Dog Car Crate & Car Seat

Dog in the car: secured in the boot or on the back seat

A dog lying loose in the car can be thrown around during an emergency stop and distracts the driver. In this collection you will find solutions that keep your dog in place: crash-tested dog crates for the boot, crates, carriers and car seats for the back seat, a car harness for the seat belt and ramps for getting in and out. Choose first where your dog travels, then by weight and size.

In the boot: crash-tested dog crates

The 4pets Pro Noir crates are made in Switzerland and crash-tested by TÜV Süd to ECE-R17 test standards, with DoubleDock door locking and an IPS rear wall: Pro Noir 1 up to 17 kg, Pro Noir 2 up to 30 kg, Pro Noir 3 up to 45 kg, Pro Noir 4 up to 50 kg and the double Pro Noir 22 for two dogs up to 2 × 35 kg. The TAVO Everett (up to 45.4 kg) is secured with four anchor straps and has wheels, so it is easy to move. If you need your boot for other things too, the 1ONE1 Origami (sizes S to XL) folds flat; it was tested by TÜV with a 55 kg dummy at 55 km/h.

On the back seat: crate, carrier or car seat

The TAVO Crispin (up to 22.7, 24.9 or 27.2 kg depending on size) clicks onto the ISOFIX anchor points with an extra top tether and folds up when not in use. The PetSafe Happy Ride (up to 27 kg) takes up one seat and is secured with the headrest and seat belt. For small dogs and cats there is the 4pets Caree (up to 15 kg, crash-tested by TÜV Süd), on the front or back seat, with the seat belt or the optional ISOFIX Connector.

The TAVO car seats have built-in ISOFIX connectors, with no separate base: Maeve (up to 18 kg, tested to ECE R129), Hendrick (up to 20.4 kg, also a carrier), Dupree I and II (up to 9 kg, also as cabin baggage on the plane) and Kamella (up to 13.6 kg, also a backpack). After the drive, you click the Maeve, Hendrick or Dupree onto the TAVO Roscoe Trek dog stroller. The Sleepypod Mobile Pet Bed (up to 7 kg) is a bed, carrier and car seat in one, with 5 stars from the Center for Pet Safety.

With the seat belt: crash-tested car harness

If you don't want a crate or car seat, secure your dog on the back seat with the Sleepypod Clickit Range, a car harness for dogs from 8 to 50 kg. It received 5 stars from the Center for Pet Safety after crash tests at 48 km/h and doubles as a walking harness.

Getting in and out: dog ramp

Jumping in and out of a high boot strains the joints, especially in older dogs or dogs with arthritis. The 4pets EasySteps is TÜV-tested for dogs up to 100 kg. The PetSafe Happy Ride ramps are aluminium, weigh 6 to 8 kg and extend to 178, 183 or 221 cm.

Overview

Frequently asked questions about dogs in the car

Should my dog travel in the boot or on the back seat?

That mainly depends on the size of your dog. Large dogs usually travel in a crash-tested crate in the boot, placed against the back of the rear seat and secured to the lashing points. Small and medium dogs can also travel on the back seat, in a crate, carrier or car seat secured with ISOFIX or the seat belt, or with a crash-tested car harness.

What does "crash-tested" mean for a dog crate or car seat?

Each brand tests in its own way, and we always state which test applies. The 4pets crates and the Caree were crash-tested by TÜV Süd, the 4pets Pro Noir to ECE-R17 test standards. The 1ONE1 Origami was tested by TÜV with a 55 kg dummy at 55 km/h. TAVO tests in its own dynamic test facility following the methods of ECE R129, the standard for child car seats. Sleepypod has its products rated by the independent Center for Pet Safety.

Which size dog crate should I choose?

Choose by your dog's size, not just its weight. Your dog must be able to sit upright and lie down comfortably: compare its shoulder height (sitting) with the inside height and its length with the inside length. Also measure your boot, because the crate has to fit. Every product page lists the inside and outside dimensions.

What is ISOFIX and what if my car doesn't have it?

ISOFIX means two anchor points on the back seat, between the seat and the backrest, that a car seat clicks onto. Your car's manual tells you whether it has them. Without ISOFIX, choose a model that is secured with the seat belt, such as the 4pets Caree, the Sleepypod Mobile Pet Bed, the PetSafe Happy Ride crate or the Sleepypod Clickit Range car harness.

How do I get my dog into a high car or SUV?

With a dog ramp, your dog gets in without jumping. The higher your car, the longer the ramp needs to be for a gentle slope. For tall SUVs and 4x4s there is the extra-long PetSafe Happy Ride (up to 221 cm); the 4pets EasySteps carries dogs up to 100 kg.