Car hammocks? ** update w/ pics **

I have this one:

It's from Drs. Foster and Smith and it's $34.99.

I really do like it, but as you can see in the picture the sides don't go all the way up so some hair does get on the car seats anyway.  But for the most part I like it.  It's easy to clean and easy to put in the car.

Ohhh, this thread is a good one. I have been wanting one too and I'm interested in seeing what everyone says about choosing one. 

My biggest piece of advice is to get one that secures to the back seat between the seat and seat back (there are stays that you push between the two).  I have a hammock (whichever one Petsmart sells).  It does a good job of keeping dirt and hair contained, but it slides on the seat when Oliver is on it - making it a bit of a skating rink for him.  I put a rug pad (like you'd use in the house) between the hammock and the seat, and that does seem to help.  I'm considering replacing it with one that has stays though.

Oh!! I like yours, Georgie.  I have one I got from Dog.com.  I don't remember how much it cost.  I do like how mine is easy to install & clean BUT I love how yours seems to have the bedding in it.  I have tried to put bedding in mine but it always slips.

gradyupmybutt

Oh!! I like yours, Georgie.  I have one I got from Dog.com.  I don't remember how much it cost.  I do like how mine is easy to install & clean BUT I love how yours seems to have the bedding in it.  I have tried to put bedding in mine but it always slips.

I like that one too.  I'm seriously considering getting one because every time DGS has to ride in the back seat he winds up covered in dog hair. But there are worse things to be covered in, hmm??  I guess I'd just have to remember to always have it in the trunk.

Joyce

Joyce, I just bought the more expensive one I posted above.  It has a zipper so you can unzip and fold half of it to allow for a passenger on the back seat.  That way, you don't have to take it off.  I also chose that one b/c it's bigger and has the head rest covers for the front seats (ours seem to attract more dog hair than the back seat itself).

I probably should have shopped around more, but I spent several days cleaning the car and we're going to rally lesson Sunday and agility Monday so I want something ASAP. 

I have one that I used before I got 2 portable crates.  Overall, I liked it with a few caveats.  The velcro fastens around the seat belts nicely, but it also catches alot of fur in it and sand tends to run through it and onto the seat.  We used it the day we picked up Woobie from the shelter and he peed because he was so scared.  It ran down the hole and over the sides, so even though it's water-resistant, it's more for a wet dog and not a "wetting" dog. 

It also doesn't cover the headrests and mine are fabric so they collect fur also.  The biggest thing I didn't like wasn't really related to the cover but Woobie always wanted to hide and would crawl underneath it, defeating the purpose of the cover/hammock altogether as he laid on the floor of the backseat and got fur all over the bottom of the back seat and the back of the front seat.  I prefer the crates now and I feel they're more secure in the event of an accident.  Woobie tended to be a bouncy PITA when he could see we were going to the dog park.

Liesje,

Where did you buy the hammock from?  

Aw, poor Woobie (peeing)!  Luckily, we don't have that problem.  I can't use crates b/c I can barely fit ONE crate back there, let alone two.  Coke's crate is 42" so even the collapsible version would not fit on the back seat; Kenya's just barely fits.

jennyx0023

Liesje,

Where did you buy the hammock from?  

eBay store, I searched for  "dog car seat cover"

I don't think it's safe to drive with a dog loose in the car like that- you might want to think about a pet seatbelt or a car-grill. They sell nice waterproof easily cleaned fitted covers to put over the back seat/floors if all you want is some way to keep the upholstery clean.

I do have harnesses.  I wanted a grill, but I'm not getting one yet b/c I anticipate getting a different type vehicle within a year (probably a minivan or wagon like an Outback), in which case I'll be going back to crating and will get something that I can finally fit two crates or dog boxes into, mounted permanently.

The car hammock came!  For $20 I think it will work well.  The top side is a really sturdy nylon and the bottom side is very soft, some kind of material that "clings" to the seats so it doesn't slide.  We don't have head rests on our back seat, but there are three places to anchor child seats so I bungeed it to that.  There's a zipper part so you can attach the dogs to a buckle, or fold back half of it so a passenger can ride.  I'm glad I got this bigger one, it fits perfect.

Ohhh, I really like it!  It looks great and sounds very practical.