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Driving with your dog in the car is no longer just for special occasions like going to the vet or groomer. Increasingly, pet owners are sharing all of their life experiences with Fido, including running errands, weekend getaways, and even cross-country road trips.
Dog owners are increasingly bringing their pets on trips and errands. Having the right dog car accessories will help ensure your pup arrives at your destination safe and happy.
As traveling with dogs has become more mainstream, the concern for their safety while riding in a vehicle has increased. In this article, we discuss the must-have car accessories for dogs, which help protect your vehicle, your dog, and your peace of mind so you and your pup can hit the road with confidence.
Dog Seat Belts & Safety Harnesses
Dogs roaming freely in a moving vehicle are not safe. Your dog can become a driving distraction, and if the worst happens—an accident—an unrestrained dog is at serious risk of injury.
If your dog likes to ride on the seat next to or behind you, there are two easy options for restraining it. Neither takes up any extra space in the car.
Dog Seat Belts
A dog seat belt keeps your dog secured to the seat and prevents them from roaming within the car or being thrown during sudden stops.
Dog seat belts attach to your dog’s harness and can be secured to the car by a tether or strap attached to the existing seat belt in the vehicle, to the same place in your vehicle where you would install a child seat, or by plugging into the seat belt latch.
Examples are:
- Direct to Seatbelt Swivel Tether – This very strong tether system clips into the seat belt latch and features a swivel carabiner that helps keep your dog from getting tangled when they shift around in the seat.
- Mighty Paw Dog Car Safety Belt – This belt connects to the vehicle’s frame and meets the specifications for securing child car seats, ensuring maximum security.
- Kurgo Dog Seat Belt Loop—This tether wraps around your car’s seat belt (when in the closed position) on one end and attaches to your dog’s harness.
These safety tethers can be attached to your dog’s regular harness or one of the crash-tested safety harnesses below (never attach the seat belt to a collar).
Safety Harnesses
Choose a crash-tested car harness if you want the safest travel situation for your pup.
Crash-tested dog harnesses have been used in a simulated vehicle collision and passed safety specifications. Many of these tests use the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard for child restraint systems.
Examples are:
- Kurgo Impact Dog Car Harness—This sturdy harness features 4 adjustment points for a near-perfect fit on all shapes and sizes and has been crash tested with simulated dogs up to 108 pounds.
- Ruffwear Load Up Dog Car Harness – This harness is easy to put on, comfortable over long hauls, and able to withstand the rigors of a vehicle crash.
- Sleepypod Clickit Sport – This harness was designed with safety in mind, but it’s also stylish and durable and features a quick connection and release.
Safety Restraints for Small Dogs
It’s important to note that many crash-tested harnesses aren’t made in sizes small enough to fit correctly or work effectively for small dogs.
For dogs under about 15 lbs, your choice of crash-tested harnesses will be limited, and you may need to consider using a crash-tested dog car seat instead.
Two options for little dogs are:
- Kurgo Tru-Fit Smart Harness – Depending on the shape of a dog’s ribcage, the Kurgo harness may fit dogs as small as 12-15 lbs, but it has been crash-tested for dogs up to 75 pounds.
- Pupsaver Dog Car Seat – The Pupsaver is the only car seat that has passed the safety criteria during a simulated vehicle collision.
You can also use a crate or carrier to help keep them safe in the case of a crash.
Booster Seats & Carriers for Small Dogs
Booster Seats
If your primary concern is elevating your small dog to reduce motion sickness and keep tiny paws from wandering, you can secure your dog in a booster seat.
Motion sickness in dogs often happens because a dog’s inner ear senses motion, but because dogs can’t see out their window, their minds can’t correlate what is happening with what they are feeling.
Booster seats elevate a small dog high enough to see out the window so their mind can synchronize what they feel with what they see.
Some trusted suggestions are:
- Snoozer Lookout II—The Lookout features a soft, comfortable sherpa interior, a safety strap to tether your dog to the seat, and can be secured to the vehicle using your car’s seat belt.
- K&H Bucket Booster Seat – This collapsible booster pet car seat is quick to install and features a contoured back that fits snugly in the seat of any car.
Car Carriers for Dogs
You can also opt for a dog carrier for the car that buckles securely into the seat. Some dogs get agitated when riding in the car because of the road noise, not because of motion sickness, and an enclosed carrier can help muffle the sound.
Also, a carrier gives your dog more freedom than a dog seat belt or a car seat. Although these carriers are fully enclosed, your dog doesn’t have to be tethered inside, so they can move freely without getting tangled.
Note: Because carriers are closed, it’s important to choose one with plenty of ventilation.
Some good options are:
- Sleepypod Mobile Pet Bed – This ultimate pet travel multi-tasker is a carrier, a pet bed, and a crash-tested car seat all in one.
