Dog Car Seat for Trucks: Crew Cab Back Seats, Pickups and the Truck Bed Question

Pickup owners drive with dogs more than almost anyone, and they ask us the same three things: will a dog car seat fit my truck, where should it go, and is it legal to put the dog in the bed?

Will a dog car seat fit in a truck?

Yes, if your truck has a rear bench. Crew cab and double cab pickups have a full back seat, usually with LATCH anchors in the seat crease, just like an SUV. Our seat clips onto those anchors and loops around the headrest, so it fits the same way it does in a sedan.

  • Crew cab / double cab: best fit. Room for the L or XL, or two smaller dogs in one XL.
  • Extended cab with jump seats: often too shallow for a large seat. The S or M may fit; measure the seat depth first.
  • Regular cab (no back seat): we don't recommend it. The only seat is the front passenger seat, where an active airbag is dangerous for a dog.

Which size for a truck dog?

Truck dogs tend to be big: Labs, Goldens, Shepherds, heelers. Go by weight:

  • Medium, 15-35 lbs
  • Large, 35-50 lbs (Border Collie, Brittany)
  • XL, 50+ lbs or two dogs (Lab, Golden, German Shepherd)

More in our guide to dog car seats for large dogs.

Is it illegal to drive with a dog in the bed of a truck?

In some states, yes, unless the dog is secured. According to the Animal Legal & Historical Center, these states have laws about dogs or animals in open pickup beds:

  • California (Vehicle Code § 23117): the dog must be enclosed, cross-tethered or otherwise protected from falling or jumping, with farm and ranch exceptions.
  • Connecticut: the dog must be caged or secured so it can't fall, jump or be thrown.
  • Maine: same idea, with exceptions for some farm and hunting dogs.
  • Massachusetts: enclosed bed or 46-inch side racks, cross-tethering, or a secured container.
  • New Hampshire: similar to Massachusetts.
  • Rhode Island: enclosed, held by a person, or restrained by a non-neck harness.

Washington and Oregon also restrict carrying animals on the outside of a vehicle. Even where it's legal, a loose dog in a truck bed can be thrown out by a sudden stop or a sharp turn. The cab is the safer place.

Center console seats

Many truck owners search for a dog seat that sits on the center console. That is a different product, for very small dogs, and it puts the dog right next to the front airbags. Our seat goes on the rear bench.

Protect the back seat too

Truck back seats take a beating from wet, muddy dogs. Our back seat cover fits the whole bench and works under or beside the car seat.

Shop dog car seats · free shipping, ships in 24-48 hours.

Related guides

General information, not legal advice; check your state's current rules. TheDogCarSeat is a comfort and containment product, not a crash-tested restraint system.

Back to blog