Pet parents in most cases are careful to make sure they and their children are secured in safety seats and seat belts while travelling in cars. But many refrains to realise that dogs too need to be secured for a comfortable journey.
According to the dog safety coach and the author of “The Safe Dog Handbook: A Complete Guide to Protecting Your Pooch Indoors & Out”, Melanie Monteiro: An unrestrained dog of any size can be a danger to both the owners and themselves in the car during unexpected mishaps. As most of the vehicles are only human safety tested but not animals tested. A dog booster seat, safety harness, or crate are the many options that are available to travel safely with a dog in a car, truck or SUVs. Frequent travellers need to invest in one of the following for safety, comfort, and protection of the family.
In the event of a crash at 30 miles per hour crash, an 80-pound dog is seen to become a 2,400-pound flying projectile. Hence, this means an unrestrained pooch of any size always poses a danger to the family as well as themselves during car strolling. A dog booster seat is a safety seat that will secure the pets in its place while travelling in a car, SUV, or truck. This safety, comfort and protector gadget also helps to preserve the one’s car interiors.
Why Does One Need to Purchase a Dog Car or Booster Seat?
The following sections provide insights on the various reasons that make the dog booster seat an essential gadget for pet parents. Check the Buying Guide below to learn more about it.
Car anxiety and sickness: Like humans, dogs also tend to suffer from car sickness. Raising them to a higher seat position will not only aid in bringing a better outside view but also reduces car sickness in dogs.
Dogs also suffer from car anxiety. Therefore, having a stationary car seat like a dog booster seat will make the pet pal feel more secure and comfortable in the car.
Better visibility in small dogs: Curious pets will want to see the outside world. Small dogs do not get easy visibility during car travels hence they tend to bounce and jump around trying to see, this is seen to upset puppy tummies.
On the other hand, like babies, some furry friends do not like to stay still and want to sit on the laps of their favourites while driving. A dog booster seat not only offers enhanced visibility, comfort, and safety for the dog but also makes trips more pleasant for the family.
Prevent car accidents: Dog car seats are a pivotal safety measure for travelling in the car.
As the pet pals jump and bounce during the travel the chances of car accidents increase. During these unwanted events, the dogs are also seen to become small projectiles and tend to not only injure the human passengers but also themselves.
Note: Dog car seats only aid in stopping the dog from becoming a distraction and causing a car accident but is not guaranteed to protect from events of collisions.
7 Best Dog Car Booster Seats
This section provides insights on the seven best dog car seats available on Amazon for pet parents who are aware of the problems and dangers of leaving a dog unrestrained in a car. The products reviewed here is based on the dog breeds, add on feature, safety and comforts. There is nothing as best hence choose a dog car seat based on individual dog needs and the budget that one is going to invest in.
#1: Kurgo Skybox Dog Booster Seat
Key features:
|
The Kurgo Skybox Booster Seat provides the furry friends with its comfortable car seat where it can easily see out of the window and enjoy the ride due to the elevated seat. The corduroy version of this booster seat gets the pet pal off one’s lap thereby not causing any interference with the driving.
The dog booster car seat can be installed quickly and securely on either the front or rear bucket seat. Dog car seat belt tether is adjustable and easily attaches to any dog harness to secure the pup in its seat and is collapsible for easy storage.
The seat is made of good quality material. Also comes with a reversible machine washable pad liner that remains fresh and clean. It also features zippered side pockets for storing dog treats, toys, accessories and personal stuff.
The carrier can withstand up to 30 lbs hence, are ideal for pets up to 20 lbs. Are available in five styles that one can choose from based on comforts and choices.
Pros
- Reasonably sized.
- Front as well as back seat attachment.
- Tethers for enhanced safety.
- Collapsible for easy storage.
- Storage pockets for accessories
Cons
- Reviews suggest the use of more padding around the rim.
#2: K&H Pet Products Bucket Booster Pet Seat
Key Features
|
This amazing booster bucket pet seat is durable and resists most of the excitable dogs. Available in two size variants and colours, respectively. The exterior is durable, and the comfort of the pet seat is enhanced with a 3-inch washable foam cushion.
The dog car seat is elevated for better visibility and avoidance of car sickness. Provides a distraction-free driving for the pet parent. The seat is contoured and buckled in for snug and secure fit in the vehicle. The seat is easy to install and uninstall and includes two adjustable security leashes.
