?

Yes, the Rubicon Dog™ Open Top Dog Crate has a 1-year limited warranty. The warranty does not cover:

- Damage from dog chewing- Seat belt overtightening

- Using the product for purposes other than what it is intended for

- Exceeding the stated weight limits for the seat purchased

Returns of the product after acts of god or accidents are not permitted.

If you need warranty assistance, please send an email to ask@rubicondog.com.

What is your approach to privacy and security?

At Rubicon Dog™, we take our customers' privacy and security seriously. We will not sell your personal information and commit to keeping any personal information secure.

For more info, please review our privacy policy and terms of use.

Get in touch

Have questions about your order, or a general inquiry?