The Best Dog Car Seat Review (Updated 2023)

With more people owning dogs, we also see more dogs injured in motor vehicle accidents.

Some pet owners do not realize the importance of restraining their dogs in the vehicle.

However, the same rules should apply to dogs as those with kids, and using a dog car seat could not only save your pet's life but yours as well.

It's unlikely people would leave their child free to roam around the backseat while driving, let alone there being laws against it.

An unrestricted toddler would be distracting to a driver trying to focus on the road, and what would happen in the event of an accident?

You should be just as worried about these issues with your dog.

For this best dog car seat reviews list, I've personally tested many different seats in my SUV with my dogs and picked ten brands that I found worth their price.

Picking the Best Dog Car Seats for This Review

Dog booster car seats aren't usually on the top of the list when pet owners are shopping for dog supplies, so many people don't know exactly what they should be looking for.

Through all of my research, I figured out that there are a few things that you should be focused on when comparing different brands:

• Seat's safety
• Quality of the materials used
• Overall comfort
• Affordability

There are two main types of dog seats for cars: (1) booster-style, which your dog will sit on top of, and (2) basket-style, where your dog will sit down inside the seat as if he were sitting in a basket.

While seat safety should be your first concern, your dog's comfort should be a factor, too.

If your pup isn't comfortable in the booster car seat, he's going to try to get out of it and may even whine, which may be even more distracting to you than a loose dog roaming in the vehicle.

The quality of the materials is also important to consider. Is the product durable? Will it support your dog's weight? Has the seat been through crash testing?

This last question isn't very common with pet seats for cars yet, but some models have been crash-tested and proven to keep your pet safer in the event of an accident than if he were roaming loose in your vehicle.

Another thing to consider is dog car barriers which may provide an extra level of protection.

Finally, it also comes down to affordability.

The better quality car seats tend to be more expensive. Keep in mind that these products are an investment.

If you purchase the appropriate size, a top-rated doggy car seat should last for many years.

I'm not a certified expert on dog car seats, and I'm not associated with any companies that manufacture or sell them.

I have been using different dog products for decades, including different car seats, and reviewing them for over 5 years.

I have tested thousands of dog supplies, many of which were dog travel products.

My experience as a writer covering the pet industry for nearly a decade has also allowed me to polish my research skills and develop an eye for what to look for in pet products, how to rate and rank them in terms of price-to-value ratio, and other factors that are specific to the type of product I'm reviewing.

As we all know, purchasing products for our own pets can be a chore, but I've learned how to pick, choose, and make smarter buying choices.

Quality is always my top concern, but so is the price — I test and then compare the price to the value of the product to make sure that my money is well spent.

That's what I bring into these dog supplies reviews, ensuring that our readers do not waste their money.

For every dog product review and buying guide, I treat it like I would if I were shopping for my own dogs (which I am).

It's important to me that my recommendations will last you, the reader, throughout your dog's lifetime.

And I do not get paid by any companies to write these reviews so that I can stay impartial.

Everything that you read in this comparison is my honest opinion.

The Best Dog Car Seat Brands

1 Snoozer Luxury Seat
The overall best dog car seat

This is a booster-style seat, and it's among the best dog car seats available for the right price; thus, it's my top pick.

As you can see in the photo above, my dog Molly is lifted high enough on the Snoozer Lookout car seat to see out of the window whether she's sitting up or lying down.

We went on many car rides with Molly, and she loved to look out the window. Using this seat kept her from jumping up on the door to peek out.

This prevents your dog from scratching up the door of your vehicle while climbing to get to the window.

There are a variety of Snoozer Luxury Lookout Car Seats, but only two sizes are available.

You can also get them in a variety of colors, patterns, and fabric options.

The puppy car seat featured in my review is the Luxury Lookout I Dog Car Seat with Microsuede cover. And as the title implies, it's a “deluxe dog” item.

There are several key features that distinguish it from others. The microsuede machine washable cover zips off for easy removal.

You can see the plush pillow included with this dog car seat in my video review.