The seat is seen to fit in the front as well as back seats of the car and possess two security leashes that adjust from 10 -18 inches. Hence small pets can be secured easily. The manufacturer provides a one-year limited warranty.
Pros
- Quilted fleece lining.
- Three inches of padding for enhanced comfort.
- Removable and washable cover.
- Elevated seats to overcome car sickness is dogs.
- Distraction-free driving.
Cons
- Bulky and expensive.
- Not waterproof
#3 Petsfit Dog Car Booster Seat
Key Features
|
The Petsfit Dog Car Booster seat comes in one size for dogs and small pets that weigh up to 45 pounds and has two storage pockets. The plush liner is removable, machine washable and reversible – smooth side for warm days and plush side for cold days. It comes in two different colours – grey or light grey.
The seat belt goes through the back of booster this helps to keep the seat in place. An adjustable strap also goes through the car headrest enhancing the booster seat stability. The booster seats also feature two tethers for improved safety.
Pros
- Elevated seats.
- Easy to store and carry.
- Removable, washable and reversible plush liner.
- Soft and comfortable dog seat.
- Improved stability.
Cons
- Leash on the seat is very thin and flimsy and easily be damaged by larger dogs.
#4: PetSafe Solvit Tagalong Pet Booster Seat
Key Features
|
The Tagalong Pet Booster Seats unique design elevates the furry friends off the car seat for a better outside view as there is with no clumsy straps to impair their comfort. Fast secure installation in the front as well as back seats in cars with headrest.
The booster seat is deep and features a padded interior and an internal harness attachment for enhanced security. The washable and removable internal liner aids in keeping the booster seat clean and fresh.
It also comes in three sizes: medium, large and extra-large that can sustain weights up to 10,18 and 25lbs, respectively.
Pros
- Easy to install.
- Secure and comfortable.
- Durable and stain-resistant outer cover.
Cons
- Works only for car seats with headrest.
Key Features
|
The Snoozer Pet Car Seats lets the dog lookout and enjoy the car ride. A firm foam interior provides great support and comfort on road trips. The accompanying straps on the console line aid in fixing the seat to the centre console easy and a cutout in the model allow one’s car’s seat belt to hold the seat in its place. The straps also connect the dog harness to the seat. The Sherpa interior makes the ride comfortable, cosy and breathable enough for hot and humid climates. Built for pets up to 35 pounds and available in seven colour and fabric options.
Pros
- Built front storage drawer.
- Machine washable faux wool cover.
- Secure and comfortable.
- Multi usage as a bed and car seat.
Cons
- Not water-resistant.
- Bulky
#6: FidoRido Dog Car Seat
Key Features
|
FidoRido is a dog car seat with a patented design that can be used as a booster seat, a bathtub, and a basket bed for the dog. Composed of high-quality washable plastic materials.
This booster seat comfortably accommodates one dog of up to 30 lbs but is also seen to suit well for two smaller dogs. This booster seat dimension is 23″ long, 18.5″ wide, and 10″ deep with a cushion to elevate the seat level for more visibility. It is super comfortable and spacious for small to large dog breeds except for a toy breed. The polypropylene base is the same material that is used to build child car seats, making it the most durable and reliable material available for pet car safety.
The adjustable straps in the booster seat allow the dog to be securely restrained and the seat belt hole keeps the basket stable during the car ride. FidoRido is compatible with a bucket or bench seats in both large and small cars and requires no tools for assembly.
Pros
- Swappable leak-proof covers.
- Patented design for safety.
- Durable.
- Two-year manufacturer warranty
#7: Stella and Bear Cozy Boost
Key Features
|
Stella and Bear Cozy Boost is the perfect booster seat for pet pals up to 20 pounds. The booster seat includes a free collapsible silicone dish and a safety seat belt that attaches the dog to the harness to prevent roaming. A high quality, sturdy metal frame to avoids the booster seat from collapsing post securing it on the car seat.
Water-resistant oxford black fabric is easy to maintain, and the thick fleece cover provides maximum comfort. Suits well for anxious or motion sickness affected pets. The seat can be easily collapsed for convenient storage and can be used on the passenger or back seat.
The Cozy Boost is composed of high-quality materials to keep the furry companion warm in the winter and cool in the summer during long drives. This device is not built to be used as a safety device hence a harness is always recommended to attach to the clip-on leash instead of a collar.
Pros
- Stylish and durable.
- Liner is machine washable.
- Collapsible for easy storage.
- Cosy and comfortable.
