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What You Need To Know About Getting a Car Seat Cover For Dogs

Acar seat cover for dogs may be one of the most important accessories any pet owner can purchase. If you're like most people, then you consider your dog as a member of the family and you like to take them with you when you hop in the car. Unfortunately, dogs can cause a lot of wear and tear on your car's interior, so whether you're taking a long trip or just running out to the store you may want to take extra precautions to keep your car clean and looking good.

Some people simply opt to use a dog crate to keep their pet contained but this isn't always ideal, especially for longer trips. While it can certainly help to prevent damage to upholstery and flooring, a crate doesn't allow your dog much room to move around.

With a dog car seat cover, your dog will have more leg room, more air, and be able to see and interact with human passengers, which can help relieve anxiety.

Anton Hout / AI

Keeping your Aussie safer and more comfortable while protecting the value of your vehicle—win, win.

What Are the Benefits of a Car Seat Cover for Dogs?

Before considering your options for a car seat cover for dogs, let's take a look at exactly what benefits they can provide:

• Reduces dog hair/protects against spills, mud, etc.—as much as we love them, there's no denying that dogs can be messy. This is particularly true of high energy breeds like the Australian Shepherd, who can be muddy and messy after a long day's work or play. And of course, whenever you've got a dog you've got an unending battle with dog hair. A dog car seat cover can help to keep your car's upholstery free from dog hair and protected from mud, dirt, and other messes.
• Prevents damage to upholstery—your dog's claws can also take a toll on car upholstery and replacing that upholstery, whether leather or fabric, can be quite costly. Also, dogs that get anxious in the car may also bite or chew. A good quality car seat cover can provide a barrier between nails, teeth and your delicate car seats.
• Prevents odors—when accidents occur or your dog gets wet or dirty it can result in less than pleasant odors and if those scents get into your car upholstery it can be hard to get rid of them. A car seat cover for dogs can act as a barrier to keep odors from seeping into fabrics.
• Reduces anxiety—separation anxiety can be a real issue for many dogs. For others, an excess of energy can be an issue. By providing your dog with a comfortable place to sit in your car, you can reduce those issues and make traveling easier on both of you.
• Keeps your dog safer—a good quality dog car seat cover will have safety features including headrest loops, seat belt anchors, and non-slip backing—all of which are designed to keep both your furry best friend as well as your human passengers safe and secure.

What Are the Best Options for Dog Car Seat Covers?

In order to get the most benefits from your car seat cover for dogs, you need to carefully consider the many options available and make sure that you select the best option both for your dog and for your particular car. Both dogs and cars come in a range of sizes and you need to ensure that the cover you choose is large enough to accommodate both. Most covers come in a variety of sizes, designed to fit everything from compact cars to larger SUV's and trucks.

Active Pets Front Dog Car Seat Cover available on Amazon (great reviews and ratings).

Buy on Amazon

You should always start by measuring the seat you want to cover and checking to make sure that any dog car seat cover you consider is large enough to fit comfortably and securely in your car. You'll also want to make sure that you're providing enough room for your dog to fit comfortably, whether by himself or in the seat with human passengers.

Car seat covers come in several basic designs: hammock, bench, cargo deck and front seat. Some covers can convert from hammock, which accommodates the dog alone, to bench, which can also accommodate human passengers. Cargo deck covers are designed to fit in the back of an SUV or hatchback. Front seat covers are generally smaller, as they only cover the passenger side seat itself. Again, you need to take into consideration where you will want your dog to ride and select a cover that is appropriate for that area.

Yaroslav / stock.adobe.com

A dog car seat cover is well worth the investment.

Other Factors to Consider When Choosing a Dog Car Seat Cover

In most cases, a car seat cover for dogs should be made of multiple layers, including Oxford 600D treated cotton and polyester, soft poly filling for comfort, and a non-slip bottom to keep the cover from moving around. The various layers provide a protective barrier that can withstand even the most active dog and will also be easy to clean. Some models are even washing machine safe, which makes them even easier to maintain.

URPOWER Dog Car Seat Cover available on Amazon – 100% Waterproof, Heavy Duty, Scratch Proof, Nonslip, Durable, Back Seat Covers for Cars Trucks and SUVs. (See URPOWER Cover for Front Seat here.)

Buy on Amazon

Other important features of your dog car seat cover can include:

• Mesh panels to allow both for air flow and visibility to help reduce anxiety
• Additional pockets for holding toys and supplies, and
• Flaps to protect door handles.

Most covers attach with loops that go over or around the headrests and also have seat anchors that can tuck into the crevice between the seat and back to further secure the cover in place. They'll also have slits that allow seat belts to slip through so that human passengers can be buckled in or your dog can be attached with a seatbelt harness.

You can find many brands and models available through retailers like Amazon so it should be easy to find one that fits both your specifications and your budget. No matter which you opt for, you and your dog will be able to enjoy many happy road trips together when you have the right car seat cover for dogs.

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