Are Console Dog Car Seats Safe? What Small Dog Owners Should Know

If you have a small dog, you know the routine. You start the car, and within a minute they're on the armrest, leaning on your arm or trying to climb into your lap. That's why console dog car seats, the little booster seats that strap onto the armrest between the front seats, have become so popular. They give your dog a spot right beside you.

But are console dog car seats safe? The honest answer: they're great at one job and not built for another. Here's what a console seat does well, where it falls short, and how to set one up the right way.

The short answer

A console dog car seat is a comfort and containment seat. It keeps a small dog in one spot, off your lap and away from the pedals. That cuts down on one of the biggest pet-related risks in the car: distraction.

It is not crash protection. Many console seats, including ours, are not crash-tested. In a 2015 pilot study of commonly available pet travel seats, the Center for Pet Safety and Subaru found that these seats may help keep pets from distracting the driver but did not provide effective protection in a crash. If you need crash protection, look for a carrier, crate or harness that has been independently crash-tested.

Why a loose dog is the bigger everyday risk

Lots of small dogs ride with no restraint at all. In a survey of dog owners by AAA and Kurgo:

• 55% had petted their dog while driving
• 21% had let their dog sit in their lap
• Only 17% used any kind of pet restraint

Research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that looking away from the road for just two seconds doubles your risk of a crash. And according to AAA, an unrestrained 10-pound dog in a 50 mph crash can exert roughly 500 pounds of force.

A console seat with a short tether solves the everyday problem: your dog stays in their own spot instead of wandering, climbing or landing in your lap.

What about airbags?

Airbags are the main reason safety groups like the San Diego Humane Society advise against letting pets ride in the front seat. Front airbags deploy with enough force to injure a pet. A console seat sits between the front seats rather than on one, but your dog is still in the front of the car.

If your dog rides on the console:

• Keep the tether short so they can't move onto the passenger seat or toward the dashboard
• Never let them ride in the passenger seat itself
• For long highway trips, consider the back seat or a crash-tested carrier instead

The back seat is the safest place for a pet. A console seat is a trade-off: your dog is calmer and closer to you, but they're in the front.

Console seat vs. other ways to ride

Option	Good for	Keep in mind
Console car seat	Small dogs and cats who settle best when they're near you, on everyday drives	Comfort and containment, not crash protection. Use a harness and a short tether
Back-seat booster seat	Small dogs who like to look out the window	Away from front airbags, but still not crash protection unless it's been tested
Crash-tested carrier or crate	Long trips and the most protection	Your pet can't see you, and it needs to be strapped down
Crash-tested harness and seat belt	Medium and large dogs	Choose one that's been independently crash-tested

How to use a console dog car seat safely

1. Check the weight limit. Console seats are made for small pets. Ours fits pets up to 15 lbs, which covers most Chihuahuas, Pomeranians, Yorkies, Maltese and toy poodles, plus most cats.
2. Measure your armrest. The seat should sit flat and stable. If it rocks or hangs far over the edge, it's not a good fit for your car.
3. Strap it down tight. Wrap the straps around the armrest and pull them snug. Push on the seat. It shouldn't slide or tip.
4. Use a harness, never a collar. Clipping the tether to a collar puts all the force on your dog's neck if you brake hard.
5. Shorten the tether. Your dog should be able to sit, lie down and turn around, but not climb out, reach your lap or get down to the floor.
6. Start with short trips. Use treats and a familiar blanket on a few quick drives before a long one.
7. Never leave your pet alone in the car. Cars heat up fast, even on mild days.

Is it legal to drive with a dog in the front?

Most states don't have a law that specifically requires pets to be restrained in the car, but some rules can apply. Hawaii, for example, bans driving with an animal, person or object in your lap, and some states can apply distracted-driving or animal cruelty laws to an unrestrained pet. Laws change, so check your state's current rules. Either way, a dog in a console seat is a dog that isn't in your lap.

What to look for in a console dog car seat

• A clear weight limit and size that match your pet and your armrest
• Straps that wrap around the armrest, not just a seat that sits on top
• A built-in tether with a sturdy clip
• Sides that hold their shape, so the seat doesn't collapse when your pet leans on it
• A removable cushion that's easy to clean
• Honest labeling. Be wary of any seat that calls itself crash-tested without saying who tested it

Our Console Dog Car Seat checks those boxes, with adjustable straps that wrap around the armrest, a built-in tether, a removable cushion and sides that hold their shape. It fits pets up to 15 lbs, measures about 17.7 x 9.8 x 8.7 inches, and comes in black and white check or pink check. It's a comfort seat, not a crash-tested restraint, so use it the way it's meant to be used: harness on, tether short, everyday drives.

Console dog car seat FAQ

Are center console dog car seats safe for cats?

They can work for calm cats under the weight limit, with a harness and a short tether. Many cats feel safer in a closed carrier, though, so if your cat gets nervous in the car, a carrier is the better choice.

Can my dog ride in the front seat?

Safety groups recommend keeping pets out of the front passenger seat because of the airbag. A console seat keeps your dog between the seats instead, but the back seat is still the safest place.

What size dog fits in a console car seat?

Console seats are made for small dogs, usually around 15 lbs and under. Check the seat's weight limit and inside size, and make sure your dog can lie down comfortably.

Will a console dog car seat fit my car?

It depends on your armrest. Measure its length and width and compare them with the seat's base. A wide, flat armrest holds a seat steadiest. Very narrow or sloped armrests may not.

Bottom line

Console dog car seats are safe for what they're designed to do: keep a small dog calm, contained and off your lap on everyday drives. They aren't crash protection. Pick one that fits your dog and your armrest, strap it down tight, use a harness and a short tether, and consider a crash-tested carrier for long trips.

See the Console Dog Car Seat, browse more gear for dogs, or read about packing water for trips with your dog.