The pillow also has removable seat covers that are machine washable. This is a must-have for me because dirty dog paws and shed hair make a big mess after a while.

If you’re shopping for a vehicle seat, be sure it’s easy to clean.

Hand washing every little crack and crevice can be a real pain, especially if your pup has an accident in his seat during a trip.

This is something that you really need to think about if you have a puppy, senior dog, or pet with incontinence issues.

In the picture on the right, you can see other key features: Snoozer seat has a connection strap that clips the seat belt to your dog’s harness. It’s easy to use and is adjustable.

In order to ensure your dog's comfort, be sure that you adjust the connection strap so that Fido can sit, lie down, and turn around comfortably.

It’s important that you attach the connection strap to a car harness, as clipping it to a collar would cause your dog to choke or injure his throat if you have to break quickly or get into an accident.

In my video review below, you'll notice that the microsuede cover makes it look nice.

However, this doggy booster car seat is pretty bulky.

The sturdy foam construction is large and takes up the entire seat.

For a seat that only holds a dog of 18-25 pounds, it’s much larger than other dog car seats that can support the same size pooch.

The seat that I feature in my review is a ‘Medium’, and this car seat from Snoozer Pet Products is also available in a ‘Small’ size. The dimensions of each are:

Small: Outside 19″H X 15″W X 17″L, Inside 12″W X 14″L
Medium: Outside 19″H X 22″W X 17″L, Inside 18″W X 14″L

The small size can hold a dog weighing up to 18 pounds, and the medium size can hold a dog weighing up to 25 pounds.

The Snoozer is also very easy to install.

My video review below shows you how simple it is to buckle this seat into your car. You simply run the seat belt through the designated slots and buckle it in.

Due to its deluxe dog booster design, it may be a bit too bulky for a small car, but if you have enough space, this product will keep your canine companion restrained and comfortable.

The other drawback to this seat is the price.

Similar-style doggy car seats can be found for half the price. However, they may not be as well-made or convenient.

Remember that these car booster seats are only made from durable foam and cover material.

Depending on the color, size, and pattern, you can purchase the Snoozer Luxury Lookout from $91.95 to $210.95.

Unfortunately, these are not affordable for many pet owners on a tight budget, especially for a seat that is only made of foam.

For a closer look at the product and some buying guide, check out my extensive review here.

 

2 Fido Rido
The most versatile car seat for dogs

The Fido Rido is possibly the most unique dog car seat on the market. It’s actually a patented 3-in-1 design.

This one can also be a bathtub or a bed!

Personally, I don’t use it as a bathtub, but I have tried it for this purpose, and it does work well.

I do love the fact that it can also be a bed because now I don't need to bring a travel bed along on trips with our dog.

We bring the Fido Rido with us anytime we travel overnight with our Beagle, Molly.

It’s really easy to take this out of the car and bring it into a hotel room.

It only takes about a minute to buckle it back into the car when you’re ready to get going again in the morning.

I demonstrate just how easy it is in my video review (see below).

The Fido Rido Dog Car Seat is only available in one size, and it can hold dogs weighing up to 30 pounds.

It is not as deluxe dog booster of an item as the above, but its other key feature is that all the parts of this vehicle seat are washable, which you may have realized since it can also be used as a bathtub.

The plastic car booster seat can be washed with warm water and non-abrasive soap, and the faux wool cover is machine washable.

There is also a removable zippered pouch that comes with this seat if you choose to attach it.

The Fido Rido also comes with a two-strap restraint system and a safety harness for your pooch.

You’ll receive 3 car harnesses — a small, medium, and large.

One of these will fit your dog as long as he weighs less than 30 pounds.

You can measure your dog’s girth to find the safety harness that will fit him. The sizes are:

• Small – 8″ – 16″ chest girth
• Medium – 16″ – 24″ chest girth
• Large – 24″ – 30″ chest girth

The safety harness has a unique design with a small D-ring on either side.

As you’ll see in my video review, the two-strap restraint system attaches to each side of the dog car harness to keep your pooch in place.

This patented system is designed to equalize the pressure of a sudden stop.

Whether you have a large SUV or a small car, the Fido Rido dog car seat will fit perfectly.

It's not nearly as bulky as the Snoozer seat above.

The dimensions of the seat are 10” H X 18.5” W X 23” D.

Many dog car seats can only be used on bucket seats, but this option can be used on a bucket or bench-style car seats.

I like the sturdy plastic base of this one compared to other similar products.

Many dog car seats (like the Snoozer Luxury Lookout seat above) are made with a foam base or a soft-sided basket that your dog has to sit inside (like others below).

The base of the Fido Rido seems more sturdy to me, and I think it would hold up much better in the event of an accident.

Like the Snoozer seat, the Fido Rido boosts your dog up so he can see out the window.

The basket-style car seats that your dog sits down inside won't allow him to have a very good view.

With the Fido Rido booster seats, you can see in the photo how Molly can sit comfortably while still getting a good view.

As you can see, this booster car pet seat offers a lot of valuable key features that other similar items do not. Of course, these key features also add to the price.

During this update (November 2023), the Fido Rido Dog Car Seat is selling on Amazon for $95.99.

You can find other similar-style car seats for about half that price, but they’re usually made of foam or other less durable materials.

For more information, take a look at my detailed product review or watch the below video.

 

3 Devoted Doggy Luxury Seat
The best cheap dog car seat

Like the other two items on my list, this one is only suitable for smaller dogs.

It can only hold pets weighing 20 pounds or less.

Molly weighs about 28 pounds, so she still fits inside, but you'll notice in my photos that she doesn’t have quite enough room.

Unlike the first two products on this list, this one is a basket-style seat.

The seat is made of a collapsible metal frame construction, and there is a removable plush liner that covers the frame.

This liner is machine washable for easy cleaning.

There is also a zippered pocket on the front of the car seat. It’s not very big, but you could fit a collar and security leash, small dog toys, or a package of treats.

Instead of the dog car harness that comes with Fido Rido, the Devoted Doggy Deluxe Dog Booster Seat comes with an adjustable leash strap, which secures your dog’s harness and prevents him from moving around the car while you’re driving, which is important for dog safety.

If this car booster seat was a little bit bigger, it would be much better.

The dimensions of the basket are only 16″L X 13″W X 8″D. Again, it is only recommended for dogs weighing up to 15 pounds.

If you have a very small dog, this is a safe and comfortable option.

A smaller dog (under 10 pounds) would be very comfortable in this seat.

They would have plenty of room to turn around, lie down, and sit up to look out the window. If your dog is closer to the 20-pound weight limit, he may have trouble sitting comfortably in this seat.

The seat shown in my photos and video review is blue and beige. You can also purchase it in a black and grey color combination.

This bucket booster pet seat can fit on any vehicle with bucket seats, which means you may only be able to use it in the front seat of your car.

As you'll see in my video review, you have to secure the straps around the headrest and around the back of the seat.

If you have a split bench seat in the back of your vehicle (like I do), you may be able to use this in the back. If not, it will have to be used in the front.

It's very easy to install in your car. As I mentioned, there are two straps — one that needs to be secured around the seat's headrest and one that wraps around the back of the seat.

Both straps are adjustable to fit different-sized seats.

This is my recommended choice of seat for pet parents on a budget.

You can purchase it on Amazon for $27.19 to $33.99.

It’s not the most durable of booster seats, but for the money, it’s definitely a good value.

One of the things that adds to the value of this seat is that it comes with a 100% unconditional lifetime money-back guarantee.

Unfortunately, this is only an option if your dog weighs less than 20 pounds. And, if he’s close to the 20-pound weight limit, this may not be the most comfortable dog car seat for your dog.

For more details on this one, check out my detailed product review or watch the video.

4 Travel Hound Seat
The best seat for small breeds

This is similar to the Devoted Doggy seat above.

It's a bucket booster pet seat style with straps to hook around the headrest and the back of the seat.