- Pet Gear Signature Car Seat & Carrier – This carrier, which also doubles as a car seat, features front and top zippered mesh windows and a removable and washable fleece pad cover.
Car Seat Covers & Hammocks
While owners love to take their dogs in the car, they don’t love damaged or dirty car seats. A car seat cover can help protect them from muddy paws, loose fur, drool, and claws.
A hammock-style seat cover protects seats and acts as a barrier to prevent your pup from falling into the footwell or climbing into the front seat.
Most covers for vehicle seats are waterproof, machine-washable, and have non-slip backings.
Three popular options are:
Seat covers are essential car supplies for dogs, saving you from constant cleanup. For additional damage prevention, consider a car door protector.
Car Door Protectors
When dogs look out the window, they often touch the door for a better view. Car door protectors help protect your vehicle’s interior from scratches, abrasions, and dirt.
Two highly-rated options are:
- K&H Pet Products Vehicle Door Protector – These easy-to-install protectors feature tabs and suction cups to attach to the door and are designed to fit front or rear car, SUV, or truck windows.
- 4Knines Car Door Protectors – These protectors feature bottom straps that help ensure the guards stay in place, even with nervous and fidgety dogs.
Dog Car Barriers
If your pup loves to try to sneak into the front seat, a barrier mounted between the front seats will create a wall to help keep your dog where they belong.
If you don’t want your dog sitting on the seat, you can use a physical barrier to contain them in the cargo area of your SUV.
Examples include:
- PetSafe Happy Ride Metal Barrier – This metal barrier mounts using tension poles instead of semi-permanent mounting hardware to keep medium and large-sized dogs safely in the back.
- WeatherTech Heavy-Duty Partition—This heavy-duty mesh net creates a barrier between your two front seats. It features a handy storage pocket for a leash, treats, toys, waste bags, and other necessities.
Travel Bowls & Water Bottles
Hydration is just as important on the road as at home, so offer your dog water at every rest stop, especially on longer drives or warm days.
Travel bowls and water bottles made for convenient and spill-resistant dogs make this task quicker and easier.
Some good options are:
- Highwave AutoDogMug – This clever, one-handed pet hydration system features an attached bowl at the top. When your pet is done drinking and you relax your grip on the water bottle, the remaining water returns to the bottle.
- Kurgo Splash-Free Wander Dog Water Bowl—This food-safe silicone bowl is non-slip and features a side lip that helps prevent spills and splashback.
- WeatherTech dog bowls—The mat’s soft material creates traction on a wide variety of flooring surfaces, and the flat base catches spills or accidents, protecting the floor below.
Pet First Aid Kit for the Car
Accidents happen—whether it’s a scraped paw or something more serious. That’s why every dog owner should keep a pet first aid kit in the glove box or trunk for emergencies. It’s one of the most essential car supplies for dogs!
You can purchase a first aid kit for dogs, create a custom dog first aid kit from scratch, or remove or add what you need to a pre-made kit.
Whether you purchase or customize a first aid kit, be sure it contains these essential items for dogs.
- Self-adhering cohesive bandage
- Gauze and absorbent bandages
- Antiseptic wipes or spray
- Dog-friendly eye wash
- Tweezers (for ticks or thorns)
- A digital thermometer
If you prefer a pre-made dog first aid kit, check out the 5 Best Dog First Aid Kits for Your Pet’s Safety article.
Calming Travel Accessories
While many pet owners like to take their dogs everywhere with them, and our dogs often don’t care where they go as long as they are with us, the truth is that many don’t enjoy the car ride to get there.
If your dog is nervous or experiences anxiety in the car, there are dog calming products that can help.
Some of the most common are:
- Thundershirt Dog Calming Wrap—This vet-recommended wrap provides a constant, light hug for your dog, which many dogs find calming. The gentle, constant pressure can help with all types of anxiety, fear, and overexcitement issues in dogs.
- Sentry Good Behavior Calming Spray – The spray contains a patented pheromone that mimics the one mother dogs give off to calm their pups.
- Dog-calming music – Specially-designed classical music tracks can help ease the nerves of anxious dogs.
For more suggestions, read the article How to Calm an Anxious Dog.
If trying these things is not enough, ask your vet about natural supplements or prescription options to help with anxiety.
Final Thoughts on Dog Car Accessories
Since our pups are traveling in the car more than ever, having the right dog car accessories is essential for helping to ensure their ride is safe, comfortable, and stress-free for both of you.
After reading this article, you will hopefully feel more prepared and confident about the dog travel accessories you need.
Before your next road trip or running errands, learn from this dog owner’s mistakes when traveling with a dog in their moving vehicle.
Feature Image by Bernd Reisinger from Pixabay
Image by Brennan Emerson from Pixabay
Image by Tess DeGroot from Pixabay
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