Dog seat protectors for cars are like underwear for people, in that they are simply necessary. From the cloth fabric in your VW Golf to the sumptuous leather in your Bentley Bentayga, few odours permeate your car’s interior as ruthlessly as the smell of wet dog.
With almost nine million dogs in the UK, it’s a wonder dog scent doesn’t hang like a layer of fog over the whole country. But it doesn’t, because sensible dog owners use dog seat protectors in their cars, and if you don’t, you should. Not only do they keep dog odours at bay, but they also spare your car’s interior from mud and destruction.
There’s almost an infinite number of dog seat protectors available to buy, most of which are effectively identical. We’ve helped you out and can save you from trawling endless pages of photoshopped dogs in backseats of cars. Below, we have shortlisted our recommended dog seat protectors.
At Parkers, we suggest those that form a hammock and are compatible with a harness that can connect to the seat belt buckle. With a hammock-shaped protector, it keeps your dog from disappearing down into the footwells and offers the best protection. However, there is also a range of other designs that are effective too, such as dedicated seats for smaller dogs.
The best dog car seat protectors
Kurgo Wander Hammock
Editor’s pick
Price: £61.25 | VIEW OFFER
Kurgo specialises in dog gear and the Massachusetts-based company develops top products that work well and last thanks to the genuine passion that goes into developing them.
A hammock-shaped seat cover is the best way to completely cover your seats, and this is our pick of those. It measures about 140cm wide by 142cm long and comes with some excellent features:
There are six attachment points – four headrest straps and two elastic straps that attach under the seat. It makes for very secure fitting. You can also opt to unzip the centre to fold one side of the cover down, which allows for someone to sit in the backseat too, if you need. The cover is made from durable 600D polyester and is machine washable. The dark colour hides marks and dirt more easily.
We have picked this hammock-style protector over the others of a similar shape because this is of better quality than its rivals. We like the thought that has gone into its design and how it is backed by a genuine manufacturer’s warranty.
Pros:
• Durable
• Excellent seat protection
Cons:
• You may not want a cover that occupies the entire back seat
RAC Advanced Car Seat Cover
Subtle design
Price: £22.69 | VIEW OFFER
RAC’s Advanced Car Seat Cover addresses the issue where pet owners may not want such a large seat cover as above. It’s essentially a carpet that you drape over a seat front or rear for protection. It fixes to the seat via Velcro straps around the headrest and a non-slip rubber backing.
We like it for several reasons: it is very durable like hardy floor mats; the rubber backing actually works in keeping the mat in place, it’s subtle and not obvious, and it is easy to clean. It’s machine-washable but you can get most stuff out with a vacuum cleaner or stubborn stains with upholstery cleaner. This seat cover measures about 125cm x 55cm.
Pros:
• Subtle
• Durable
Cons:
• A full wraparound seat cover offers better protection
Kurgo Dog Half Hammock
Best for space-saving and protection
Price: £62.68 | VIEW OFFER
Kurgo’s pen-style rear seat cover offers both space-saving and superb protection. Like Kurgou2019s full-size hammock above, this bears the same quality of construction, waterproofing and stain resistance, and stable fixing. On the inside, there are also storage pockets.
We like it for exactly the same reasons as Kurgo’s hammock above and it’s easy to install too. However, we do think the price is a bit high.
Pros:
• Space-saving
• Fantastic protection
• Quality
Cons:
• A bit pricey
Pawzitive Petz Car Seat Cover
Best for small dogs
Price: £22.97 | VIEW OFFER
This may have a dreadful name but credit where credit is due, the design is great for smaller dogs. You can have it as a flat seat protector if you wish, but the best way to have it is with the sides zipped up to create a nest your dog can sit in. Add a mat or rug in there for a bit of coziness.
It comes with a seat belt connector that can clip onto your dog’s harness. It’s made from durable nylon, so it lasts the distance too. To fasten it to the seat, you use the strap and buckle that goes around the headrest, and a type of anchor that you push into the gap between the car seat base and the backrest.
The primary quibble we have is that the zips are a bit flimsy.
Pros:
• Versatile design
• Durable fabric
Cons:
• Flimsy zips
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