Like the Devoted Doggy seat, this won't work on a traditional bench seat, so it may need to be used on the front seat of your vehicle.

It is really easy to install.

As you can see in my video review below, the straps are both adjustable to fit different-sized car seats.

These adjustable straps also allow you to raise the vehicle seat up off the seat of your car. That's the ‘booster' part of the Travel Hound.

My pupper Molly prefers a booster-style car seat because she enjoys looking out the window.

Unlike something like a Solvit Tagalong Pet Booster Seat or Solvit Jumbo Deluxe Booster Seat, I like how easy it is to adjust the straps of this one.

There is a simple plastic buckle that you can slide one way or the other to adjust the seat up and down.

The only thing I don’t like about the headrest strap is that it doesn’t have a clasping buckle like the traps of the Devoted Doggy Deluxe Dog Booster seat above, so you have to loosen the strap to slide it up and over the headrest when you’re installing the seat.

When you want to take the seat out of your car, you must loosen the strap again to remove the seat. You can see what I’m talking about in my video review below.

It’s not a deal breaker, but it is annoying to have to readjust the straps each time you take the Travel Hound Seat out of the vehicle.

The company claims the Travel Hound can be used on any seat with a headrest.

While this is true, if you use it on a bucket seat, you won't be able to secure the strap around the seat.

This may cause the car seat to slide back and forth when you take a sharp turn.

To ensure your dog's safety, you should definitely make sure both straps are tight and secure around the seat.

The biggest drawback to this seat is that it is only available in one size to hold dogs weighing up to 12 pounds, which can be a problem (see my photo to the right).

Color options are not many, but the basket dimensions are 13″W X 11.5″D X 8″H.

As you can see in the photo above, our little Molly is way too big to sit comfortably in this seat.

The sides of the Travel Hound Pet Booster Seat are made of mesh, which is great for breathability, but the mesh could get torn easily by sharp dog nails. If your dog is a nester, he may accidentally tear the mesh when he’s trying to get comfortable.

The Travel Hound Dog has a small storage pocket on the front. It can’t hold much, but you could store a security leash, collar, small toys, or a bag of treats in there.

It also comes with a safety leash attachment, which you can see in my video review.

This safety tether attaches to your dog’s harness, which is an important aspect of any pet safety seat as it prevents him from climbing out of the seat while your car is moving.

A tether is always a must!

It's beneficial to keep your dog from jumping out quickly as soon as you open the door of the car.

This could be especially dangerous if you’re in a crowded parking lot. If your dog is restrained in his car seat, you won’t have to worry about him jumping out and getting lost or getting run over by a passing car.

At the time of this review, you can purchase the Travel Hound on Amazon for about $27.

UPDATE: As of November 2023, this product is no longer showing as listed on Amazon. I highly recommend you try the other dog booster seats on this list instead!

For more information on this seat, read my full product review or watch the below video.

 

5 Petsfit Booster Seat
The best pet seat for medium breeds

Here's a dog booster car option for medium-sized breeds.

Unfortunately, it's difficult to find the best car seats for large breeds.

Typically, these dogs can sit up comfortably on your vehicle's seat and be secured with a safety harness.

But medium-sized dogs fall somewhere in the middle — they aren't quite tall enough to sit up and see out the window, but they're still too big for most canine car seats on the market.

Enter the Petsfit Dog Booster Seat. It can hold dogs weighing up to 45 pounds.

The sides and seat are rigid enough to keep their shape under the weight of a medium-sized dog.

The seat measures 29″L X 16″W X 14″H, but it only weighs 9.7 pounds.

The plush liner on the top of the seat is removable and machine washable for easy cleaning.

The outer cover is made of durable OxGord material and doubles as a handy carrying case. The seat covers also feature two pockets on the front to store your pup's necessities.

My favorite key feature is the strap on the back of the Petsfit Booster.

You thread the vehicle's seat belt through this strap to keep the seat securely in place.

As long as you follow the installation instructions and ensure that the belt is tightened, this pet seat won't budge while you're driving.

