Humorist Dave Barry got it right when he said: Dogs love to go for rides. A dog will happily get into any vehicle going anywhere.
Seat covers for pets as well as boosters and seat belts are the norm for riding in cars with dogs. And dare I say cats too. We’ve seen our fair share of Feline Friends in the Starbucks drive-thru. And a pet rat too wrapped up in an infinity scarf around a woman’s neck – but that’s probably a whole different article.
Our dogs love to travel in the car. We used to just throw a towel down on the seat but it really isn’t great protection from all the white fluffy dog hair sticking to the fabric seats on our return, whether after ten minutes or ten days. Dog hair is difficult to remove and we don’t have a nice, portable car vacuum cleaner. What has made a huge difference to us, however, is a few back seat covers for pets.
Here are a few popular brands we like.
Back Seat Covers for Pets
What we look for in a back seat cover for when our dogs travel in the car with us is the following:
- Waterproof and Easy to Clean.
- Durable and Comfortable.
- Easy to Instal and Take Out.
- Non-Slip.
PetSafe Happy Ride Quilted Bench and Hammock Seat Cover
The PetSafe Happy Ride Quilted Bench Seat Cover covers all bases. The PetSafe brand is renown for creating high quality, innovative pet product solutions and this seat cover does just that. Premium quilted cotton padding is padded for durability and appearance. High quality leather headrest straps and heavy zippers complete the design. Adjustable straps and seat anchors secure the cover easily and quickly to the back seat. Adjustable elastic panels and lower straps secure it to the seat for a snug and secure fit and a non-slip backings ensures it doesn’t move around unnecessarily. Passengers can easily access the back seat seat belts if necessary and the size fits most cars, trucks and SUVS. It measures 45″ long and 56″ wide. This car seat cover looks nice and most importantly protects the back seat from dog hair, as well as wet and muddy paw prints. It is easily machine washable too.
It comes in Bench, Bucket (front/single seat) and Hammock styles and in two colors – grey and green.
The Hammock Style Seat Cover is useful to contain your pet safely in the back and aids in preventing the pet trying to get into the front and cause unnecessary distractions to the driver. It is also scratch-resistant which protects both the back seat and back of front seats. For nervous pet passengers the hammock design also provides an element of security and keeps hair and mud off the car floors too.
Lantoo Convertible Dog Seat Cover
The Lantoo Dog Seat Cover is much less expensive than the PetSafe brand and has some really great qualities. One of the great things about this purchase is that is a convertible hammock cover so you can use it as a hammock or as a bench seat cover. The hammock option also has side flaps that protect the doors against dog scratches, hair and dirt! If you have a passenger in the back seat and they don’t want to share the cover, there is a split zipper around the side flaps hammock to allow pets and kids to share the back seat when zip up for a full hammock or zip down for half/half so dogs and passengers can travel together. The cover is 100% waterproof and easy to clean and instal. Measuring 54″ x 58″ it is designed to fit most cars and has non-slip backing and seat anchors to prevent undue sliding around. Waterproof and durable with many options and great customer service makes this a great option for traveling with pets.
Kurgo Wander Dog Half-Seat Hammock
The Kurgo Wander Dog Half-Seat Hammock solves the space problem of needing a comfortable and protected area for the dog on the back seat, but needing the rest of the back seat for storage or other passengers. This is a great option for separating the dog and passengers. It is stain and water- resistant and keeps dog hair and dirt in the hammock for easy cleanup. It allows easy access for a pet seat belt and has 2 storage pockets for toys, leashes, treats and the like. Kurgo is a New England company dedicated to making traveling with your dog easy, safe and fun and this half seat coverage is a stroke of genius! It comes in many fun color combinations and measures 27.5″ wide. It does not protect the side doors, which is something the company might look into for the future but it solves a lot of other problems in the meantime.
Booster Car Seats for Pets
K& H Pet Products Booster Seat
Pet booster seats use the car seat belt to secure them in place. The K&H Pet Products booster for pets is elevated for your pet’s viewing pleasure and has high, bolstered foam sides for your pet’s protection and security. It is quick to instal and uninstall and zips down for your pet to get in and out easily before being secured in. It has a plush, quilted cover for comfort that is easily removed and cleaned. It is designed to fit in the back or front seat and comes in 2 sizes. The Small (14.5″ x 20″) is recommended for small pets and the Large (14.5″ x 24″) can fit up to two small pets or one medium-sized breed. It also includes 2 fully adjustable security leashes that can latch to your pet’s harness to ensure they remain safely seated in the booster on your trip. Pet owners rave about this booster seat saying how much their pets love it and how they appreciate the safety factor noting how it has saved a couple of pets in accidents on the road.
