However, if you want a sturdy barrier that isn't complicated to install and will keep your dog from creating havoc in the cabin of your car, then the Travall Guard fits the bill. And it's ideal if you've booked to take your dog into kennels and your transporting him/her there. Buy it now Another benefit is that the parcel shelf in the Skoda Octavia can still fit into place with the guard installed. I have tried other universal guards and the parcel shelf will not fit. However, these aren't major complaints, nor would I say they'd prevent us buying the dog guard if we were in the market for an entry-level, universal guard. Build quality of the actual guard is okay, if not a touch flimsy. A dog wouldn't be able to get through the guard, but because it's a universal fit rather than car-specific, it'll fit different models in different ways.

Travall is so confident with the guard that they offer a lifetime guarantee against any manufacturing defects, so if anything does go wrong you're covered.We tested the Guardsman guard with an energetic pup called PJ (who didn't want to stay still for many photos), and a 11-year old Springer Spaniel called Poppy. The guard worked very well for both dogs and, despite a few scratches and bites, proved very sturdy and durable. It never rattles and feels like a quality product.

In this article, we’ve researched and sourced a variety of highly praised rear dog guards that we think are the most effective, adjustable and convenient. Read on for the lowdown. We tested the Travall on our Skoda Fabia with a very energetic, 11-year-old chocolate Labrador named Hershey. What's it like? Despite Hershey being quite a large dog, the Travall guard was sturdy enough not to budge when he pushed his face against it. The coating on the guard is also scratchproof, so there were no bite marks left after his escape attempts. This alternative to a harness will look after your interior as well as your dog. It could even be used for a cat or other pet. It’s pricey, but it feels like a quality item, with a soft interior and plenty of zips and roll-up flaps to give various options for nervous animals. It can be folded for easy storage when not being used. Just like baby seats, it has tethers to attach it to the car’s Isofix mountings, and the maker claims it has been crash tested, too.Once in place, the guard is stable and doesn't rattle while driving, even over potholed country roads. For me, this is especially important because I leave the guard in there permanently, even when the dog isn't in the car. Assembling the dog guard isn't difficult or time-consuming; it was pretty easy and took about 20 minutes in total. However, the design of the guard and the components makes putting it together harder than it needs to be in some ways. For example, build quality is reasonable for the price but the plastic hooks didn't stay hooked on the headrest when we tried to screw in the screws, so it was a matter of trying to hold the hook through the guard while also turning the screw cap - which isn't attached to the screw, so something the cap just ended up spinning but not turning the screw. As we used a small car, there was no need for attaching the wings to extend the dog guard, but these would be attached using the connecting clips supplied. Using a dog restraint or guard can be as important as putting on your seatbelt. It’ll help keep you and your four-legged friend safe in an accident but will also help prevent mishaps in the first place, by stopping man’s best friend from distracting the driver. We are a nation of dog lovers but they may be a distraction to you if they move around in the car whilst you are driving. The Sakura Headrest Dog Guard prevents this risk by hooking easily on to your vehicle?s headrests and creating a secure barrier between the cabin occupants and the dog.?

Although we noticed no rattles with this model, the mesh is a bit spindly and the jury’s out on the pale grey colour, which makes it stand out for all the wrong reasons. It’s a bit ugly, in other words. Nevertheless, this is one of the easiest dog guards to remove if you need full load access and is just as simple to refit when required. Some planning is required to establish the best position for the guard, i.e. making sure it's the right way up (with the RAC label easy to read), with or without the extensions, and - if with extensions - how they should be attached. It can be done by one person, though it's a bit fiddly. But it's definitely easier with two people the first time it's fitted. There is a bewildering array of products aimed at dog lovers, and our best advice is to find something that works best for your car and your pooch. For restraints, the Musonic Dog Safety Vest Harness offers great value for money. At the other end of the scale, the Petego EB Jet Set Jumbo Isofix is a luxury treat for your vehicle and pet. Our top guard was the Halfords Mesh, but you could save cash by choosing the similar RAC model. Guards: Once in place, it is fairly stable and does the job. There is some rattling over potholed country roads, but that's a fact of country life. Only a car specific guard would avoid this, like the Travall dog guard. So while the rattle is a bit annoying, its more important that I can use it in a variety of cars and remove it easily.

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The RAC Dog Guard is easy to install and does indeed fit many different cars. It's ideal if needing to use in more than one car, or for occasional use. Plus it's lightweight, easy to install and doesn’t take up much room if stored. In the box comes the dog guard - in three separate parts, assembly instructions, nuts and bolts, plus a small spanner. The instructions aren't very detailed, but they don't need to be as the assembly is quite self-explanatory. Multi Adjustable fittings and modular design makes it suitable for most vehicles (fits most vehicles with headrests) There are brief assembly instructions, and no tools are needed. The instructions aren't very detailed, but they don't need to be as assembly is quite self-explanatory.

Moulded to your specific car make, model and year of production, the guard itself is made from heavy-duty steel tubing with a scuff-free coating so you can be sure your dog – no matter its size and weight – is safe and secure. Usually, the less you spend, the lower the quality of the materials, so if you have a strong, large breed such as a rottweiler or German shepherd, consider spending a bit more for peace of mind. What are the alternatives to a dog guard? The metal sections, which hold the guard in place, slot into the rubber seal of the boot. We left the guard in place during the six weeks we tested it, but if you do need to remove it then it's very easy. The guard has no sharp edges, so scratching yourself, your car or your dog won't be an issue. Unusually, this doesn’t use a mesh. Instead, it has telescopic poles that extend sideways and upwards. Two clamps attach it easily to the rear headrests, and its high mount means the parcel shelf can still be used. It lost points because it clashed with the central seatbelt mounting in the Discovery, but it could be used in the Astra. There was an irritating buzz during the road test, however. Fitting instructions are supplied and all bolts used to assemble the dog guard frame are tightened using an Allen key, which is also provided. The guard weighs about 5kg, so it isn't heavy — but leaning into the boot while trying to position the guard correctly is easier with an extra pair of hands (although we managed fine alone).In the car we used, there's a small gap above the guard, but a dog couldn't get through there (we hope). Although, a very determined dog might be able to pull at the guard because its only points of attachment are at the bottom - meaning the top of the guard moves a bit. The instructions do tell you to tighten it as much as possible though so it doesn't move. Given all the extra struts it comes with, the Travall is very easy to fit. Depending on your vehicle model, in most instances you simply affix the rear window sill mounts – which come with plastic stoppers on the ends so they don’t leave any marks – and attach the supplied tension rods to your car’s tie-down rings. That’s pretty much it; no tools are required and absolutely no drilling. The best dog guards you can buy in 2023 1. Summit Easy Access Dog Guard: Best dog guard for easy access Dog cages are also a popular choice for estate car drivers or any vehicle with a large boot area. Dog cages can be easily removed when not in use and are a great alternative to a dog guard. However, they will take up more room in the boot area and are prone to rattling when in motion. You’ll also need to fold up the cage for storage when not in use and that can be an irritating faff, especially if doing it on a regular basis. A dog guard is a must-have for any driver who owns a dog. Without a barrier, many dogs will leap into the cabin of the car. This not only risks damaging upholstery with mud and claw scratches but can also be very dangerous and can potentially cause an accident. What is it?