Two problems get solved by the same object here: a dog who is allowed on the sofa, and a sofa that shows every trace of it. Laid over the seat, the quilted top gives your dog somewhere soft and clearly theirs, while the backing underneath stops hair, mud and the occasional accident ever reaching the upholstery you actually care about.

The bolster runs along one edge as a raised pillow to rest a head against, which is the detail dogs choose a spot for, since most will settle wherever they can prop their chin on something. The top is quilted so the padding stays distributed rather than migrating into one corner after a wash, and the underside is a leak-proof layer rather than a sprayed coating that gives up after a few cleans.

• Quilted padded top with a raised bolster edge
• Leak-proof backing to protect sofas, car seats and floors
• Five sizes from 75 x 75cm up to 90 x 135cm
• Choice of light grey, dark grey, black, coffee and red
• Weighs between 580 g and 850 g depending on size
• Works on a sofa, in a car boot or in a crate

It is sized, not universal. You will see this listed as one-size-fits-all, which it is not, so measure the seat or the boot you want covered and pick from the five sizes rather than assuming. A waterproof backing also means the mat cannot breathe, so lift it now and then rather than leaving it permanently in place on a fabric sofa.

Who it's for: Households with dogs on the furniture or in the car, who want the upholstery protected without banishing the dog from it.