Car rides with your dog: tethers, booster seats and carriers

A dog loose in the car can distract you at the worst moment or be thrown forward when you brake hard. Clip them in with a harness and seat belt tether, give a small dog a booster seat, and let them ride in the back seat whenever you can.

Why a loose dog is a risk

A dog who climbs into your lap or drops into the footwell by the pedals pulls your attention off the road.

In a sudden stop, an unrestrained dog keeps moving. They can be hurt, and they can hurt whoever is in front of them. A loose dog can also bolt the moment a door opens.

In the UK, the Highway Code asks drivers to keep dogs suitably restrained so they cannot distract you or injure you, or themselves, if you stop quickly. Rules vary in the US and Australia, so check your local road rules.

Seat belt tethers

A tether clips into a seatbelt buckle at one end and onto your dog's harness at the other. We stock two.

The Car Seat Belt Tether clips into any standard seatbelt buckle, adjusts with a length slider and has a swivel clip so it does not twist up. It also unclips to work as a short leash when you get out. The Dog Car Seat Belt Tether works the same way in the car, with a metal seatbelt tongue, adjustable nylon webbing and a swivel clip that stops tangling.

Two rules make any tether work:

• Harness, never collar. In a hard brake, a collar puts all the force on your dog's neck. Both of our tethers are made to clip to a harness.
• Keep it short. Your dog should be able to sit and lie down comfortably but not reach the footwell, the front seats or the gap between them.

Booster seats for small dogs

A booster seat is a basket that straps to the car seat and lifts a small dog up to window height. Many small dogs settle better when they can see out.

The Foldable Booster Car Seat straps around the headrest and the seat base and has mesh side panels. Its built-in safety tether clips to a harness so your dog stays in the basket, and it folds flat when you need the seat back. It suits small dogs and cats.

The Quilted Booster Car Seat is waterproof quilted fabric with reinforced anchor straps that keep it from sliding when you brake hard. It fits a front or rear seat (choose the rear), folds flat for the trunk, and works best with your dog's harness clipped to a seat belt tether. It is for small dogs only: no weight limit is published, so skip it for a medium or large dog.

The center console seat

The Center Console Dog Booster Seat sits in the gap over the center console, so a small dog rides beside you. A rigid frame holds its shape instead of collapsing on your dog.

Measured on the outside, the Small is 42 x 22 x 23 cm (16.5 x 8.7 x 9.1 in) and the Large is 47 x 22 x 25.5 cm (18.5 x 8.7 x 10 in). A dog about 34 cm (13 in) from nose to tail and 18 cm (7 in) tall rides in the Large. Between sizes, go larger.

Be clear-eyed about this one: it puts your dog in the front of the car, and the back seat is safer. Use it with a harness, and if your dog keeps climbing out toward you, move them to the back.

A hammock to protect the back seat

The Car Seat Hammock is made for the rear seat. Its waterproof Oxford fabric catches mud, hair and drool before they reach your upholstery, and it wipes clean.

It measures 60 x 35 x 53 cm (23.6 x 13.8 x 20.9 in), attaches with headrest straps and seat anchors, and converts between a hammock and a single seat. As a hammock, it stops a nervous dog sliding into the footwell. It protects your seats but is not a restraint, so keep using a harness and tether.

Carriers for small dogs

A carrier covers the moments around the drive, from the parking lot to the vet or a hotel. The Center Console Dog Booster Seat lifts out with carry handles and a shoulder strap.

For hands-free walking, the Front-Facing Backpack Carrier holds a small dog facing forward, legs out the front, with breathable mesh and padded shoulder straps. Measure from the base of the neck to the base of the tail: the S has a 25 cm (9.8 in) back and the L a 38 cm (15 in) back. It is for carrying, not for riding in the car, and not for medium or large dogs.

One honest note: none of the products in this guide is sold as crash tested or safety certified. They are made to keep your dog settled and in place on everyday drives.

Ground rules for every trip

• Back seat first. It is the safest place for a dog, and a front passenger airbag can seriously hurt one.
• Heads inside. A head out of the window is exposed to dust, insects and debris, and a dog can fall or jump. Open the window just enough for fresh air.
• Never leave a dog in a parked car on a warm day. Cars heat up fast, even with a window cracked and even when it does not feel hot outside. If your dog cannot come with you, leave them at home.
• Leash on before the door opens. Clip the leash on before you unclip the tether.

Breaks on longer drives

On a long drive, stop every couple of hours for water, a bathroom break and a sniff somewhere safe, away from traffic.

The Travel Bowl with Carabiner folds flat to 1.3 cm (0.5 in) and clips onto a bag with its 4.5 cm (1.8 in) carabiner. It holds about 350 ml (12 fl oz), plenty for a drink at a rest stop, and rinses out at any tap. Pack water from home too.

Helping an anxious dog get used to the car

Build up in small steps, and keep each session short enough that your dog finishes relaxed.

1. Sit in the parked car together with the engine off, with plenty of praise.
2. Next time, start the engine without going anywhere.
3. Then take short trips around the block and build up slowly.
4. Make plenty of drives end somewhere fun, like a park, not only the vet.

A light meal a few hours before a longer trip is easier on most stomachs than a full one just before you leave. If your dog drools, vomits or pants heavily on every drive, talk to your vet, who can help with car sickness and travel nerves.

Still not sure?

Send us your dog's weight, their back length from neck to tail and the car you drive, and we will help you choose. Email contact@honeyandpaw.com.