PetSafe Happy Ride Pet Safety Seat
The PetSafe Happy Ride Dog Safety Seat is a little less expensive than the K&H above. It can be installed easily, secured by the seat belt, in both the front or back seat and allows for the safe travels of a pet up to 30lb. The removable soft, fleece liner is machine washable and does not trap odors. On the soft cushion it provides maximum comfort for your pet while he is elevated enough to enjoy watching the world go by outside. The interior of the seat measures 14″ long x 18″ wide x 8″ high and the total exterior dimensions are 22″ long x 17″ wide x 17″ high. It comes in 3 color options – navy, brown and tan. For protection in the event of a quick stop or car accident, the Happy Ride Seat Belt Tether is included in the purchase although for maximum safety, the Happy Ride Safety Harness is sold separately. All in all people really like this booster seat and, like the K&H product above stories have been told of dogs escaping car accidents unharmed thanks to the protection afforded by this safety seat. While there are much more expensive booster seats out there, these are proven to provide comfort and protection at a good middle-of-the-road pricing point.
Seat Belts for Pets
Kurgo Car Harness for Dogs
The Kurgo Car Harness has been thoroughly crash-tested for dogs up to 75lb. It is also an adjustable every-day harness that has 5 adjustable points for a customizable and comfortable fit, and a no-pull D-ring. A dog seat belt tether is included which is compatible with any car seat belt system can also be used as lead for training. Sizes run from X-Small through X-Large and come in Kurgo’s trademark Red and a lifetime guarantee. To use you fit the crash-tested harness onto your dog. You then attach the crash-tested carabiner to both waist and shoulder seat belts, and then attach the carabiner to harness back strap. It is also Kurgo’s policy to send you a new harness if your dog has ever used his harness in an accident. The customer service you get from this company really is top-notch!
PetSafe Happy Ride Safety Harness
PetSafe is a trusted brand in dog products that are innovative and geared towards pet safety and functionality. The PetSafe Happy Ride Safety Harness comes in sizes Small, Medium and Large and is certified crash-tested. It is fully padded for comfort but breathable to keep the dog cool, and with multiple attachment points easily connects to the seat belt. Reviewers have said that it is easy to put on and their dogs do not have a problem with it. The dog passenger can stand, lay, sit or even come up and stick his head up near the driver to say hi. But when the brakes are hit and the seatbelt inertia mechanism is deployed, he stays where he is.
Mighty Paw Vehicle Safety Harness
The Mighty Paw Vehicle Safety Harness is made by a family-owned company in Upstate New York dedicated to meshing modern thinking with high-quality, functional dog gear to enhance your outdoor experiences with your dog. The harness comes in sizes Small through X-Large and is made of top-quality metal hardware for safety and durability and well as breathable, light-weight padding for comfort. The harness is easy to clean and has reflective stitching for added safety. The harness can be used both in and outside the car which is super convenient! It must be noted that you do need to buy the Safety Seat Belt Attachment separately- they do not come together, but it is of course necessary for in-car safety. Reviewers have raved about how this harness has saved their dogs’ lives in accidents and the customer service is excellent. The fact that this doubles as a regular harness for walking around outside is super convenient – it is just a case of changing out the safety best attachment for the leash when you get to your destination!
Conclusion
It’s like the old days, we remember driving in cars with no seatbelts, dogs jumping around all over the place. We were fine. Spike rode in the car all over Europe and the USA either sitting on the floor at my (passenger side) seat or curled up on a duvet on the backseat or really wherever he wanted to. He was fine. But times do change. There are so many more people on the road. People are traveling with their dogs more and more. Accidents do happen. Our dogs are precious to us, they add fun and energy to our travels and trips. Their lives are not very long in the grand scheme of things. If a seat belt, harness or booster seat can in some way prolong that life and not turn an exciting road-trip into an unmitigated disaster, it’s probably worth it.