Cons
- Reviews recommend using both straps to avoid collapsing of the booster seat.
How to choose the right dog car seat?
Choosing and finding the right dog booster seat depends on several factors that are mentioned below.
Size: The seater size needs to be big enough for the dog both length and weight wise. One needs to mainly focus on the weight of the seater as this is the primary safety factor. Both the weight and length of the seater needs to be focussed on for people who tend to go on longer trips
Assembling of the seat: One needs to check how quickly and easily a car seat can be installed and uninstalled. The faster the easier as not all times dogs will accompany us during travel.
Cleaning: Select booster seats with removable and washable covers as dogs tend to get messy very easily.
Seat attachment: Zero on a booster seat that suits one’s car design. As many require headrests to install the car seat. Dog car seaters require headrests shoulder belts for installation that may or may not be available in the many cars.
Material and padding: Dog booster seats need to have ample padding for enhanced comforts for adult as well as older furry pals. Hence one needs to look for car seats that are not only composed of hypoallergenic materials but also have thicker padding depending on individual dog needs.
Use: Based on the trips and usage and budget one can choose a cheaper or expensive version of dog seats.
Breed: Choose a dog seat keeping the dog breed in mind as longer dogs like dachshunds require a longer seat with more room to stretch out, bulkier dogs like pugs require wider seats. Hence check the dimensions of the dog seater before investing in one.
Tethers: One can look for dog car seats that come with tethers, these fasten the pet more securely to its car seat.
Note: Refrain from attaching a tether directly to the dog’s collar, as this may lead to strangulation. Attach the tether only to a dog harness always.
How To Train The Pet Pals To Drive in a Dog Booster Seat?
When adjusting a dog to a new car booster seat one need to make sure that the dog associates the car booster seat positively. Initiate with very short sessions, preferably using food or any sort of reward that the pet prefers or likes.
Get the dog in the booster seat or at least near it if it is nervous. Appreciate them verbally and treat it with their favourite food if they go near it. The goal is to get the furry pal in the seat without any discomforts. This requires little patience and time. Practice more if necessary and always terminate each session on a positive note.
Don’t expect the pet to sit in the seat for an extended period right from the start. Celebrate small victories as eventually, the aim is to make the dog sit in its seat on their own without any hesitations.
Frequently asked questions
Q. How to train an excitable dog to sit in a booster seat?
A. If one’s dog is extremely nervous and refrains from not getting near the seat. Experts recommend remove the seat of the vehicle and set it on the ground. Initiate by trying to make the dog take food out of the seat itself and then make them take the food inside the seat. This will make the dog to quickly realize that a dog car seat is not scary.
Work with the dog’s confidence and refrain from rewarding fear behaviour like running away or whining. Make use of different ideas with patience and once the dog accepts the position, reward the pet in that mind space. Once the dog builds its confidence up, the dog will itself associate the seat as a happy moment.
Choosing the right booster seat depends on several factors like the pet’s size, safety features, and durability.
Q. Will the car’s airbag be operative in accidents when the dog booster seat is placed in the front seat?
A. Yes, most airbags detect the dog booster seats when the pets are sitting in it. But in general, it is not recommended to place a dog or other animal in a front seat, primarily because of the danger of the airbag and due to the increased chances of the pet flying through the window in cases of the product failing to work.
Q. How safe are dog car seats?
A. Dog car seats are quite safe if one follows the manufacturer’s instructions. Experts recommend using a harness and seat belt system for a large dog as opposed to a booster car seat. Small to medium-sized dogs work well in dog car seats, as they prevent the pooch from flying forward in cases of mishaps. For maximum protection, one can combine a dog car seat with a harness.
Q. How does one install a dog car seat?
A. Dog car booster seats are quite easy to install. One need to place them where they want their dog wants to be seated preferably, back seat and secure it following the manufacturer’s instructions. Some car seats have straps that one needs to wrap around the back of the seat, while others can be clipped onto the seat belt. Make sure to tighten the straps to stabilise the car seat.
Final thoughts
Finding the right dog booster seat depends on several factors such as the pet’s size, safety features, durability and other individuals choices. This article will help new pet parents in buying and zeroing the right dog booster seat for a safe and comfortable road trip.
Recommended Articles:
- 7 Best Dog Crates and Carriers for Car Travel
- 7 Best Dog and Pet Bike Trailers
- 7 Best Motorcycle Dog Carriers – [Reviews and Buying Guide]
