Checklist · 11 picks · 3 categories
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Holiday travel, but your best friend has four legs. Start with a carrier that holds its shape: a vet tells NBC Select that's the most important thing to look for, and another says carriers should generally be no taller than 11 inches to fit under a plane seat, though airlines vary.
In the car, a seat cover saves your upholstery from mud and fur, and a hammock style keeps climbers out of the front. Bigger dogs who ride loose can wear a car harness that has passed a crash test. Pack a water bottle with a built-in bowl for rest stops. Picks come from NBC Select's dog carrier guide, Dogster's seat cover and car harness guides and BestReviews' dog water bottles. Each card shows the drawback the outlet called out.
Who this is not for. Skip this if you only need everyday walk gear; the Dog Walking Kit list has leashes, treat pouches and collar lights.
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Estimates based on typical prices, checked Oct 31, 2026. Prices change; see the store for today's price.
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| Pick | Tier | Price | Best for | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sherpa Original Deluxe Pet Carrier | mid | $50-100 | flying with a small pet | 1 outlet |
| EliteField Soft-Sided Dog & Cat Carrier Bag | budget | $25-50 | small pets on a budget | 1 outlet |
| Sleepypod Mobile Pet Bed | splurge | $200-300 | car and plane trips with a tiny dog | 1 outlet |
Best pet carriermid pick · Pick by size
Best for flying with a small pet
NBC Select's best airline-approved carrier: a well-ventilated polyester and mesh bag, and the Center for Pet Safety's founder told NBC Select it fits under the seat and is a favorite of hers.
Heads up. Best for smaller pets
1 outlet. NBC Select best airline-approved carrier.
$50-100
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budget pick · Up to 18 lbs
Best for small pets on a budget
NBC Select's best soft-sided carrier: a light polyester bag with mesh panels on both sides, washable bedding and a trolley sleeve for your suitcase handle.
Heads up. Best for smaller dogs, and it may lack durability over time
1 outlet. NBC Select best soft-sided carrier.
$25-50
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splurge pick · Up to 15 lbs
Best for car and plane trips with a tiny dog
NBC Select's best carrier for small dogs: a CPS-certified carrier that straps into the car's seat belt system and turns into a bed, recommended there by a vet for being easy to carry and private.
Heads up. Only for smaller dogs
1 outlet. NBC Select best for small dogs.
$200-300
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| Pick | Tier | Price | Best for | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plush Paw Products Quilted Hammock Seat Cover | mid | $25-50 | dogs who try to ride shotgun | 1 outlet |
| Bark Lover Waterproof Nonslip Bench Dog Car Back Seat Cover | budget | $25-50 | sharing the back seat with humans | 1 outlet |
| Katziela Extended Back Car Seat Cover | splurge | $50-100 | big dogs and long drives | 1 outlet |
| Kurgo Tru-Fit Enhanced Strength Car Dog Harness | mid | $25-50 | most dogs, in the car and on walks | 1 outlet |
| SlowTon Car Safety Dog Harness with Seat Belt | budget | $15-25 | small and medium dogs on short drives | 1 outlet |
| EzyDog Drive Dog Car Harness | splurge | $50-100 | set-it-once safety for frequent drives | 1 outlet |
Best car seat covermid pick · Regular or X-Large
Best for dogs who try to ride shotgun
Dogster's best overall dog car seat cover: a waterproof hammock that blocks the gap to the front seat, so climbers stay in the back.
Heads up. May be too big for some small cars
1 outlet. Dogster best Overall dog car seat cover.
$25-50
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budget pick · 54 x 49 in
Best for sharing the back seat with humans
Dogster's best value dog car seat cover: a waterproof bench cover with a nonslip backing that works with the middle armrest and all three seat belts.
Heads up. Only comes in black, one size may not fit all vehicles, and there's no hammock mode for front-seat climbers
1 outlet. Dogster best Value dog car seat cover.
$25-50
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splurge pick · Large
Best for big dogs and long drives
Dogster's premium choice dog car seat cover: five waterproof layers with foam pads and a rigid board, so your dog gets a flat, comfy surface to ride on.
Heads up. The foam makes it less flexible to fold and store, and it's wipe-clean only
1 outlet. Dogster premium Choice dog car seat cover.
$50-100
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Best car harnessmid pick · Pick by chest size
Best for most dogs, in the car and on walks
Dogster's best overall dog car harness: it passed a crash test for dogs up to 75 pounds, with five adjustment points and a seat belt tether, and it doubles as a walking harness.
Heads up. Heavy, and it can be tricky to adjust
1 outlet. Dogster best Overall dog car harness.
$25-50
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budget pick · Pick by chest size
Best for small and medium dogs on short drives
Dogster's best value dog car harness: a light, breathable mesh harness with a seat belt tether, so your dog can lie down while staying put.
Heads up. No crash test, not as good for large dogs, and the tether can be too long
1 outlet. Dogster best Value dog car harness.
$15-25
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splurge pick · Pick by chest size
Best for set-it-once safety for frequent drives
Dogster's premium choice dog car harness: put through safety tests in the U.S., Europe and Australia, with a padded chest plate, and it uses your car's own seat belt.
Heads up. More expensive, and the chest plate is hard to fit on slender dogs
1 outlet. Dogster premium Choice dog car harness.
$50-100
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Best dog water bottlebudget pick · 12, 19 or 27 oz
Best for trips to the dog park
BestReviews' best bang for the buck dog water bottle: press a small button and water flows into the attached bowl.
Heads up. It's plain plastic, so water gets less pleasant on hot days
1 outlet. BestReviews best bang for the buck dog water bottle.
under $15
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mid pick · About 20 oz
Best for sharing water without sharing a spout
BestReviews' best of the best dog water bottle: the bowl attaches to the bottle and sits flat on the ground for your dog to drink from.
Heads up. Doesn't come with a clip or a strap
1 outlet. BestReviews best of the best dog water bottle.
$15-25
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means three independent outlets recommend a pick, means one, and limited evidence means none has yet. I research these picks. I have not tested them myself. How I pick · Broken link, wrong price range or an outdated pick? Tell me
A carrier for small pets or a car seat cover for dogs who ride on the seat are the essentials. A car harness and a dog water bottle with a built-in bowl are nice to have for road trips.
A vet told NBC Select that carriers should generally be no taller than 11 inches for under-seat stowage, but airline rules vary, so check yours before you book. NBC Select's airline-approved pick is the Sherpa Original Deluxe.
One that has passed a crash test is the safer pick. Dogster's best overall, the Kurgo Tru-Fit, passed a crash test for dogs up to 75 pounds. The founder of the Center for Pet Safety told NBC Select that most carriers only prevent driver distraction and may not perform well in a crash, and she suggests setting the Sherpa carrier on the floor rather than belting it to a seat.