Dog Car Booster Seat - Plush Travel Bed with Safety Tether

A raised, bolstered bed that sits on the car seat so a small dog can see out of the window instead of staring at the door card. There is a tether inside that clips to a harness, so they cannot climb into the footwell or your lap while you are driving.

It works just as well as an ordinary little bed in the house, which is worth knowing if you only travel occasionally.

Specifications

• Outer size: 55 cm wide, 40 cm deep, 30 cm high including the backrest
• Material: polyester outer with a plush lining
• Colour: grey
• Base: non-slip
• Includes: a clip-on tether
• Weight: approximately 780 g

Who it suits

Small dogs. The bolsters take up a fair bit of the 55 x 40 cm footprint, so the usable inside area is smaller than the outer measurement suggests. As a rough guide it suits dogs up to about the size of a Cavalier, Shih Tzu, Yorkshire Terrier, Dachshund or small poodle. The supplier's listing claims it also suits large dogs. It does not, and we are not going to repeat that.

For an older small dog

Two things matter here beyond the view. The bolsters give a stiff dog something to lean into, so they are not bracing against every corner, and the height means a short lift in and out rather than a jump onto a flat seat. For a small dog with sore joints that is the difference between an outing they enjoy and one they pay for later.

Lifting is the part most people get wrong, usually by picking a dog up under the front legs, which hangs their whole weight from the shoulder joints. Helping an older dog in and out of the car covers doing it properly.

Care

Machine washable on a cool gentle cycle. Air dry rather than tumble dry so the plush does not mat. Give the base a wipe before putting it back on the seat.

Honest answers

Will it slide on a leather seat? The base is non-slip, which handles normal driving. On slippery leather, running the car's seat belt through or behind it gives you a lot more confidence than relying on grip alone.

What does the tether clip to? A harness. Never clip a car tether to a collar — in a sudden stop, all the force goes through the dog's neck.

Is my dog too big? Measure them lying down, curled up, and compare against 55 x 40 cm knowing you lose several centimetres to the bolsters. If it is close, it is too small.

Can I use it at home? Yes. It is a perfectly good small dog bed off the seat.

Will it help with car sickness? It can, for a small dog, and for a real reason rather than a marketing one. A small dog on a flat seat sees only sky and passing roof lines; being raised enough to see the horizon through the windscreen reduces the mismatch between what the eyes see and what the inner ear feels. It does nothing for a dog already big enough to see out.

Safety

This is a comfort and containment product, not a crash-tested restraint, and it has not been safety tested to any standard we can point you at. Under the Highway Code, dogs must be suitably restrained in a vehicle. The tether stops your dog wandering around the cabin, which is the everyday problem most owners have. If you want genuine crash protection, use a crash-tested crate or harness.

Guides

• Helping an older dog in and out of the car
• Car sickness in dogs: what helps, and what only looks like it helps
• Dogs in cars: what UK law actually says, and what actually works

Delivery

Held in our UK warehouse and sent out by UK courier. Typically 3-5 working days. UK delivery is £3.95, and free on orders over £30.