Dog Hammock vs Seat Cover: How to Choose for Your Car and Your Dog

Choose a hammock if your dog rides in the back, and a front seat cover if your dog has to ride up front, as in a single-cab truck. That is the short answer to the dog hammock vs seat cover question. A hammock protects the rear bench, its backrests and the front seat backs in one piece; a front cover protects only the passenger seat; neither one restrains your dog.

Quick answer: which one do you need?

• Hammock: your dog rides in the back, sheds heavily or often gets in wet and muddy.
• Front seat cover: your vehicle has no usable back seat, such as a single-cab pickup or a two-seater.
• Both: you want the back seat and the front passenger seat covered, or a dog sometimes has to ride up front.
• Either way: add a seat belt tether clipped to a harness, or a booster seat for small dogs up to 24 lb; a cover does not hold a dog in place.

Dog hammock vs seat cover: what each one covers

• Rear bench and backrests: covered by a hammock, not by a front cover.
• Gap between the seats: a hammock-style cover clips to the front and rear headrests, so it spans this space; a front cover does not.
• Backs of the front seats: covered by a hammock, not by a front cover.
• Front passenger seat: covered by a front cover, not by a hammock.

Covering the front seat backs matters most for dogs that stand and lean forward during the ride.

Weighing a dog car hammock vs a bench seat cover? A bench cover protects only the rear cushion and backrest; a hammock also reaches the front seat backs.

Measure your back seat before you order

A back seat hammock for dogs that is too small leaves gaps at the doors. Here is how to measure your back seat for a dog seat cover.

Bench width, backrest height and headrest anchor points

1. Bench width: across the cushion, door panel to door panel.
2. Backrest height: from the top of the rear seat back to the crease.
3. Seat depth: from the crease to the cushion’s front edge.
4. Reach to the front: from the cushion’s front edge to the base of the front headrests, where the straps anchor.
5. Anchor points: check that the front and rear seats both have headrests for the adjustable straps.
6. Buckles: note where they sit, so you can check them against the cover’s seat-belt openings.

Comparing your numbers with a 58 × 57 in hammock

The GF PET hammock measures 58 × 57 inches (147 × 145 cm); its sides differ by only an inch. Add backrest height, seat depth and reach to the front, then compare that total and your bench width with those figures.

If either measurement is larger than the cover, it will leave a gap; if both are well under, expect extra fabric. Close or unsure? Email info@iglomart.com with your measurements before you order.

Measuring first can save you a return: change-of-mind returns are accepted within 30 days of delivery, but you pay the return postage and a 15% restocking fee. See our returns policy.

Passengers and seat belts

A passenger can still ride in the back once you set the hammock up for one seat.

Seat-belt openings

The GF PET hammock has seat-belt openings that keep the vehicle belts accessible for passengers and for your dog’s tether.

Using the detachable zipper to cover one seat

The detachable zipper lets you set the cover up for one seat: your dog keeps a covered side and a passenger sits on the other. Clip your dog’s tether into the buckle on their side so they stay off the passenger’s half.

When a front seat cover makes sense

In a single-cab truck or a two-seater, the passenger seat is the only option. The GOOPAWS front cover measures 40 × 20.5 inches (102 × 52 cm), with 600D oxford fabric over a waterproof layer, a non-slip backing and adjustable straps.

Airbags: check your vehicle owner’s manual

Front airbags deploy with great force and are designed for adults. Before any dog rides up front, check your owner’s manual on the passenger airbag.

If your dog must ride up front, slide the seat all the way back and use a harness and tether so your dog cannot reach the dashboard, the driver or the footwell. If there is a back seat, use it.

Why many owners keep dogs in the back seat

In the back, a dog is farther from the driver and the passenger airbag, has more room to lie down and can be tethered to a rear buckle.

A cover is not a restraint

A hammock or seat cover protects upholstery; it does not hold your dog in place. A restraint reduces wandering and distraction but is no substitute for careful driving.

A seat belt tether clipped to a harness, never a collar

A seat belt tether plugs into the car’s seat-belt buckle (the tab fits most vehicles) and clips to your dog’s harness. Adjust it so your dog can sit, stand and lie down but cannot reach the front seats, jump off the seat or lean out a window. Keep windows mostly closed.

Use a harness, never a collar, so any pull lands on the chest, not the neck. Need one? See how to measure a dog for a harness.

A booster seat for small dogs up to 24 lb

Some small dogs are more comfortable when they can see out. Our booster seat lifts dogs up to 24 lb (11 kg) to window height and has a built-in harness tether. If your dog is anxious or carsick in the car, ask your veterinarian.

How to keep dog hair and mud off car seats

Most hair and mud can be stopped before your dog gets in.

1. Brush your dog outside before the ride; see our dog and cat grooming supplies.
2. Wipe paws at the car door; see our routine for cleaning dog paws after a walk.
3. Shake out the cover after muddy trips, before dirt dries in.
4. Rake the floor mats and carpet the cover misses; see how to get dog hair out of carpet, rugs and car mats.

If your dog seems to be shedding much more than usual, or the skin looks irritated, ask your veterinarian.

Washing and drying a waterproof dog seat cover

1. Unclip the straps, remove the cover and shake off hair and mud outdoors.
2. Machine wash the GF PET hammock cold on a delicate cycle.
3. Lay it flat to dry. Do not bleach, iron or dry clean it.
4. Refit it once it is completely dry.

The GOOPAWS front cover is also machine washable, with color that does not bleed.

Car-ride gear for your back seat and beyond

See more in our dog travel and car accessories and pet hair removal tools.

• GF PET Waterproof Dog Car Hammock Seat Cover: for dogs that ride in the back.
• GOOPAWS Waterproof Front Seat Cover for Dogs: for single-cab trucks and two-seaters, in Black or Grey.
• Adjustable Dog Car Seat Belt Tether, 2 Pack: for dogs wearing a harness, two per pack; fits most vehicle seat belts.
• GOOPAWS Dog Booster Car Seat with Safety Tether: for small dogs up to 24 lb.
• Mr. Peanut’s Naturals Pet Wipes: for paws at the car door; made in the USA.
• Telescopic Pet Hair Removal Rake: for car mats and carpet.

Items ship from U.S. warehouses, with free standard shipping to the 48 contiguous states and Washington, DC. We do not ship to Alaska, Hawaii, U.S. territories or APO/FPO addresses. See our shipping details.

Dog hammock and seat cover FAQ

Is a dog hammock or a seat cover better?

It depends on where your dog rides: a hammock for the back seat, a front cover when the passenger seat is the only option. Either one only protects upholstery, so pair it with a harness and tether.

Can people still sit in the back seat with a dog hammock installed?

Yes, once you use the detachable zipper to set the cover up for one seat. A passenger can then sit on the other side, and the seat-belt openings keep the vehicle belts accessible.

Will a dog hammock fit my SUV or truck?

Measure first: compare your bench width and front-to-back total with the 58 × 57 in cover, and check for front and rear headrests. A single-cab truck has no back bench, so choose the front seat cover.

Can I put a dog car seat cover in the washing machine?

Yes. Both covers here are machine washable. Wash the hammock cold on a delicate cycle and lay it flat to dry; follow the front cover’s care label.

Does a hammock keep my dog from climbing into the front seat?

A hammock-style cover spans the space between the seats, but it will not stop a determined dog. For that, use a harness and a tether adjusted so your dog cannot reach the front.

Whichever you choose, a hot wash is what destroys it. How to clean a dog car seat cover covers the hair removal that has to come first and how to restore water repellency.