Covered dog car seat with mesh windows

A den on the car seat

Some dogs settle better in a closed space. This covered seat works like a soft carrier that stays on the car seat: mesh windows let air through and let your dog see out, and a zip opening in the top lets you reach in to calm your dog or clip the leash.

The medium size measures 45 x 43 x 43 cm. The supplier gives no weight limit, so choose by size: your dog should be able to stand up, turn round and lie down inside.

Two fixings

A strap goes round the headrest of the car seat, and the car's seat belt passes through the back of the seat to hold it down. Use both. The bottom has an anti-slip fabric, and a PVC pipe frame helps the sides keep their shape. Inside there is a leash: clip it to your dog's harness, not its collar.

Rule 57 of the Highway Code names a pet carrier as one way to restrain a dog in the car. This seat is not crash tested, and we do not claim it protects a dog in a collision. If you use the front seat, check your car's handbook about the airbag first, and use the back seat when you can.

Practical details

The outer fabric is polyester Oxford, which the supplier describes as waterproof, so most dirt and hair wipe off. Pockets on the outside hold treats, poo bags or a lead. When you do not need it, the seat folds flat to store in the boot or at home, and at a campsite or a friend's house it can double as a small den.