Dog Car Seats

How to choose the right dog car seat size

Pick the size by your dog's weight, not by breed. S suits small dogs up to 15 lbs, M covers 15 to 35 lbs, L is for large dogs from 35 to 50 lbs, and XL is made for big dogs over 50 lbs or for two dogs travelling together. If your dog falls between two sizes, take the larger one so they can turn around and lie down. Our dog car seat size guide explains how to measure your dog and your back seat before you order.

Why put your dog in a car seat

A dog moving freely in the car pulls the driver's attention away from the road, and in a sudden stop nothing holds it back. A dog car seat keeps your dog in one place, at a height where it can see outside, which also helps dogs that get anxious or car sick. In the United States, several states can fine a driver for an unrestrained pet - we list them in dog car seat laws by state, and for Canada see dog car seat laws in Canada.

What every TheDogCarSeat includes

• Soft, supportive cushions
• ISOFIX/LATCH clips and adjustable straps for a secure fit
• Built-in leash attachment to keep your dog in place
• Waterproof surface, easy to wipe clean
• Non-slip base
• Removable, machine-washable cover

Dog booster seat, pet car seat, dog car bed - is it all the same thing?

People look for this product in many different ways: dog booster seat, car seat for dogs, pet car seat, dog car bed, or travel bed for the back seat. They all describe what is on this page - a raised, padded bed that sits on the back seat and holds your dog in place with a built-in leash attachment. It is not a dog seat belt or harness (a strap that clips into the seat belt buckle), not a dog carrier or crate, not a car hammock, and not a plain back seat cover. Our guide dog car seat vs harness vs crate compares all three and explains which one fits your dog and your car.

Which car, which dog

The seat is made for the back seat and is held by ISOFIX/LATCH clips and adjustable straps, so it works in a sedan, an SUV or a pickup truck - check our SUV guide if you have a large boot-style back seat, or read how LATCH anchors work. For a puppy, choose the size that matches its expected adult weight rather than its weight today. For two small dogs travelling side by side, the XL is the one to take. And if your dog gets sick on the road, our article on dog car sickness explains what actually helps.

Shipping

Free shipping, orders ship in 24 to 48 hours.

Dog car seat questions people ask most

What is the safest seat for a dog in a car?

The back seat. A dog should never travel in the front, where an airbag deploys, and never loose in the boot of a hatchback. An elevated dog car seat placed on the back bench keeps your dog in one spot and stops it climbing into the front while you drive.

Are dog car seats a good idea?

They solve the two problems every owner knows: a dog that moves around and pulls the driver's attention away from the road, and a dog that is stressed because it cannot see out. A raised dog car seat bed fixes both - the built-in leash attachment keeps your dog in place, and the height lets it look through the window, which often calms dogs with car anxiety.

Is it illegal for a dog to not have a car seat?

There is no US federal law requiring a dog car seat, but several states can fine a driver for an unrestrained or distracting pet. We list the states and the amounts in dog car seat laws by state.

Is this a dog car seat with harness, or a seat cover?

Neither. This is a padded booster bed with a built-in leash attachment. A dog car seat belt or harness is a separate strap that clips into the seat belt buckle; a dog car seat cover or hammock only protects your upholstery. If you want to compare the three, read dog car seat vs harness vs crate.

Which size for a large dog, and is there a dog car seat for 2 dogs?

For a large dog of 35 to 50 lbs take the L. Above 50 lbs, or for a dog car seat for 2 dogs travelling side by side, take the XL. Small dogs up to 15 lbs take the S, medium dogs of 15 to 35 lbs the M. More in our guides on large dogs, Labrador and Golden Retriever and two dogs.

Which size for which breed

Every dog car seat here is chosen by weight, not by breed name. Weigh your dog, then read across. If your dog sits between two sizes, take the larger one.

Where it goes in the car

Back seat

This is where a dog car seat belongs. ISOFIX/LATCH clips and straps hold it on the bench of a sedan, an SUV, a hatchback or a truck with a rear bench.

Front passenger seat

We do not recommend it. An active passenger airbag is dangerous for a dog in a raised seat, exactly as it is for a child. If you have no back seat at all, the airbag must be switched off.

Center console and between the front seats

This seat is not a console seat. It sits on a car seat and anchors to the car. If you are searching for a center console model, a centre console model or a middle-seat model, this is a different product. A tether strap alone is also a different thing: this is a seat, not a tether.

Two dogs together

The XL is wide enough for two small or medium dogs side by side - two French Bulldogs, two Dachshunds, a Jack Russell and a Pug. For two large dogs, use one seat each.

What a booster seat actually does

It raises your dog. That is the whole point of a raised or elevated dog seat: from the floor of a car a dog sees the back of a seat, and from a booster it sees out of the window. High padded sides give it something to lean into on corners, and a non-slip base keeps the seat from sliding on leather or fabric. The built-in leash clip attaches to your dog's harness, never to a collar.

30-day exchange for manufacturing defects only.