My dogs love going for a ride. It’s not just the destination they enjoy, but also the sights, sounds and smells of the world passing by while we’re in the car. But being the paranoid pet owner that I am, they only get about an inch of open window to experience it. I’m not being mean (although I have had someone try to make me feel guilty when we were stopped at a light), but I worry about things hitting them or even them jumping out after something. I really needed something like BreezeGuard screens.
Sue Stipanovich, the owner of MuttManagers, had the same concerns and she decided to do something about it. She developed BreezeGuard car window screens in 2004 as a way for dogs to travel safer in the car. She contacted me about reviewing the BreezeGuard and as I do whenever someone contacts me, I check out the product on their website. I’ve seen little plastic window vents that go on the top of the window glass and haven’t been impressed. They just didn’t look sturdy enough to handle what could happen to them. But after spending some time reading about the BreezeGuard on Sue’s site, I will say I was very impressed so I told her yes.
The BreezeGuard is made to fit your specific make and model of car, so I let Sue know that I had a 2003 Chevy Malibu. Because of how it is installed, it can’t be used on cars that don’t have a frame around the window. Because each BreezeGuard is custom-made, most orders take about 2 weeks to ship. I was impressed when I received mine in 2 weeks.
The BreezeGuard is a powder-coated welded wire mesh screen and installing it was easy. It has 2 anchors that go on the bottom between the glass and car door and 2 velcro straps at the top that go around the window frame. The only part I had problems with during the installation was getting the gasket pulled away from the window while installing the first one (the second one was no problem). I used a credit card as recommended in the installation video and couldn’t get the card in between the gasket and window where I wanted to place the anchor. I found I had to insert the card from the end of the window and slide it to where I wanted the anchor. Other than that it was simple.
Once in, you can adjust the BreezeGuard around a little bit. I liked it so the screen was out a little, but found I couldn’t close the window well, so I pushed it back a bit. Once I had it in, I got into the car and tried pushing and pulling on the screen to see if a dog could move it and escape. I’m happy to say other than the wiggle-room that allows you to adjust it, the BreezeGuard wasn’t moving.
The screen is pretty strong. I tried punching it and while no one has to be afraid of my golden fists, the BreezeGuard held up to my punch and barely moved. Driving with the BreezeGuards in was no problem, They stayed in place and didn’t move even when I was driving on the highway. I was able to open and close the windows with no problem, just some noise as it closed over the BreezeGuard near the top of the window.
Even though it held up to my tests, MuttManagers does not recommend leaving your dog unattended with the screens. Though they are sturdy, I can see someone very easily removing the screens from the outside of the vehicle. Plus though not much can get through the 1/2″ screen openings, you never know what someone may put into your car that your dog may eat (there’s that pet owner paranoia again). Another thing to consider especially if you live in an area of the country that gets hot like I do is that your car will still get VERY hot even with the screens in. While they do allow some airflow, the temperature inside the car can still go too high to risk your dog’s life (check out “How Hot Do Cars Get“).
All in all, I love the BreezeGuards! They’re sturdy, better than anything even remotely similar on the market. They keep my dogs safe while they enjoy their ride. They’ll keep people from making me feel guilty at stoplights. If your dog spends a lot of time with you in the car, they are worth getting.
For more information and to purchase BreezeGuard car window screens visit the manufacturer’s website- MuttManagers, LLC
I can not stress enough how great this product is!!! It gives me piece of mind when driving my three huskies around. I have used this product for 10 months & wanted to see how well it fit my CR-V during the cold Ohio winters before i rated this product. I have NEVER had any issues with rain, snow, or cold winter chill leaking into my car. The screens are strong enough to keep my girls safe inside the car. I had ordered these screens with the premonition that one of my girls was going to fall out of the window, which is exactly what happened 2 1/2 weeks before the screens arrived (one dog accidentally hit the window button and lowered it and the other dog just toppled out of the car and broke her leg). While I will always regret not ordering them sooner, I am ever so grateful to have them now. This product is expensive but one must remember that it is a custom- made product that will fit your exact vehicle & worth every cent that it costs. Installation was a breeze & i haven’t removed them since I put them in. It does take a very short time to get used to driving with them in place and now I don’t even notice them. Thank you BreezeGuard!!!