Traveling in a car is fun but it is incomparably exciting when you have your four legged partner beside you. With dogs being the best friend mankind could have ever wished for, seeking for their absolute comfort and safety when inside the vehicle is a huge headache for all pet owners, as most pet seats are designed for human-usage only.
Thus, if you have been looking for the best dog car seats, here are the top five choices compiled for you.
Our Top picks include: ‘Oli’Oli Pet Premium Dog Car Booster Seat & Pet Bed, Plush Paws Products Premium Rear Car Seat Protector w/ Hammock, WANZQHONG Washable Dog Car Seat, Kurgo Dog Booster Seats for Cars, and the Dog Car Seat for Large Dogs. All these products are made up of the finest of materials and are sturdy and comfy enough to support your beloved canines on long, jerky drives.
Top 5 Best Dog Car Seats
‘Oli’Oli Pet Premium Dog Car Booster Seat & Pet Bed
A dog car booster seat that comes with a premium finish, the ‘Oli’Oli Pet Premium Dog Car Booster Seat has a two-in-one design that can also be used as a bed. Featuring front and back protections, this one is a must-have for small and medium sized canines. Thanks to this very feature, pet parents don’t have to worry about their pups falling off the seat and injuring themselves during jerky rides.
Coupled with durable zippers on both sides, this booster seat aka pet bed can be easily turned into a sofa bed or zipped back to its previous form with a few simple steps. Once done, simply leash the setup to the car seat and let them enjoy the ride all while comfortably resting on the booster seat. The pet bed is best suitable for small and medium sized breeds and is also easy to carry and store.
To make it even more convenient, the bed comes with a high-quality waterproof cover which can be removed smoothly. The cover is machine washable and has side pockets to store things in it.
Pros:
- 2-in-1 pet booster seat and sofa bed
- Non skid bottom
- Comes with inside leash, safety buckles, side pockets
- Cushioned handles for easy portability
- Front and back protection
- Waterproof and removable cover
- Dual sided cushion setting
Cons:
- Not for large breeds
Plush Paws Products Premium Rear Car Seat Protector w/ Hammock
The Plush Paws Products Premium Rent Car Seat Protector w/ Hammock arrives in a fresh unique design unlike other dog car seats. Bearing a hammock styled design, pawrents can simply leash the two sides to the middle passenger side of the car, so that pets can enjoy a safe ride without falling off of the seats when the ride gets a little bumpy.
This particular rear car seat protector is made up of 600D PU infused Oxford fabric that is not only long lasting but also keeps the pooch’s nails from digging into the car’s interiors. Apparently, the manufacturing company also claims the protector to be water and spill proof, non-porous, and breathable. Thus, no matter if your canine is taking a trip to their grandma’s home or traveling to a far off place, you will have nothing to be worried about.
Interested parents can also choose from the three different sizes of the product depending upon their canine’s breed and weight specifications. Once done, follow through the usage guidelines for an easy and efficient set-up.
Pros:
- Smooth, tear-resistant, heavy duty fabric
- Non-porous, breathable, waterproof and easy to maintain material
- Available in three sizes
- Non-slip silicone backing with side pillows for added comfort
- Protects your pet and car interiors
- Suitable for vacuum cleaning and machine wash
Cons:
- Thread work could have been better
WANZQHONG Washable Dog Car Seat
Another highly rated dog car seat, the WANZQHONG Washable Dog Car Seat is a super-comfy design for most dogs. This particular product allows dogs to comfortably sit on the front seat without risking their safety, as it has elevated ridges from all sides. However this doesn’t make it only suitable for front seats. Pet parents can seamlessly buckle the dog car seat to the passenger side and hence is best for all types of car rides.
The fabric is of premium quality velvet that turns all bumps, and jerks into minute changes, thereby keeping the dog absolutely chilled and safe. This easy-to-detach and attach dog car seat is also coupled with decent quality stitching. So, a single purchase can easily last long, as dog nails don’t leave much effect on the velvety design.
Other beneficial safety features include non-slip bottom and backside, adjustable straps on waist and both sides, two head straps and a storage bag.
Pros:
- Suitable for almost all types of vehicles
- Elevated comfortable ridges on all sides
- Easy to clean, transport and store
- Adjustable straps and seat belts ensures stability
- Machine wash safe premium quality velvet fabric
- High quality inner cotton fillings
Cons:
- Comparatively cheaper materials
- Not suitable for all canine sizes
Kurgo Dog Booster Seats for Cars
A popular name, the Kurgo Dog Booster Seats for Cars are an absolute must for all small and medium sized canine owners. Shaped in the form of a cushiony basket, this booster seat comes with adjustable high quality straps that can be used to latch on the design to the car seats. Depending upon the elevation you want, pet parents can also make adjustments with the straps to ensure overall comfort and protection to their beloved fur baby.
The easy to install booster seat is conveniently spaced for the pooch to sit in and has side-pockets to keep little things. The fabric stitches are of decent quality and can go a long way with the proper usage. Moreover, the company also offers a removable corduroy lining along with the dog car seat for added comfort.
However, same as all other booster seats, pet parents need to be extremely mindful of the weight specifications. This model is only suitable for canines weighing 20 pounds and lower as any extra weight may cause loosening of the stitches.
