Every dog owner in Australia eventually asks the same question: what's the best way to stop my dog from wrecking my back seat? This is our honest answer, written by the brand that has sold more than 10,000 hooded car seat covers to Aussies, including thousands to dog owners. It's biased — we'll be upfront about that — but the information here applies whether you buy from us or someone else.
If you just want the short version: skip to the quick buyer's guide below.
What actually damages your back seat when you have a dog
Understanding the damage helps you buy the right protection. The problems most dog owners in Australia are trying to solve:
- Water and moisture — wet fur from the beach, drool on hot days, the wet-dog smell that never quite leaves fabric seats.
- Mud and dirt — muddy paws after the park, sand from beach runs, dust from bush walks.
- Fur and shedding — short-haired dogs shed constantly and fur embeds into fabric that vacuuming never fully lifts.
- Claws and scratches — climbing between seats, jumping in and out, adjusting position mid-drive.
- Odour — the compound smell of wet dog, dog food breath, and everything soaked into upholstery over months.
- Resale value — dog damage is one of the top three reasons dealers reduce trade-in prices in Australia.
Different dog car seat covers handle these problems very differently. Which is why picking the right one matters more than most people realise.
Types of dog car seat covers available in Australia
There are essentially five categories of dog car seat cover on the Australian market. Here's what each is best for.
1. Hammock-style dog car seat covers
The most popular design. A single piece of waterproof fabric that hooks over the front headrests and the back headrests, creating a hammock between the two rows of seats. Prevents your dog from falling into the footwell if you brake hard.
Best for: Medium-to-large dogs that ride in the back seat every day, drivers with anxious dogs that climb around, cars where the dog usually rides alone.
Downsides: Blocks the middle seat completely. Bulky to remove. Hides the interior of your car full-time. Not ideal if you also carry passengers or kids in the back.
2. Hooded car seat covers (throw-over towels)
A one-piece towel that slips over the headrest like a hood and drapes down the seat. Waterproof underside, absorbent top. On in 5 seconds, off in 5 seconds, machine washable.
Best for: Dog owners who don't want a permanent cover, who occasionally travel with passengers in the back, or who want easy protection they can install and remove without effort.
Our Back Seat Hoodie falls in this category, with the added benefit of a Velcro middle-access flap so you can still use the middle seat or armrest.
3. Fitted / bench-style covers
Custom-fitted covers cut to the exact shape of your specific vehicle's back bench. Some are canvas, some neoprene, some waterproof polyester.
Best for: Owners who want a permanent, tailored look and don't mind spending $200-$500 on the cover. Full-fit covers protect side bolsters and door pillars better than universal designs.
Downsides: Expensive. Vehicle-specific (doesn't move to your next car). Takes 20-40 minutes to install correctly. Not machine washable.
4. Waterproof throw blankets
A rectangular waterproof blanket you throw on the back seat. Cheap ($15-$30) and available at Kmart, Bunnings, and pet stores.
Best for: Short-term, occasional use — the one-off dog transport, an emergency after a muddy walk.
Downsides: Doesn't stay in place. Slides around every time the dog moves. Doesn't cover headrests or seat backs. Falls off within minutes of a shifting dog.
5. Booster seats and travel crates
Elevated seats or hard-sided carriers that keep small dogs contained. Not really "seat covers" — they're travel containers.
Best for: Small dogs (under 8kg) who benefit from being elevated to see out the window, or dogs who need containment for safety.
Quick buyer's guide: which type is right for you?
| If your dog rides in the car… | Buy this type |
| Every day, alone, and climbs around | Hammock-style |
| Sometimes, with the family sharing the back seat | Hooded seat cover (like the Back Seat Hoodie) |
| Every day, and you want a permanent tailored look | Fitted / bench-style |
| Once in a blue moon | Waterproof throw blanket |
| Small dog (under 8kg) | Booster seat |
The 6 criteria that actually matter
Ignore the marketing copy on product pages — the specs that matter for a dog car seat cover come down to six things.
1. Is it genuinely waterproof (not water-resistant)?
"Water-resistant" means the fabric has a treatment that repels the first few drops. "Waterproof" means there's a bonded barrier on the underside that stops moisture reaching your seats even when the cover is soaked. For dogs — who arrive dripping from beaches, dripping from baths, or slobbering on hot days — you want genuinely waterproof, not water-resistant. Read our detailed comparison in the waterproof car seat cover guide.
2. Is it machine washable?
Non-negotiable. A dog car seat cover that has to be spot-cleaned or wiped down will smell like a wet dog within 6 weeks. Machine washable on cold is the minimum. Fitted covers usually can't be machine washed. Most hammock covers can be. Hooded seat covers like the Seat Hoodie all can.
3. Does it stay in place?
A cover that slides around every time the dog shifts is worse than useless. Look for one of: elastic headrest hooks (hooded covers), full hammock straps (hammocks), or silicone non-slip backing (hooded covers, some fitted covers).
4. Does it fit YOUR car?
Universal-fit covers work on 95% of vehicles. But if you drive a full-size ute or a large 4WD with especially wide back seats, verify the dimensions against your seat width first. The Back Seat Hoodie fits sedans, SUVs, hatches and most utes with rear seats.
