12 Best Dog Car Seats of 2021: Reviewed by Experts

Who doesn’t love a road trip? And it isn’t a family trip if our favorite canine doesn’t come along. But how many people properly secure their dogs in car seats or harnesses for those trips? (Hands up, now – be honest) If you don’t, not only is your dog at risk of injury, so are YOU. Luckily, pet lovers inhabit every field, including engineering. That means devoted dog lovers are working to develop, test, and provide quality dog car seats and restraints to keep your furry family members safe.

Dogs and Cars

People have always loved taking their favorite pooches on adventures. And when vehicles started hitting the road, so did our furry friends. But dog car seats weren’t around until 1932. And they weren’t the more impressive safety features in the world.

The Bird-Dog’s Palace gets credit as the first dog car seat. It looked like a crate, and people used it for pets of every shape and size. Not the most comfortable thing in the world, but it at least provided SOME restraint.

In 1936, they improved on their design with a cloth sack. Dogs felt comfy. However, in collisions, the car seat proved useless. Owners found their dogs suffering injuries.

Marie French undertook the challenge of the dog car seat in 1957. She designed an entire pet trailer you could attach to the back of your car (similar to a bike trailer). Your dog got plenty of room to move around, as well as compartments for their food and water bowls. But you didn’t get direct sight of them. And you needed to check all of those connection points.

But it shows you how much people have thought about traveling with their dogs in cars!

Dog Car Seat Safety

The National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA) reports 50% of all fatal accidents result from distracted driving. (50%!) And we can’t blame all of those accidents on cell phones. Nope, it turns out 25% of owners admit to holding their pets while braking. A further 19% confess to fending a pet away from the front of the car. So pets roaming the car is a HUGE distraction.

A 2013 study found owners driving with their pets were MORE LIKELY to get into an accident. Focusing on your dog takes your eyes off the road, and you might even take your hands off the wheel. New Jersey, at least, decided enough was enough. In 2011, the state amended its anti-cruelty law, making it a violation to drive with an unrestrained animal in the car. Suddenly, a demand arose for quality dog car seats. Into that need stepped Lindsey Wolko.

A poorly designed restraint injured Lindsey’s dog. Deciding she wanted better for other animals, she founded the Center for Pet Safety (CPS). Using the same standards Federal Motor Vehicles use for children, the CPS began testing the available pet restraints on the market. Every single one FAILED. Yup, it was time for a change.

Choosing a Car Seat for Your Dog

Dog car seats and restraints have improved. The CPS now certifies products. (When safety’s on the line, pet owners have a way of getting results). However, there are hundreds of car seats on the market. How to choose the right one?

A good dog car seat absorbs the energy in an accident and controls possible rotation. The dog should stay in place and not accelerate forward. But you still need to do a little homework. Here are some important notes:

• Size: Car seats, in particular, are rated for specific sizes. If a seat is too small, your dog won’t stay inside. Too large? They’ll slide around, and you lose effective restraint. So look at those weight restrictions.
• Method of Securing: Not every car seat attaches the same. Some need a headrest while others don’t. Does your car have a headrest in the backseat? Some require a shoulder strap. Look at the instructions for proper installation to make sure your vehicle will accommodate the seat.
• Ease of Use: How simple is the car seat to use? If it’s going to take you an hour to get that dog car seat into place, are you going to use it? Probably not. Practice makes perfect, but be honest with yourself on what you’re willing to tolerate.
• Storage: Many seats collapse for easy storage. Other seats are bulkier and won’t remain out of the way. Again, you need to decide what will work for you.
• Cleaning: Take a look at the car seat’s materials. Can the cover be removed for cleaning? While car seats generally help with carsickness, nothing is guaranteed. Also, if you allow your dog outside on the trip, how dirty will they get? Are you willing to put up with that smell in your car? A good car seat allows for regular cleaning.

Using Dog Car Seats

While dog car seats come designed for safety, you still need to take precautions. In an accident, the potential for harm exists if you don’t observe basic rules:

1. Don’t attach your dog’s leash to restraints – use their harness. Leashes become choking hazards, or they can cause neck injuries. This is also why you should use harnesses and not collars. Think about yourself in an accident – do you want something around your neck? Of course not.
2. Always use the provided tethers. You may have the best-behaved dog on the planet. But in an accident, that tether will keep your pup safely within their dog car seat. You don’t want to take any risks.
3. Introduce new car seats or restraints slowly. Start OUTSIDE of the car first. You don’t want to feel anxious and take your eyes off the road to check on your dog. Better to delay a trip while your dog learns to trust the car seat than cause an accident.
4. NEVER use the front seat for your dog’s car seat! The airbag is a genuine threat to your dog. Even if a car seat says it can go in the front seat, don’t do it. Your dog’s body CAN’T absorb the impact of the airbag. You can see your dog in the rearview mirror, and he can see you. You DON’T need to be beside each other.
5. No dogs can stay unattended in the car. The inside of a car is NEVER the same temperature as the outdoors. During the summer, it takes only a few minutes for a dog to succumb to heatstroke!