Pros:
- Cushiony dog booster seat
- Minimizes jerks and bumps due to its elevated positioning
- Best for anxious pooches
- Includes a dog seatbelt and side pockets
- Consists of metal supports for structural integrity
Cons:
- Ideal only for dogs within 20 pounds
- Materials are not of the best quality
- Not for canines that are hyperactive or curious
Dog Car Seat for Larger Dogs
Finally, the Dog Car Seat for Larger Dogs has the largest maximum weight capacity and length specifications as compared to the four previously mentioned dog car seats in this list. So, offering a maximum tensile strength of 60 pounds, this ultra-soft car seat can hold medium to large sized dogs under 60 pounds or two small dogs weighing 20 pounds each, at the same time.
When it comes to the inside packing, this product is made up of a three-layered soft composite fabric filled with high-resilience PP cotton. So, no matter how long your pet may be sitting on it, the fabric won’t lose its suppleness and shape. Moreover, thanks to its high density sponges, pet parents have nothing to worry about when it comes to bumpy rides. The spongy ridges and bottom minimizes the drive impact, letting the woofer enjoy the ride and not be scared by it.
Pros:
- Composite fabric allows ventilation
- High quality cotton fillers and high-density sponges for comfort
- 360 degree rotatable safety buckles with sturdy adjustable straps
- Removable sponges, PP Cotton and dog car seat cover
- Easy to store, and transport
- Can be machine washed, hand washed or dry cleaned
- Suitable for small, medium, large dogs within 60 pounds
Cons:
- Padding is very thin as compared to all other above-mentioned dog car seats
- No adjustable safety dog leash provided
- The dog car seat doesn’t actually buckle in and therefore can be pretty risky for hyperactive pups
How to choose the right Dog Car Seat for your Dog?
With so many options available in the market, choosing the right dog car seat for your dog is hands-down tricky. You may miss out on many essential features if you don’t know what to go for and what to miss.
Therefore, to help you out of this ordeal, here’s a detailed breakdown of the top factors that come handy in finding the perfect dog car seat. Let’s start now.
Size
The first thing that comes into mind when looking for a canine-specific car seat is their size. Unless customized, small-sized dog car seats are the most prevailing size options on both online and offline platforms. These car seats arrive with specific weight capacity and dimensional measurements which are needed to be always taken care of when going on a ride with your pooch. So, if the car seat is only for small sized canines, fitting your medium or large sized woofer into the design will be risky.
Therefore, pet parents with larger pooches are needed to be quite careful of these little things and consult with the company or look for other larger and wider options in the meanwhile.
Safety features
The next essential thing includes their safety features. Apart from ensuring a comfortable ride, dog car seats should also offer top-notch safety to the canine when on a car ride. From adjustable dog leashes to sturdy and long lasting straps, the design should possess all necessary safety measures to not only keep the canine tucked in one place but also to maintain its structural integrity. Additional must-haves include a non-slip bottom, elevated cushiony ridges, ample sitting or lying space, etc.
Type
Like we discussed in the upper part, dog car seats are of various kinds. From the conveniently sized front booster seats to the large play beds that your canine can sleep in, there are too many choices that can be made. And while the former allows the woofer to have a nice view from a relatively elevated position, the latter is much more of a comfortable option.
Similarly, when deciding for the type, pet parents should also consider their fur baby’s size. You can’t just expect a large dog to adjust itself comfortably in the front seat for the whole ride as it can also obstruct the driver’s field of view. Hence, experts often advise investing in dog car seats that are more acclimated to suit the pooch’s size, weight, and behavioral needs.
Maintenance
Given their very basis, dog car seats are bound to get dirty over time. Therefore, you will want a product that is atleast machine-washable or dry cleaner safe. However, unfortunately, only a few high-quality dog car seats maintain their fluffiness and cushiony feel after repeated washes, while others tend to lose them much faster.
In such cases, it would be better to go for dog car seats that come along with removable covers. This way, you won’t have to deal with their foam/sponges removal and filling and also the covers would be nicely cleaned and fresh again. But if removable covers aren’t part of the package, then it is better to look for other choices.
Durability and comfort
Many dog car seat manufacturers market their product as highly durable and comfortable, but mostly the reality is always something else. So, even though heavy jargon like ‘premium-quality’ ‘high-capacity’, etc. might have been used, the product may be nowhere near the expectations.
In such cases, understanding the type of fabric is what makes it worth it. This way you will know what you are going to invest in and therefore make better choices. For instance, composite fabric with breathable designs and cotton fillers are far better than cheap looking velvet textured car seats. Such dog car seats won’t lose their suppleness easily and also won’t affect the pooch’s skin during long rides.
Pricing
Lastly, it is essential to remember that neither all expensive dog car seats turn out to be good, nor all affordable ones are made up of flimsy materials. Different companies charge different amounts for their products and hence, when looking through all the above-mentioned consideration factors, adding pricing to the list makes the overall purchase a good one.
So, this was all about choosing the best dog car seats in 2022. If you are looking for some other dog product and would need our suggestion on the topic, don’t forget to mention the same in the comments section below and we will soon get to it.
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