5. What does it do about the headrests?
Dog drool marks on headrests are the single most common damage complaint we get from customers. If your dog rides in the back, protect the headrests separately with a Headrest Hoodie ($9 add-on). Not all seat covers protect headrests — many hammock covers leave them exposed.
6. Can you use the middle seat with it installed?
If you ever carry a child seat, passengers, or need to fold down the armrest for cup holders — this matters. Hammock covers block the middle seat completely. Fitted covers often do too. The Back Seat Hoodie has a Velcro middle access flap specifically to solve this.
The Seat Hoodie dog kit — what most customers buy
10,000+ orders in and here's what we see the majority of dog owners buy together:
- Back Seat Hoodie — covers the full back bench with Velcro middle access.
- Two Headrest Hoodies — for the back headrests, where the drool marks happen.
- An Front Seat Hoodie for the front passenger seat — for the times your dog rides shotgun.
That combo runs under $200 total, all machine washable, all waterproof, all universal-fit, and unlike a fitted canvas cover, it moves with you when you change cars.
Fit guide by vehicle type
The single most common pre-purchase question we get is "will it fit my car?" Here's the honest answer:
- Sedans (Camry, Corolla, Mazda 3, etc.) — Back Seat Hoodie fits comfortably.
- Compact SUVs (CX-5, RAV4, Sportage, etc.) — fits, with a little slack.
- Mid-size SUVs (Prado, Everest, MU-X, Pajero Sport) — fits well.
- Large SUVs (LandCruiser, Patrol, Kluger) — fits, may leave small bolster gaps on very wide seats.
- Utes with rear seats (Ranger, Hilux, BT-50, Triton, Amarok) — fits.
- Hatchbacks (Yaris, Polo, Mazda 2, etc.) — fits, with excess fabric folded under.
Real customer setups we've seen
A few actual customer scenarios that help you picture what works:
"I have a Labrador who swims at the beach every weekend." — Back Seat Hoodie + two Headrest Hoodies. The waterproof backing handles the wet fur, the headrest covers stop the drool marks after a long ride home.
"I've got a border collie who sheds constantly and drools when nervous." — Same setup, but the customer washes the Back Seat Hoodie every 7-10 days on cold to keep the fur under control. Fur brushes off the machine-washable towel surface in one cycle.
"I have two dogs and three kids — back seat is chaos." — Back Seat Hoodie (Velcro middle access lets the kids use the middle seat), plus a Front Seat Hoodie for the front. Two spare covers rotate through the wash so there's always a clean one available.
"I lease my car and want maximum resale protection." — Any of the above setups. The critical thing is machine washability — leased cars need to hand back clean, and machine-washable covers are the only guarantee.
How to make your dog car seat cover last
- Cold wash only. Hot water breaks down waterproof coatings on any cover.
- No fabric softener. It coats the waterproof membrane and degrades it over time.
- Line dry only — never tumble dry. Heat kills waterproof coatings.
- Brush off loose fur before washing. Otherwise your washing machine filter clogs.
- Rotate two covers if your dog drives with you daily — keeps a fresh one ready to install.
- Replace elastic if it stretches out. Most quality covers have replaceable elastic bands.
Done right, a Seat Hoodie lasts 3+ years of daily dog use.
Frequently asked questions
Are dog car seat covers safe with airbags?
Back seat covers don't interact with airbags at all (rear-seat airbags deploy from the ceiling, not the seat). Front-seat towel covers drape over the outside of the seat and don't modify the airbag deployment path. That said, if airbag certification matters to you, buy an OEM-spec fitted cover instead.
Will a dog car seat cover damage leather seats?
No — it does the opposite. Leather's biggest enemy is moisture. A waterproof cover with silicone non-slip backing (like the Seat Hoodie) grips leather without scratching and blocks 100% of moisture from reaching the surface. Waterproof covers extend leather life by years.
Can I put a child seat on top of a dog car seat cover?
Yes, with the Back Seat Hoodie — the Velcro middle access flap lets you thread the child seat's tether and seatbelt through without compromising the cover.
How often should I wash it?
Depends on use. Daily driver with a shedder: every 7-10 days. Occasional weekend user: every 3-4 weeks. Beach trip or muddy walk: same-day wash for the smell.
What if my dog is really large (over 40kg)?
The Back Seat Hoodie handles most large breeds — golden retrievers, labs, boxers, staffies, kelpies. For giant breeds (Great Danes, Newfoundlands, Bernese mountain dogs) you may need a bench-style fitted cover with vertical side flaps.
Is it better than a hammock cover?
Depends on your use case. If your dog rides alone every day, a hammock has advantages (prevents falls into footwell). If you also carry passengers or kids, a hooded design is better because you keep the middle seat usable. Both work — pick based on your actual driving pattern, not what's most popular.
Do you ship to New Zealand?
Yes — change the country selector at the bottom of any page to NZD.
Ready to protect your back seat?
The complete dog car seat cover range covers every dog + vehicle combination we've seen in 10,000+ orders. Free Australia-wide shipping over $90. 15-day 100% money-back guarantee — if it isn't a match, send it back.
Shop the Back Seat Hoodie → | See the full dog range →
Cindy is the founder of The Original Seat Hoodie, Australia's #1 hooded car seat towel. Designed in Sydney, loved by 10,000+ Aussies.
