Console Dog Car Seat with Safety Leash

He spends the whole drive scrabbling on the passenger seat or wedged in the footwell, and you keep taking a hand off the wheel to settle him. He'd be fine if he could just see out and stay put.

This console dog car seat sits on the armrest between the front seats, held by two adjustable straps that hang over the headrests and clip to the D rings on the seat frames. A leash inside keeps him in it.

Straps, leash, pad and pillow:

• Two headrest straps: anchored at both ends to keep the seat from sliding off the console
• Built-in safety leash: it clips to the harness so he stays in the seat rather than stepping onto the gearshift
• Reversible pad: flannel on one face for winter, cotton on the other for summer
• Sponge pillow: it supports his head and chest on a long drive instead of leaving him propped on the wall
• Two carry modes: a shoulder strap, and a sleeve that slides over a suitcase handle

A console seat that only rests on the armrest slides forward under braking. These two straps hang over the front headrests and clip to the seat frame, so the seat is held from both sides of the car.

Anchored at both ends, it stays in place through ordinary braking and cornering instead of creeping forward. That's the whole difference between a seat and a cushion balanced on the console.

The leash clips to his harness so he can sit, stand and turn around without being able to climb out. Under him the flat pad has two faces: brushed flannel for cold mornings, plain cotton for July.

The sponge pillow is what makes a two hour drive different from a twenty minute one. He puts his chin on it instead of on the hard rim of the seat.

And at console height he watches the road rather than the underside of the dashboard, which is most of why small dogs settle in one of these.

Unclip the straps and the same seat folds flat, becomes a shoulder bag, or slides down over a suitcase handle for an airport or a train station. The console is yours again the moment the trip ends.

Getting the size right

One size, made for small dogs, puppies and cats rather than medium breeds. Measure your pet's body length and weight, and measure the console you want it to sit on, then check both against the size chart in the gallery before ordering.

Specifications

• Material: Oxford fabric with reinforced side panels
• Padding: Reversible pad, flannel one side and cotton the other
• Pillow: Soft sponge head and chest pillow
• Seat size: 16.5 x 8.6 x 8.6 in (42 x 22 x 22 cm)
• Pet limit: Up to 11 lb and 11.8 in body length
• Fittings: Two headrest straps, safety leash, side pocket, luggage sleeve
• Fits console width: Single armrest 8.6 to 14.8 in (22 to 37.5 cm); double armrest 15.0 to 17.7 in (38 to 45 cm)
• Pet back width: Up to 7 in (18 cm)
• Cleaning: Cushion and pillow lift out for cleaning

Safety note: Clip the built-in leash to a properly fitted harness and never to a collar, since a collar can injure the neck in a sudden stop.

Measure his body length and the console before you order, and the next drive is one where he stays put and you just drive.