A road trip can be plenty of fun, more so if you’re able to take your dog with you. We all know how much our furry 
friends love looking out of the window of a moving car as they take in the sights and smells of their new surroundings. Being good pet parents, we certainly wouldn’t want to begrudge them this privilege. But the fact is if your dog is small-sized there’s a good chance she’ll be quite disruptive during the trip jumping around trying to look out of the window. No one would blame you for leaving her home altogether.
There is a way around this problem, though. Getting a dog car seat, or dog booster seat, as they are commonly referred to. Not only does it enable your dog to gaze through the window, it provides safety and makes the journey more pleasant and fun for both of you. Pets that suffer from car sickness can also benefit from using dog car seats. A car seat elevates your dog high enough to see the scenery outside and helps reduce car sickness and boredom. Dogs that get anxious from traveling can also benefit from the distraction outside, not to mention the safety and security provided by the dog booster.
Why Dog Car Seats Are Important For Safety
Driving around with your dog loose inside the car can be a recipe for disaster. In case of an accident, the dog can turn into a projectile capable of causing serious injury to passengers in the vehicle and to itself. Dog car seats mitigate this problem, but for the dog car seat to be really effective, you need to use a harness seat belt to hold the dog in position.
Safety Features to Look Out For When Buying A Car Seat
There are three features you should pay attention to when looking for the right dog car seat to buy, these include:
- How the dog seat is attached to the existing car seat. Most booster seats attach directly to the car seat, while others are designed to sit on top of a car console. Be sure to check if the attachment system to the car seat is strong enough to withstand emergency braking. The seat belt should be able to pass through the bucket pet seat and lock in safely.
- The manner in which your dog is restrained inside the dog seat. There should be adjustable tethers that fasten the dog to the car seat enabling her to remain safely seated for the entire journey.
- Usability, Setup and Storage: a good dog car seat should be easy to set up and put away when not being used without getting damaged.
- Size and Comfort. The seat must have enough room for your dog to sit up or lay down. Some padding goes a long way in helping increase the comfort level, making it easier for your dog to stay calm in the booster seat. It also helps when the padding is removable for cleaning purposes.
Note: Under no circumstances should you attach a tether directly to your dog’s collar as this can cause strangulation. The tether should instead be attached to a car seat harness.
Top 5 Dog Car Seats Reviewed
1. K&H Pet Products Bucket Booster Pet Seat
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The K&H Pet Products Bucket Booster Pet Seat elevates your pet for either the front seat or back seat of the car. It provides her with a better view while keeping her restrained.
Features
- Fits in the front or back seat.
- Includes one adjustable restraining leash.
- Comes with a clasp to attach to pet’s harness for safety.
- Has a quilted microfleece interior.
- Has a removable, washable 3″ foam cushion.
- One year limited warranty.
- Available in gray or tan colors.
What we liked:
- It is tremendously easy and quick to install and uninstall.
- The front is contoured so your pet can easily get in and out.
- It comes with a clasp to attach to its harness for increased safety.
- The padding is a good 3″ thick. The sides of the booster seat are sturdy and do not crumple when the dog leans on them.
- It’s versatile enough to fit into the front or back car seat and is contoured at the back which makes it fit snugly into the vehicle’s seat.
- It comes with a tether that’s made from nylon and not just cloth, which makes it firm.
What we didn’t like:
- It’s available only in 2 colors- tan and grey. More variety to suit the pet owner’s car interior would have been nice.
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2. Snoozer Lookout Car Seat
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The Snoozer Lookout Car Seat is a safe and convenient booster seat that elevates your pet enabling her to look out or snooze. This is a premium product that gives the customer great value for money.
Features
- Comprises a washable cover with lamb’s wool interior mounted over durable foam frame.
- Comfortable foam form
- Simulated lamb’s wool interior
- Includes a connection strap for joining the harness to the car seatbelt.
- Available in a range of fabric options
What we liked:
- Installation is easy as the car seat belt goes over a slit across the back of the snoozer which is used to secure the seatbelt.
- Comes in a variety of fabrics and colors to suit different tastes.
- The simulated lamb’s wool interior makes it very comfortable for your pet.
- The foam form is comfy but sturdy.
What we didn’t like:
- The slit at the back of snoozer makes it less secure for fastening the seat belt compared to other dog eats where the belt goes through the seat itself.
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3. Solvit Jumbo Standard Pet Safety Seat
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The Solvit Jumbo Standard Pet Safety Seat is designed to give your dog an elevated view from the car window on a roomy, fully padded interior that gives your dog space to relax. It is designed for dogs up to 25 lbs in size.
Features
- Has a comfortable padded, spacey interior with the seat elevated 9 inches above the vehicle seat to give your pet a clear view from the car window.
- Quick assembly: comprises plastic panels that interlock together without the use of tools.
- Has an easy to clean, removable, washable fleece liner.
- Comes with a zippered front storage pocket and safety leash.
- Quick installation- takes as little as one minute.
- Available in 2 different fabric versions: quilted polyester with sheepskin liner (standard version) or quilted microfiber with quilted plaid liner (deluxe version).
What we liked:
- Assembly is quick as panels fit together without the aid of extra tools. The product also comes with clear instructions.
- The panels are rigid and solid enough to firmly secure the dog.
- The bucket seat cleans easily and unlike foam booster seats.
What we didn’t like:
- Its padding is very thin and therefore not good for long journeys with your pet. You’re better off buying the deluxe version if you’re looking for durability.
- The pillow is small and flattens out with minimal pressure applied.
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4. Pet Gear Booster Car Seat for Cats and Dogs
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The Pet Gear Booster Car Seat for Cats and Dogs is a booster seat designed to accommodate 1 or 2 pets totaling 25 lbs in weight.
Features
- Made of sturdy foam covered with soft microsuede material.
- Comes with a removable and machine washable plush pillow.
- Includes 2 tethers for harnessing pets; accommodates up to two small pets.
- Booster is designed to easily attach to the car seat.
- No assembly of components is required.
What we liked:
- Doesn’t require assembly.
- Installation is fast.
- It is designed with a slot passing through the bottom which makes attachment to the car seat belt very sturdy.
What we didn’t like:
- The cushion appears to be an airplane-sized pillow that is poorly stuffed. U might want to put an extra blanket or custom the cushion yourself.
- The dye tends to come off easily onto your hands so you need to take extra care if you have sweaty palms.
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5. Kurgo Skybox Dog Booster Seat
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The Kurgo Skybox Dog Booster Seat is the ideal way to safely secure dogs in your vehicle while providing your pet dog with his own elevated seat where he can look out the window.
Features
- Has a waterproof design.
- Installation is quick. Can be secured on either the front or back car seat or the smaller side of a 60/40 split bench seat.
- Features metal supports for structural integrity and doesn’t require assembly.
- Includes an adjustable tether that easily attaches to any dog harness securing your pup in his seat.
- Designed to hold dogs up to 30 pounds but is recommended for dogs up to 20lbs due to their smaller body mass.
- Available in 5 different styles and colors.
What we liked:
- This chic dog car seat comes in 5 different styles and colors.
- It has built with metal supports which make it very sturdy and enables it to support your dog without losing its shape.
What we didn’t like:
- The seat could do with more padding around the rim.
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