Sakura Headrest Dog Guard For Cars SS5259 - Easy Fit For Most Vehicles Hatchbacks SUVs Estates MPVs – Width Adjustable No Tools Needed, Black,93 x 33 x 6 cm

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. Build quality isn't amazing, and fitting has its own small annoyances, but for the most part - this dog guard is excellent value for money. You may be able to attach some guards to the front headrests, too, but this isn’t always ideal given that front seats need to move freely to accommodate different drivers and passengers. The steel frame is coated in a grey nylon powder coating, which makes it three times thicker than most other guards. As the RAC Dog Guard claims to fit any car, we tested it in a range of vehicles - an old Vauxhall Corsa (hatchback), a nearly new Skoda Octavia (Estate) and a very scruffy Suzuki Grand Vitara (4x4).However, the shelf has to be put in first in the Fabia, otherwise, it can't slot into place with the guard attached first. Lining up the headrests with the guard isn't tricky, but attaching the poles is a little bit difficult - they need a hard shove to attach them properly. It could be used with a conventional lead for walks and then, once back at the car, swapped to a strap that fastened easily into a standard seatbelt point.

Our Audi Q2 has a panoramic sunroof, which can sometimes be an issue for dog guards because the roof lining is dropped slightly lower to accommodate the sunroof mechanism. The only thing it doesn’t do is keep your dogs away from your luggage or other items in your boot, so it may be worth spending the extra on one of Travall’s custom-made dividers. One issue is that the guard doesn't cover the entirety of the back seats, but this is quite common with dog guards. Then we tried universal-fit dog guards in two cars – a Land Rover Discovery 4 and Vauxhall Astra – to see if they fitted well in a pair of quite different vehicles. Given that there are no extra attachments involved, this model may not be suitable for larger breeds because the guard can slip out of position if not braced and tightened correctly.The guard worked very well for both dogs and, despite a few scratches and bites, proved very sturdy and durable. The Kurgo Seatbelt Tether is simply a strap rather than a full harness like some other products tested here, but it is nicely made and feels substantial enough to hold a much bigger dog than Doris, due to its mountaineering-style carabiner clip. It took an age to assemble, not helped by poor instructions and a dead QR code link to a video guide.

Another benefit is that the parcel shelf in the Skoda Octavia can still fit into place with the guard installed. To avoid injuring the dog in an accident it should never be used with just a collar when in a moving car, but could work well if your pet is already wearing a full harness.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. It comes with an ingenious fitting system comprising a universal bracket with numbered position markers, a clip-in grid system and two adjustable stabilisation rods that secure it against the ceiling of the car. It lost points because it clashed with the central seatbelt mounting in the Discovery, but it could be used in the Astra.