Car upholstery and wet dogs have never got on. Mud dries into the weave, hair works its way down between the seat and the back rest where no vacuum reaches, and claws pick at the fabric every time a dog shifts position on a bend. A cover deals with all three at once, and unlike a valet it is a one-off rather than something you pay for again every spring.

This is a front-seat cover with a quilted, padded body and a waterproof layer beneath the surface, so drool and rain stop at the cover instead of soaking into the seat. The padding does a second job as well, because a bare seat is slippery and a dog braced against it for the whole journey arrives tired. Three versions are offered: single layer with a zip, single layer without, and a double layer with a zip, the zip being what lets you open the cover out for washing.

• Waterproof layer guards against mud, rain and drool
• Quilted padded base makes a warmer, less slippery seat
• Protects upholstery from fur and from claw scratches
• Three versions: single layer with zip, single layer without, double layer with zip
• Lifts out for cleaning between trips
• Sized for a front seat

On fit, and on safety. Separately, a seat cover is not a restraint of any kind. A dog travelling in the front still needs a crash-tested harness, or better still, to travel in the back.

Who it's for: Owners whose dog rides up front and who would like the seat underneath to still be worth something at resale.