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Dogs and cars are one of the world’s great parings. Few things generate more smiles per mile than driving with the windows down and your dog by your side. But left to roam unattended, dogs can interfere with a driver’s focus, creating a potentially dangerous situation. Common sense suggests that the same comforts and safety precautions humans require can benefit our animal friends, too. The solution is a quality dog car seat that provides a comfortable place for dogs to rest and the ability to tether them while a vehicle is in motion. Large Dog Water Dispenser
Used properly, a dog car seat provides for an added layer of safety for both dog and driver, restraining the pet’s movement during hard braking or cornering maneuvers. In addition, dog car seats can help reduce motion sickness while traveling, provide for a feeling of comfort, and prevent a dog from ruining a car’s interior.
Because dogs and vehicles come in different shapes and sizes, there is no one-size-fits all solution. Here are the best five dog car seats in categories selected to meet a wide range of needs.
2 safety belts, anti-rust D-ring, easy to assemble
K&H Booster Dog Car Seat
Small (18 X 18 in.) Large (20 X 22 in.)
Machine washable cover, curved back, universal compatibility
K&H Booster Dog Car Seat
Watertight bottom seam, suitable for 2 pets
The Bloblo dog seat is the most like a pet bed. All four sides are cushioned and a removable bottom adds extra padding. Made from bite-resistant oxford cloth and polypropylene webbing, this seat is durable and easy to clean. Two adjustable straps attach to the headrest and around the back of the rear seat serving to hold the carrier in place. The Bloblo ranks as one of the roomier dog car seats available, measuring roughly 22 x 20 x 12 inches.
Active Pets Dog Back Seat Cover Protector
The Active Pets protector converts a vehicle’s second row rear into a big doggie seat. The dog rests in the seat-wide hammock, or sling, created by placing two loops over the front headrests and two over the back headrests. It works especially well for larger or multiple dogs who can’t cram into the typical pet bed size. The material is padded and waterproof, protecting the upholstery from dirt or unfortunate accidents. Backseat passengers still have access to seatbelts and the front flap can be tucked down to allow for legroom.
PetSafe Happy Ride Deluxe Booster Seat
This seat lifts a dog up to watch out the window. Meant for dogs on the smaller side, the view helps them feel anchored and can help alleviate motion sickness. One adjustable strap goes behind the headrest and another secures the box to the chair. Designed like a fabric crate, the outer fabric is a reinforced oxford shell while the fleece liner can be taken out and thrown into the washing machine.
K H Bucket Booster Pet Seat
The K&H Bucket Booster Pet Seat keeps pets comfortable. With tons of cushioning, this seat invites a dog to alternate between curling up to sleep and sitting up to watch the world flash by. True to its name, some extra cushion elevates the dog up to window height. Not suspended in the air like other booster carriers, a seat belt slides through three slits underneath the seat’s removable cushion to secure it in place. The plush quilted fleece liner is removable for easy washing.
SwiHelp Pet Car Booster Seat Travel Carrier Cage
The SwiHelp carrier cage does the job for under $20. This dog seat functions like a pop-up crate with breathable mesh sides and sturdy PVC frame bars to hold it together. Two adjustable straps serve to secure the carrier in place. Some users commented that, over time, the front of the crate starts to bend from the dog leaning on it.
Forbes Wheels researched best pet transportation methods, more than 20 dog seats, and examined user feedback. Comfort and safety prevailed as the most common desire in dog car seats and, as a result, we focused on dog seats which can provide both. Our choices reflect the dog seats with higher user satisfaction and testing along with functional safety features.
We evaluated the straps and the way in dog seat attaches to the car’s seats. We then matched each seat’s function to the category which suited it best. We chose seats that work for a variety of users since each dog and vehicle has different needs.
2 safety belts, anti-rust D-ring, easy to assemble
K&H Booster Dog Car Seat
Small (18 X 18 in.) Large (20 X 22 in.)
Machine washable cover, curved back, universal compatibility
K&H Booster Dog Car Seat
Watertight bottom seam, suitable for 2 pets
Dog booster seats plus a safety harness can improve safety. The combination keeps the dog in the back seat, restrains the dog in the event of an accident and—if used consistently—encourages the dog to stay in place while a vehicle is in motion. Using a dog seat with the dog untethered is not safe.
Always have your dog strapped in using a multi-point safety harness and a tether, whether or not it’s in a seat. (The harness and tether are different from the straps securing the dog seat to the car seat.) Many—but not all—dog seats come with a dog tether to attach to the dog’s multi-point harness (around the chest, not just the neck). A separate safety harness that attaches directly to the seatbelt or (more often for small dogs in raised seats) headrest will be more reliable and better for peace of mind. Never attach the dog’s collar directly to the dog safety tether, since any abrupt stops could cause your dog to choke.
There’s no federal law, but it’s still possible to be ticketed. Some states require a dog to be restrained regardless of where it sits. (Having a dog in a crate counts as being tethered.) Some states can cite drivers for distracted or reckless driving if the dog distracts the driver or helps cause an accident. If a free-ranging dog is untethered and injured, the driver could be ticketed for cruelty to animals. The states with laws on the books include the northeastern seaboard from Connecticut up through Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine, as well as Minnesota. Some states require dogs riding in the bed of a pickup truck to be secured so they can’t fall or jump out, or be on such a short leash that it can’t climb over the side. Most dogs in don’t weigh enough (more than a child seat and small child) to trigger the front passenger seat’s airbag occupancy sensor (OCS). Some cars, especially single-row cars, have a manual airbag-off switch. If the dog sits on the front passenger seat and the buckle-safety-belt chime sounds, the airbag is enabled.
Dog car seats have multiple uses. They protect the interior of your car, may help prevent motion sickness, provide comfort and—most of all—improve safety for the dog and passengers. On a long road trip, it’s comforting for a dog to curl up in a dog bed and snooze. Some small-dog booster seats let the pup look out the window.
Line the interior with thick blankets to provide some cushioning if there is none. Most dog beds come with some type of fleece lining or cushion, so imitating that will get you far.
Tall Pet Gate I’m an automotive lifestyle writer with a passion for vehicles and accessories designed for outdoor adventure. I specialize in connecting the open road with the road less traveled, covering the latest advancements in off-roading, overlanding, and campervan-specific gear. My work has appeared in Digital Trends, Gear Junkie, Trucks.com, ROVA Magazine and several other print and online publications.