The company does market these booster seats as being suitable for two small breeds. However, I noticed that there is only one safety tether on this vehicle seat.

You could purchase another small tether to turn the single into a double, but that would mean both of your dogs would be tethered together as well.

In the event of an accident, this may not be the safest idea.

You can purchase the Petsfit car seat on Amazon for $57.31 to $101.99.

I expected the higher price because this product is bigger than most similar dog car seats.

If you have a dog that weighs 20-45 pounds, this is my recommendation for the best dog car seat for medium breeds.

With that said, if you have a dog that weighs less than 20 pounds, there are a lot of other dog booster car seat options available.

Also, I wouldn't recommend this for two smaller dogs unless a second tether is added.

6 Kurgo Skybox Seat

Similar to the Devoted Doggy Deluxe Dog Booster Seat and Travel Hound Seat mentioned above, the Kurgo Skybox Booster Seat is very popular. It's also a bucket booster pet seat type.

This dog seat attaches to your car's seat in the same way as the other bucket seat options I mentioned previously.

There is a strap that attaches around the headrest of the car seat and one that attaches around the back of the seat.

Both of these straps are adjustable, so you can lift the base of the Kurgo Skybox Dog Booster Seats up high enough for your pup to see out the window.

Kurgo states that you can attach it to either the front or back of a bucket seat.

Also, you could attach it to the smaller side of a 60/40 split-bench seat.

This seat has metal supports that help to keep its bucket shape.

The material used to make the seat is waterproof and machine washable, which is especially beneficial if you are worried that your pooch may have an accident in the car.

Like the other seats for dogs on this list, the Kurgo Skybox Booster Seat comes with a tether to keep Fido from jumping out of the seat.

The recommended sizing for this seat is a bit confusing.

Kurgo says that these booster seats can hold dogs up to 30 pounds, but they only recommended it for dogs weighing up to 20 pounds.

They say this is the case because dogs weighing 20-30 pounds tend to have larger body masses.

My recommendation would be to measure your dog before purchasing this seat.

The dimensions of this seat are 12″D X 16″W X 8″H.

Not only is this seat affordable at just $46.75 on Amazon, but it also comes with a hassle-free Kurgo Lifetime Warranty against manufacturer defects.

7 K&H Pet Products Bucket Seat

This dog car seat is similar to the Snoozer seat that took first place on my list.

The cover is made of 600-denier fabric exterior, and the interior is a plush quilted fleece.

The cover and the removable pad are machine washable on the gentle cycle.

You can use the K&H Pet Products Bucket Booster Pet Seat in the front or back seat, and the back of it is contoured to ensure a good fit.

It buckles into your car very easily, and the seat belt is hidden under the removable cushion. You can install it in just a couple of minutes, and it comes out just as easily.

There is a sturdy foam bolster around the top of this seat, and I like that the bolster dips down in the front so your small dog can easily jump in.

There are two sizes available — small and large. The small weighs just 6 pounds, and the large weighs only 7 pounds.

I was disappointed to find out that there are no size or weight recommendations for this product.

So, I highly recommend that you measure your dog carefully before buying this product.

The outer dimensions of the small size are 14.5″L X 16.5″W X 19.5″H, and the inner dimensions are 13″L X 12.5″W.

The outer dimensions of the large size are 14.5″L X 22″W X 19.5″H, and the inner dimensions are 13″L X 18″W.

Like the Snoozer Lookout car seat, this is a bulky dog booster car seat, but it's not quite as bulky as the Snoozer seat.

Like any of the top-rated dog vehicle seats, the K&H comes with safety tethers.

The small size has one tether, and the larger choice comes with two tethers in case you want to use it for two smaller dogs instead of one medium-sized breed.

You can purchase this dog seat booster for $76.95 to $99.99 on Amazon.

There are also several color options you can choose from.

Overall, this is a cheaper alternative to the Snoozer seat in the top spot on this list.

It's cheaper than the Snoozer Lookout Car Seat, but not by much.

