Maybe we’re just anxious first-time pup parents, but learning that the cute pet car seats we’d been eyeing did not meet crash safety standards made us really concerned about keeping a little dog safe in our car.
Sleepypod
The solution we found was the Sleepypod Mobile Pet Bed. It has a smart, safe, multi-functional design that allows small dogs and cats to use it as a car seat, bed, and/or carrier.
Crash Course on Safety
The U.S. doesn’t regulate pet seats like kids’ car seats. Companies can make claims about safety that don’t necessarily hold up. I was shocked to learn how often harness buckles, pet seat straps, and other restraining devices break during the impact of a collision.
When I was looking into this, I found the Center for Pet Safety, a non-profit consumer advocacy organization that tests the safety of pet products. They actually put dog travel carriers through the same crash tests as child seats — complete with dog crash dummies! (They do not use any actual live animals in their tests.)
While the Center for Pet Safety does not endorse specific items, they do provide a list of products that have passed their tests and met their standards.
It’s a surprisingly short list.
In fact, Sleepypod was one of only a couple brands of pet travel carriers that made the cut to be CPS Certified.
Our Experience
Because of all this, I was really interested in the Sleepypod Mobile Pet Bed. I reached out to the company, and they sent me one I could see firsthand and use for the dog we’d be adopting.
So, when we went to the shelter and ended up bringing home Quijote, the Sleepypod was already in the car. Here’s how it’s worked out since then.
As a Car Seat…
The main way we use our Sleepypod is as a car seat. It buckles into a seatbelt with a shoulder strap with hook-and-loop straps to secure it in place.
It took awhile for Quijote to get used to being inside his Sleepypod. I imagine most dogs would hop right in, but Q is just inexplicably hesitant about certain things. So we took some time to let him explore it at his own pace, and then had lots of “practice” sessions where he’d get treats for being in the Sleepypod.
Now we use it all the time, whether we’re traveling around town or going on a longer trip. It’s how Quijote rode to San Diego!
As a Bed…
The bed part is the round base of the carrier – minus its dome top, which completely zips off.
The inside of the bed/car seat base is lined with what the company refers to as “Ultra Plush bedding.” I assumed that “ultra plush” was just a marketing exaggeration, until I actually felt it. They weren’t wrong – it is super soft. It’s also washable. You can unzip it, take it out, and throw it in the washer. (I have. It worked great!)
We used this as a bed for Quijote when we first adopted him. (We later gave in and let him sleep in our bed.) (I know, I know…)
It’s still nice when we’re in an unfamiliar place to give him his own little spot to hang out in.
As a Carrier…
There’s a handle on the dome top, as well as a removable shoulder strap, if you want to use it to carry your pet outside of the car.
This would work best for calmer cats and dogs. Quijote does not sit still in there, which makes it a bit awkward to carry him that way.
However, it’s nice to have the option, and sometimes it’s worth dealing with him shifting around.
For Quijote’s first vet appointment, I brought him inside the carrier (with the top on), because I wasn’t sure if the waiting room would be full of other animals, and I didn’t want him chasing after anyone.
Also, to take pets on the light rail or bus here in the Phoenix area, they have to be in enclosed containers held on your lap. I haven’t tried it yet, but that’s how Quijote would ride the train.
Final Thoughts
Because it’s enclosed, riding in the Sleepypod won’t give your dog as good of a view out the window, but it will offer protection in case of a sudden stop or collision. The top is mostly mesh, so there’s plenty of air flow, and the inside is padded, so it should be a pretty comfy place to ride.
Although, honestly, I think Quijote would prefer to be driving.
–More Sleepypod Info–
- Pet size: For dogs and cats up to 15 lbs.
- Product size: 17 inch diameter by 13.5 inches high (including dome top)
- Colors: Sky Blue (what we have), Robin Egg Blue, Blossom Pink, Strawberry Red, Dark Chocolate, Jet Black
- Not sized to fit under an airline seat. Sleepypod carriers that are include the Mini Mobile Pet Bed, Atom, and Air (see below).
Safety specs:
- Heavy duty hook-and-loop seatbelt straps keep it in place on your seat.
- Secure mesh dome, allows air flow while keeping your pet inside.
- Designed to improve pet passenger safety by restricting harmful movement in the event of a sudden vehicle stop or frontal collision.
Other Sleepypod products (all CPS Certified):
- Sleepypod Mobile Pet Bed – Mini — Recommended for pets 7 pounds or less, the 13 x 11 inch carrier fits beneath many airline seats.
- Sleepypod Air — Flexible design contracts to fit under airline seats. Meets TSA requirements.
- Sleepypod Atom — Streamlined, smaller-size carrier.
- Click-It Safety Harnesses — For dogs 18-90 pounds. Can be used as a car restraint and with a leash for walks.
- Compare Sleepypod carriers and harnesses.
I received a Sleepypod Mobile Pet Bed from the manufacturer without charge in exchange for my honest review.
