Your dog jumps in, settles down, shakes out paws full of soil. Fifteen minutes later your back seat has aged ten years.
Beyond cleanliness, there's something many people overlook: the law.
What the rules say
In Switzerland, road traffic regulations require animals to be carried in a way that doesn't hinder the driver. A loose dog on the back seat who climbs into the front is an offence.
In France, the highway code penalises anything that hinders driving or restricts the driver's field of vision.
Beyond the fine, there's physics: in a 50 km/h impact, a 20 kg dog is thrown with a force equivalent to more than 500 kg. For him, and for the passengers in front.
Three ways to carry a dog
The travel crate
The safest, especially strapped down in the boot. Also the bulkiest and the most expensive.
The safety harness
Clips onto the seatbelt. A good compromise for short trips. Note: a walking harness won't do — you need a model tested for car use.
The seat cover
It doesn't replace a restraint, but it solves everything else: hair, mud, water, claws. Hammock-style covers also stop the dog dropping into the footwell under braking.
What makes a good cover
- Genuinely waterproof — mud and drool should stay on the surface, not soak through to the seat.
- Non-slip — otherwise it shifts as soon as the dog moves, especially on leather.
- Slots for seatbelts — essential if you want to secure your dog or carry a passenger.
- Side flaps — the bottom of the doors is what paws dirty most, and almost nobody thinks of it.
- Easy to clean — a wipe with a damp cloth should be enough day to day.
See the Truffe & Co Car Seat Cover
Motion sickness
It's common in puppies and often fades with age. A few habits help:
- No meal in the two hours before leaving.
- Open the windows slightly to equalise pressure.
- Face him towards the road rather than sideways.
- Start with five-minute trips that end well — at the park, not at the vet.
Breaks
On a long drive, stop every two hours: a few minutes to stretch, relieve himself and drink. It's good for you too.
The absolute rule
Never leave your dog alone in a car in summer — not in the shade, not for five minutes, not with the windows cracked. The cabin can exceed 50 °C in a quarter of an hour. It's the leading cause of fatal heatstroke in dogs.
In short
A restraint for the law and for his life, a cover for your car, breaks every two hours. And never alone in the cabin when it's hot.
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