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How to Protect Your Car Interior From Your Dog

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Use Car Door Covers and Seat Back Protectors

Car Door Cover
GeorgeDolgikh/iStock

While test driving new cars, something we hadn’t done in many years, I cringed looking at the soft leather seats and spotless interiors. Dogs can wreak havoc on car interiors. I was painfully aware of this, but it was time to trade in our old car. I was conflicted. Maybe we should just choose an older car and cover the entire thing in shower curtains. I was getting nervous.

I did drag the car buying process out longer than I should’ve, but I had to figure out a way to both keep our investment looking great and prevent dog hair and drool from collecting in its crevices. So, I started looking for car door covers and seat back protectors.

Car Door Covers

If your dog enjoys placing two front paws on your car’s interior door panels, you need a car door cover. While our Rottweiler doesn’t stand on the door handle (he just drools on them), our Bull Terrier does and scratches happen quickly. When looking for the perfect car seat cover for dogs, I stumbled upon these car door covers and they’re amazing–and they look great too.

We purchased two Krunco Waterproof Pet Car Door Covers in black to match our black interior. I was very worried they wouldn’t stay in place. However, their reviews on Amazon attested to their durability and also provided a few quick DIY steps if the door covers should shift. The only place to purchase these covers is on Amazon. I encourage you to browse through the reviews to see if the covers are right for you.

Hands down, I’m beyond happy with these door covers! During the entire six-hour car ride, they never budged despite a restless 118-pound Rottweiler. Each cover has a strong plastic tab that slides in between the door panel and window; this holds the cover in place. Many smaller dogs will stand on the door handle or right next to the window, so these covers come with Velcro tabs to further secure it in place. And yes, they stay in place even when rolling down the windows.

We purchased the 28″ wide by 22″ long door covers, which easily covered both sides, top and bottom of the door panels of our Audi Q5. They wash easily and maintain their size; I would highly recommend these car door covers. My only warning is to remove them before guests sit in the middle or back seats. Our guests were trapped because they couldn’t figure out how to open the door since the door handle was covered. 🙂

Seat Back Protectors

At first, I didn’t really think we would need this type of front car seat cover until I looked at the leather on the back of our previous car’s front seats; they were scratched and scuffed. Yes, we’ve tried cleaning and moisturizing the leather backs, but some damage remained. After researching the few brands available, I decided on CubGear Seat Back Protectors. They have a lifetime replacement guarantee. Plus, their Amazon reviews were excellent with many happy customers.

Wow! We ordered two seat back protectors in black, and they were super simple to install. There’s no irritating bungees or straps encroaching into your space up front, and they fit like a glove. My husband doesn’t say much, but even he admitted to how sharp they looked–they disappear into the interior. Cleaning is easy too; just wipe with a damp cloth. I was completely shocked at how much dog hair, slobber and dirt came off the seat back protectors when I wiped them down. They’re definitely a great investment.

Look beyond dog-proof seat covers and protect your car!

You may also like: Dog Harnesses for Large Breeds

Car Seat Covers for Dogs

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Where to Find Car Seat Covers for Dogs

Car Seat Covers for Dogs
Alona Rjabceva/iStock

After buying our first new car in more than eight years, I took one look at the leather seats and promised to keep them safe from slobber and nail scratches this time. When I began my search for the perfect car seat covers for dogs, I quickly became overwhelmed and confused. There are thousands of dog proof car seat covers out there! So which ones really work?

I took a deep breath and decided to choose a product that works for both my car and dogs. Then, I mentally created a list of what I wanted in a dog proof car seat cover: it must stay in place, be made of waterproof material that works, have straps that don’t permanently damage the car’s interior, must be easily washable and finally must look nice. Since Sobek, our Rottweiler, would probably use the car seat more than anyone else, I needed something that would last!

I started searching hundreds of products, reading through a bazillion reviews and asking pet savvy friends for recommendations. Interestingly enough, no one really liked their dog proof seat covers and many friends made their own versions with shower curtain liners, which work better than the $200 car seat cover for dogs that lasts only one trip. Well I’m not crafty, so I needed a pre-made version.

Best Car Seat Cover for Dogs

After narrowing down options, I finally purchased a car seat cover that promised to protect my precious leather seats. Installation was easy. It took me 10 minutes, half of which were spent reading the instructions. The car seat cover fit perfectly with no sagging or bunching. It covered the entire backseat with extra fabric extending to the floor. I would’ve liked a bit more fabric length wise and an overhang to cover the sides of the second row seating area.

We tested out 4Knines Dog Seat Covers during a long six-hour trip, and it held up really well. Now, keep in mind this car seat cover had a 118-pound Rottweiler squirming around in his new seat belt harness. Plus, he sheds every second of the day and drools too. We gave this product a workout!

The Results

Not only did this car seat cover for dogs look sharp in our new car, it also did its job. Once we returned from our trip, we removed the cover to wash and the leather seats still looked perfect. I must say, the 4Knines seat cover washed and dried well, and easily fit right back into our car. All straps stayed in place; however, the bottom seat cover did shift a bit, which was disappointing. To help fix this issue, we pushed small luggage pieces on the floor board, which helped keep the bottom cover portion in place. The sides would still shift, but once Sobek settled down, it was minimal. This is an instance when extra side fabric would’ve come in handy.

Overall, I find 4Knines dog seat covers worth the price. I would most certainly recommend them. My only suggestion is possibly purchasing it one size larger than your car’s seat dimensions, so extra fabric hangs over the sides. You can tuck the extra fabric under the seat and floor mats.

Now that my darling leather seats are safe, it’s time to find protectors for my window side panels and front seat backs. Hair and slobber go everywhere!

Dog Training Nation is a dog training blog for pet owners and dog lovers. We cover a range of topics from puppy socialization tips to dog aggression to dog health. It is our hope you share our content to make the world a better place for dogs.

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