Dog Car Hammock
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Shop dog car hammocks that protect your back seat and keep your dog secure on every journey. A dog car hammock, also called a back seat dog hammock or dog car seat hammock, clips onto your front and rear headrests to cover the seat, seat back and footwell in one piece. It stops muddy paws, wet fur and scratches reaching your upholstery, and keeps your dog from sliding forward under braking.
Waterproof options for muddy walks. Padded styles for long road trips. Free UK delivery on every order.
Benefits
Why Choose a Dog Car Hammock?
Covers the seat base, seat back and footwell in one product, so you are not layering multiple covers
Stops muddy paws, wet fur and scratches reaching your upholstery and carpet
Acts as a light barrier between the back seat and the front, which can reduce driver distraction
Straps on and off in a few minutes without tools, so it is easy to remove for cleaning
Buying Guide
Which Dog Car Hammock Suits Your Dog and Your Journeys?
Good fit if
- Your dog is calm and small, and mostly takes short trips like vet visits or daily walks
- Your dog is larger or more active, and you look for reinforced stitching and a wide non slip base for motorway journeys
- You travel with more than one dog and need coverage across the full width of the back seat
Worth considering an alternative if
- Your car has three doors with headrests that are hard to reach or remove
- You regularly carry a passenger or a child seat in the back, where a single seat cover may suit better
Comparison
Dog Car Hammock vs Dog Car Seat or Seat Cover
A hammock is usually best if you want the seat, seat back and footwell covered in one product. A dog car seat or booster raises your dog off the seat, which can help smaller dogs feel secure and see out of the window. A flat seat cover protects the seat surface without blocking the footwell, which suits owners who also carry passengers or fold down a 60 40 split seat.
Hammock
Full seat, seat back and footwell coverage in one piece. Best for muddy or shedding dogs.
Dog Car Seat
Raises your dog off the seat. Can help smaller or anxious dogs feel secure.
Seat Cover
Protects the seat surface. Leaves the footwell and seat access free for passengers.
Fitting and Safety
Fit It Right, Use It Safely
Hammocks stretch between the front and rear headrests, so check the strap length suits your car before buying, especially in smaller hatchbacks. Most hammocks fit in a few minutes. Loop the front straps over the front headrests, pull the main panel back over the seat and footwell, then secure the rear straps to the rear headrests. If your back seat has a 60 40 split, check the product listing, since some hammocks are designed for a full bench seat only.
A hammock on its own is not a restraint. The Highway Code's Rule 57 says dogs should be suitably restrained in a vehicle, using a seat belt harness, pet carrier, dog cage or dog guard. This is not set out in road traffic law itself, but if an unrestrained dog is judged to have distracted the driver or contributed to an accident, it can support a careless driving charge, with fines up to £5,000 and up to nine penalty points, and it may affect an insurance claim. We recommend fitting a hammock alongside a dog harness, not instead of one.
There is also no UK legal requirement for pet car products to be crash tested, so if this matters to you, check whether a specific product states a crash test result. If you also use a child seat or ISOFIX base in the back, check whether the hammock leaves the ISOFIX points accessible before you fit it. If your dog sometimes travels in the front, check your vehicle handbook for guidance on the passenger airbag, since some vehicles allow it to be switched off and others do not.
Protection
Protection and Weatherproofing
Look for water resistant or waterproof outer fabric with taped or bonded seams, since plain stitched seams can let water through after a very wet walk. Side flaps add coverage along the door sills, where mud and claws usually cause the most damage, and a full footwell panel stops paws and water reaching the carpet.
Waterproof does not always mean fully submersible. It normally means the fabric resists everyday spills, wet fur and muddy paws, so towel off a soaking wet dog before a journey if you can.
Comfort
Comfort, Airflow and Cleaning
A mesh window between the front seats keeps air moving and gives your dog a view forward, which can help with car sickness on longer journeys. Padded or quilted hammocks suit motorway journeys and long road trips, while a thinner hammock is usually enough for short trips around town.
Machine washable fabric is easiest if your dog travels often. Let the hammock dry fully before folding it away to stop it smelling musty.
FAQ
Common Questions About Dog Car Hammocks
Are dog car hammocks safe?
Yes, when fitted correctly and used alongside a proper harness. A hammock stops your dog sliding into the footwell and keeps them off the seats during sudden braking. The Highway Code's Rule 57 asks for a seat belt harness, pet carrier, dog cage or dog guard as the actual restraint, so treat a hammock as extra protection, not a substitute.
What should I look for in a good back seat dog hammock?
Look for adjustable headrest straps, a non slip base, mesh ventilation, and full footwell coverage so your dog cannot slip into the gap between the seats. If you also use a child seat, check the hammock does not block ISOFIX access, and that it leaves the seat belt buckles free if passengers travel too.
What's the best type of dog car hammock for my dog?
It depends on your dog's size and temperament. Calm, smaller dogs usually do fine with a lightweight hammock. Larger or more active dogs need heavier duty fabric, reinforced anchor points, and side flaps for extra containment on longer journeys.
Are dog car hammocks suitable for large dogs?
Yes, but check the weight and size the hammock is rated for first. Larger dogs put more strain on the headrest straps and anchor points, so look for reinforced stitching, a wide non slip base, and side flaps that stop the fabric shifting when your dog moves around.
Do dog car hammocks fit SUVs and estate cars?
Most hammocks fit hatchbacks, saloons, SUVs and estate cars, since the strap length is usually adjustable. Estate cars and SUVs tend to have a deeper seat and a wider gap between headrests, so check the product's dimensions against your car if you are unsure, especially with a larger dog.
Are dog car hammocks fully waterproof?
Waterproof and water resistant fabric protects against spills, wet fur and muddy paws, but this is not the same as being fully submersible. Seams matter too, since taped or bonded seams keep water out better than plain stitching. Towel off a very wet dog before a journey if you can.
Can passengers still sit in the back seat with a hammock fitted?
It depends on the design. A full hammock across the whole back seat is built for a dog, not passengers, since it removes the flat seat surface. If you need to seat a passenger and a dog together, a single seat cover or a hammock with seat belt access points works better.
Should I choose a hammock or a seat cover?
Choose a hammock if you want the seat, seat back and footwell covered in one product, which suits muddy or shedding dogs. Choose a flat seat cover if you also carry passengers regularly or need to fold down a 60 40 split seat, since it does not block the footwell or seat access.
How do you legally travel with a dog in a UK car?
The Highway Code's Rule 57 says dogs should be suitably restrained so they cannot distract the driver or get injured during a sudden stop, using a seat belt harness, carrier, cage or dog guard. It is not a criminal offence on its own, but it can support a careless driving charge, with fines up to £5,000 and up to nine penalty points.
Can a dog sit in the front seat of a car in the UK?
There is no law banning it, but it is not generally recommended. Front passenger airbags can injure a dog in a crash, and an unrestrained dog up front is a driver distraction. If your dog does travel up front, check your vehicle handbook for airbag guidance and use a suitable harness.
Can I use a dog hammock on just one seat?
Yes. Several brands make single seat covers or half hammocks for one side of the back seat, leaving the other free for passengers or a child seat. This suits you if only one seat needs protecting, or if your car has three doors.