Best Dog Harnesses and Carriers for Travel

We’ve all been stopped at a red light and looked over to see the cutest dog ever sticking their head out of the car window next to us or excitedly leaping from the back seat to the passenger seat. But experts warn against giving your dog free rein in your car because doing so can be risky for your dog and the driver.

Using a dog harness or soft carrier allows you to keep your pup in a contained spot in your car or trunk, mitigate potential harm to them should you get into a crash, and—in a best-case scenario—make them feel safe and secure. 

We enlisted the help of some of our favorite CR pooch volunteers to try out two harnesses and two travel carriers that have been independently tested and certified as safe by the Center for Pet Safety (CPS)—more on pet safety a bit later. Meet four of our hard-working volunteers: