Choosing the Best Car Seat for a Pomeranian

Pippin, comfortable in her booster seat; photo courtesy of Glenda Cohen

Overview

Having a car seat for your Pomeranian puppy or dog can help keep them safe since being on an owner's lap or free and unrestrained in a moving car can be very dangerous; even accidents at low speed can cause terrible injury to this small toy breed. In addition, certain types of car seats for dogs can help prevent motion sickness.

Let's take a look at what you should know about choosing a car seat for your Pomeranian, including a few of our favorite options and extra tips for helping to prevent car sickness.

Already know all about seats and just want to see which ones are best? Jump to Recommended Car Seats for Poms

Why a Car Seat is a Must

#1 It helps keep your Pom safe. In accidents, dogs that are unrestrained in the car will be thrown even with a slow-moving impact.

With a vehicle that is traveling at 35 mph, an impact will have the following results: A Pomeranian that weighs 5 pounds (2.26 kg) will be thrown with the force of a 225 pound object (102 kg) object. A Pom that weighs 10 lbs. (4.53 kg) will be thrown with force of a 450 lb. (204 kg) object.

This can cause severe bodily injury including broken bones, fractured neck, severe internal injury to vital organs, and/or brain damage. And of course, such an impact can be fatal.

Unfortunately, you cannot assume an accident will never happen to you; there are over 16,000 vehicular accidents per day, just in the United States alone. And, over the course of a person's lifetime, he or she will be involved in an average of 3 to 4 collisions. Most occur within just 3 miles of home.

#2 It helps you be a better driver. Having your Pom in a car seat helps you be a better driver since it restricts distracted driving that often results from having a dog free in the car.

#3 It can prevent motion sickness. Dogs that whine or show distress in the car may be suffering from dizziness, nausea, and other symptoms of motion sickness. But, being snug in a seat can stop the body from swaying around and being up high offers better line of sight; both of these factors can help.

If you would buckle up a child,

buckle up your Pom

Elements of a Good Car Seat for Your Pomeranian

There are several qualities that the best canine seat will have that will all work together to keep your Pom safe and comfortable.

#1 Properly sized. Car seats or restraint belts are available for all dog breed sizes from the smallest toy dog to the largest of the giant breeds (though they usually are secured with belts or a hammock). The Pomeranian, being one of the smaller breeds, should be in a seat specifically for toy-sized breeds. This helps ensure proper side support.

#2 Quality materials. You'll want a durable outer casing that is sturdy and inner padding that offers comfort to the entire body without being abrasive to the coat. Those with padded foam work well and covers made of cotton or other washable fabric are great so that you can easily keep it clean.

#3 Booster height. A main cause of motion sickness is that inner ears sense movement but the eyes do not see it. This is common with small dogs that cannot see out of the windows without some help. A booster seat that lifts a Pomeranian up can help in this regard. It allows a Pom to have better line of sight and to feel air from a (slightly) opened window.

Recommended Car Seats for Pomeranians

Mini is in her K&H booster seat (more details below) which allows her to sit up nice and high to see out the car windows and this will work well for her as she grows into her full adult size. She is kept secure via an inner buckle that connects to her harness. Photo courtesy of Mike and Marni of Colorado

Before we dive in. It's vital to note that car seats have inner tethers; this is how you secure a dog to the seat. The tether is meant to be connected to a dog's body harness, not a collar. Connecting it to a collar can result in neck injury. So, if you do not yet have a harness for your Pomeranian (always recommended for this toy breed any time they are on leash), you will want to have one.

One of the types that we recommend is the Puppia Harness Soft B Vest which is very comfortable and super-easy to place on.

Okay, now let's take a look at our top 3 picks for the best car seats for Pomeranian puppies and dogs:

#1. The K&H Pet Products Bucket Booster Car Seat. This is a top pick for several reasons. It is installed by running the car's seat belt through the base, thus making it extremely secure, it has an excellent elevated height that offers terrific line of sight even for puppies or small adults, it's padded for extra comfort, and the cover is washable. As an added plus, it comes in 3 different colors (tan, gray, and camo).

#2. The PetSafe Solvit Safety Seat for Dogs. This is designed for small dogs like Pomeranians and Chihuahuas, though dogs up to 35 lbs. can fit comfortably. This is also made to work alongside a car's own seat belt which makes it very secure and the inner safety tether has been tested for up to 2000 pounds of strain which is impressive. The inner liner is removable and washable. Note that the only difference between the 'standard' and the 'deluxe' is the shell fabric; the deluxe is quilted.

#3. The HDP Deluxe Lookout Booster Car Seat. This is the type that requires the car to have a headrest where this will be placed and this is a great pick if you're looking for a sturdy yet lightweight design that's easy to place in and out of the car. For times that you're not using it and want it tucked out of the way, it folds to just 2.5 inches. The frame of this hanging seat is metal (unlike many similar models that use plastic) and the bottom is padded. It sits nice and high to allow a Pomeranian to see well out of the windows. And, as an added plus it comes in 4 different colors.

Extra Tips

Even once you obtain a sturdy and comfortable car seat for your Pomeranian, these following tips may help make the riding experience even safer and more tolerable.

#1. The safest place for your Pom's seat is in the back, so before you assume your Pom won't like this, give it a try to see if they learn to get accustomed to it. If you do opt to have them ride up front, be sure to disable your passenger air bags and move the passenger seat as far back as possible. This needs to be done because an air bag shoots out in 1-30th of a second at an amazing speed of 200 mph (320 km/h), which can cause traumatic injuries if a dog is situated too close.

#2. Every dog has their limit in regard to duration. Even when in a quality booster seat, some dogs cannot put up with long rides. For them, there will be a tipping point at which they simply cannot take the confinement and motion any longer. So, it's best to give your Pom a break before they reach this point; for most, it is at the 20 to 30-minute mark.

Find a safe area to pull over where you can allow your Pomeranian to stretch their legs, go to the bathroom, and have a drink of cool water and perhaps a small snack.

#3. When motion sickness is severe, riding up high in an elevated car seat may not be enough. Keep windows at least slightly open and aim to keep the car a bit cooler than usual. Offer a small dry snack 20 minutes before departure. A small bit of sugar (a jellybean or a bit of children's sugar-coated cereal) given 15 minutes before leaving may also help.