This may not be the most affordable option, but it's going to be much more comfortable for your pooch than a bucket-style seat.

 

8 Pet Gear Bucket Seat

I love the unique design of this bucket seat.

It lifts your pooch up to look out the window, and it's made of durable plastic to keep Fido safe in the event of an accident.

As you can see in the photo above, it's really easy to install as you just buckle the dog seat belt around the ‘feet' on the bottom of the seat.

The plush interior of the Pet Gear Bucket Seat Booster is equipped with a removable pad.

The company doesn't note whether or not the pad and interior are machine washable, so it's safe to say you'd have to use warm water and soap to scrub away dirt or stains.

There are different color options and two sizes available.

The smaller size measures 16″L X 12″W X 7″H, and the larger size measures 20″L X 17″W X 11″H.

As you can tell, this isn't a seat for a very big dog.

It does come with four tethers, but I wouldn't recommend putting any more than one small dog in the small seat and two small dogs in the larger seat, a good alternative to Snoozer Large Lookout, which is more expensive.

For the size of this dog booster car seat and the limited options available, I was a bit surprised to find out the price of the smaller option is $50.47, and the larger size sells for $79.98 on Amazon.

It's not the best car seat, considering the value, but it is a decent choice for owners looking for a durable car seat made with strong materials and something for keeping your dog safe.

9 Pettom 2-in-1 Seat

I love versatile products, and this puppy car seat is one of them.

Typically, products that can be used in more than one way will save you money because you won't have to buy multiple products.

This is one example of a product that fits into this category.

The Pettom 2-in-1 Pet Bucket Seat has sides that can be unfolded to convert the seat into a seat cover for any bucket seat.

When the sides are folded up, it becomes a booster seat to keep your pooch contained while you're driving.

The sides have zippers to keep them from unfolding when your dog pushes on them.

The back of the seat measures 22.83″L, and each side is 17.7″W. It includes a security leash.

This is really easy to install.

There is a strap that goes around the seat's headrest and a seat anchor that sticks into the crack between the back and the seat's bottom.

This anchor prevents the Pettom 2-in-1 Pet Bucket from sliding around while you're driving.

This seat is also equipped with a rubber backing to prevent sliding.

The outside liner of this seat is a heavy-duty, durable Oxford fabric that is quilted for extra comfort.

This seat may not be durable enough to withstand scratching from nesters, but it is very inexpensive.

At this time of the update (November 2023), the product is unavailable on PETTOM's store page. However, there is an available buying option that retails it for $67.99.

 

 10 A4Pet Easy Storage Pet Seat

The last among the best dog car seats is another bucket booster pet seat option similar to the Snoozer Lookout car seat on the top of this list, only twice as cheap.

This one easily straps into your vehicle with the dog seat belt.

There are two small straps on the back of the seat, and you just have to slide the seat belt through these straps, buckle it, and pull the seat belt tight to secure it.

The A4Pet Easy Storage is available in a small or large size.

The small size measures 15″L X 16″W X 14″H, and the bigger one measures 29″L X 16″W X 14″H.

Both have been tested to support up to 300 pounds, and their security leash is durable, too! This is a great option for medium or large breeds.

I like that this seat boosts your dog up off the seat by 6.5″.

That's enough of a boost for even the smallest breeds to be able to see out the window.

Like the Petsfit seat in my number five spot, there is only one safety tether on this pup seat.

Attaching another tether is always an option, but that means that both dogs would be tethered together.

For this reason, I wouldn't recommend this seat for multiple pets unless you plan to permanently attach another tether to the seat.

My favorite thing about these types of vehicle seats is that they are foldable and come with a convenient carry bag.

When the A4Pet is folded, it measures 31″L X 5″W X 17″H.

This is great if you're traveling or you plan to store this seat outside the vehicle when not in use.

This one can also double as a dog travel bed, which is a great benefit!

The small size is available on Amazon for $79.99 and makes a good puppy car seat; the larger one can be purchased for $109.99.

It's not the cheapest seat on this list, but it's not the most expensive either.

I feel that this seat is a great value because it's versatile, made for a variety of dog breeds, and very durable.

The Necessity of Pet Car Seats

According to a survey conducted by the American Automobile Association (AAA) and Kurgo (one of the leading manufacturers of pet travel supplies), about 56% of pet owners who responded to the survey admitted to driving with their dog in the car at least once per month during the previous year.

Of these drivers, about 52% of respondents admitted to participating in behaviors (like petting their dog) that took their concentration off the road.

Even more shockingly, the survey also uncovered that 23% of owners used their arms and hands to hold the dog in place and from sliding while hitting the brakes, and 19% of respondents did the same to prevent the dogs from climbing over into the front seat.

Both of these create situations where driver-owners let go of the steering wheel as well as look away from the road.

Survey participants also admitted that they would often reach into the back seat to pet and interact with their pups (18%), letting the pet sit on their lap (17%), giving treats and food to the dog (13%) and take selfie-photos (3%) — all while driving!

The moral of this survey results is that having your dog restrained in the car isn't just a precaution for him; it's also a precaution for you!

If your dog is happily restrained in a comfortable car seat, you're less likely to engage in distracting behaviors with him.

A dog/puppy car seat will also keep Fido safe during accidents.

How to Choose the Best Dog Car Seat for Your Pet

I've used booster seats for years with my dogs, but while doing this review and ranking of many different products to pick out the ten best dog car seat options, I believe I've gathered more insight into how to choose the perfect product. This will be my buying guide for you to reference.

When shopping for dog booster seats, you're aware of many different types.

There are safety seats made for the front and the back of the vehicle, as well as seats made specifically for bucket or bench seats.

Some attach to the seat, while others attach via seat belts.

In general, as long as you select a high-quality car seat made by a reputable retailer, it’s really just a matter of preference.

There are a few things you should keep in mind while shopping for booster car seats, though.

Here are a few questions to ask yourself before you begin shopping:

• Do you want the seat to go in the front or back of your vehicle, and what type of seat is it?
• Do you know the dimensions of the car's seat? (take measurements before shopping)
• What size dog car seat will your pet require? (take measurements before shopping)
• How much does your dog weigh?

Like human children, your dogs should sit in the back seat.

The pet is less of a distraction to you this way, and you won't need to worry about him being injured if the airbag happens to deploy.

Sitting in the back seat is statistically safer for dogs than sitting in the front.

Select a booster car seat (or other design) that will attach to your vehicle.

Not every seat is made for every vehicle, and the ones that say they fit most vehicles may not fit bucket seats, or the attachments may not be appropriate for your car.

Review the measurements and attachment details before making a purchase.

Ideally, take your dog shopping with you to make sure he is comfortable in the seat that you select.

If he doesn’t like the material or the seat is not comfortable for him, he’s not going to sit still.

A dog in an uncomfortable seat could be more of a distraction than a loose dog.

Once you and your pup pick one, if the item is much too expensive in the pet store, you're likely to find it on Amazon or Chewy.

A good dog car seat will likely specify its weight capacity. Make sure to choose one that is rated for your pet’s weight.

If your pupper is right on the edge of being too large, move up to a larger size. It will be safer in the long run, and you won’t have to spend money on another seat if your dog outgrows it.

I've done tons of research and testing in my own car with my own dogs to find ten of the best car seats for dogs and to write this buying guide.

I've picked the best seats for small breeds, medium, and large dogs, as well as options for owners on a tight budget.

My overall top choice is the Snoozer Lookout Seat.

This booster pet seat is available in a variety of fabrics, colors, and designs to match any vehicle or personality. It's easy to clean and very plush to keep Fido comfy.

I've tested more products than the ten I have mentioned above, including Solvit Tagalong Pet Booster Seat, Solvit Jumbo Deluxe Dog Booster Seat, and their Car Cuddler, Stella, and Bear Dog Booster Seat, as well as other popular brands, but some of them did not make the list at all.

READ NEXT: 3 Crash Tested Dog Harnesses for Cars

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