If you’ve ever tried to pack your car with your dog, your stuff, and all the bits you need for a few days away – you’ll know how much stuff you need.
I drive a Fiat 500 which is the most impractical car for someone who travels a lot and carries a lot of stuff backwards and forwards to Patch’s holiday home, Sunnyside Cottage in Robin Hood’s Bay.
So I need to have as much space as possible and ensure Patch can travel comfortably too.
One of my clients Dru Ross from The Big Dog Bed Company, created a travel product called the Car Cube®, which I bought as a solution.
Many dog travel products are either style focused, big and bulky or designed for the boot – which, as you’ll read, is a no-go for me.
Dru kindly gave me a friends and family discount in return for a review and here is how I’ve found the Car Cube.
What is the Car Cube®?
It’s designed for medium to smaller large dogs – think Labradors, Vizslas, Collies – but actually, Patch is a terrier cross only 10.5kg and fits in it just fine.
There is the option to have an additional cushion if they do need a little extra height.
It takes up one seat in the back of the car, which is perfect for me, as I need the rest of the space. It’s waterproof on the outside and fleece-lined inside, so it’s cosy and practical.
There’s a flap to protect your car’s paintwork when your dog jumps in, and it fastens easily using clips and poppers.
You loop it over the headrest at the front and back and it feels really sturdy without being bulky or heavy.
Why I’d never put Patch in the boot
Years ago, I was driving on the M62 – a really busy motorway – and the boot of my car flew open.
Daisy, my first dog, was in the back in her crate, thank goodness.
She used to go nuts when the windscreen wipers came on, so she always travelled in her ‘stinkbox’ crate in the back and I’d throw a blanket over it when it rained.
I’ve no idea why the boot opened, but the thought of her being in there makes me feel sick, even now – 15 years on.
Since then, I’ve always had Patch in a harness and seatbelt, or in a crate in the back or front seat and never in the boot.
How easy is the Car Cube to use?
Really easy. I pull the front seat forward, undo the poppers on the side, Patch hops in, then I do it back up, put the seat back, and clip the fastener around the headrest.
He wears his Ruffwear Front Range harness and I clip him in using the Kurgo Direct to Seatbelt Tether, which has a swivel carabiner to stop him getting tangled.
He’s not wandering around – he usually lies down but sometimes sits up to look out the window. He’s very nosy and likes to see where we’re going.
The Ruffwear Load Up car harness is the gold standard and it’s on my wishlist, but the Front Range does a great job for now.

What’s it like for your dog inside the Car Cube?
Patch seems really happy in it. It’s fleecy, enclosed enough to feel secure but open enough for him to see what’s going on.
He’s comfy and settled – he usually nods off after a while. I also like that he’s not isolated – he’s in the main part of the car and still part of the family on the journey.
How’s it helped day-to-day?
It’s made travel with Patch so much easier. I know he’s safe, he’s comfy, and I’m not having to lug a big crate in and out of the car.
I can move the Car Cube easily between cars if I need to – it folds flat when not in use. It also helps keep the car clean.
Patch moults a lot and I can just take it out, give it a shake, and throw it in the wash when it gets muddy or covered in sand.
Would the Car Cube work for older or nervous dogs?
It’s great for older dogs as they don’t have to be lifted into the boot, and it gives them a comfortable, secure space.
It’s also helpful for nervous travellers – they can still see everything going on, but they’re contained and comfy.
If your dog gets car sick, being able to sit up or lie down as they need to, in a secure space, can really help.

What does the law actually say?
This is what the Highway Code says: “When in a vehicle make sure dogs or other animals are suitably restrained so they cannot distract you while you are driving or injure you, or themselves, if you stop quickly. A seat belt harness, pet carrier, dog cage or dog guard are ways of restraining animals in cars.”
I see so many dogs with their heads out of the window or wandering around in cars. I think so few people are aware of this.
Claire Harris from Pets2Places is doing a lot of work around changing this and launched National Pet Travel Safety Day on July 1st – the date seatbelts became law in 1991.
It’s crazy to think that kids used to travel in car boots or piled into the back.
I grew up in the 1980s and used to ride round in my Uncle Steve’s transit van with my friends on a bench he borrowed from the local village hall!
Hopefully we’ll feel the same about dogs in the future.
You can read more about Claire’s work here: Pet Travel Safety Day
Is the Car Cube worth it?
Yes – it’s a bit more expensive than some of the basic options, but it’s designed with safety in mind, and it’s really well made.
Here’s what you get:
- Waterproof shell that protects your seats from wet, muddy dogs
- Tough, lightweight fabric
- Cosy fleece lining
- Fully machine washable
- Drop-down flap to protect paintwork and seats
- Quick-fasten clips
- Adjustable straps to fit any car
- Folds flat for easy storage
- Removable stiffening rods for washing
- Size: base 52cm square, sides 48cm high, top 62cm square

What do I like most about the Car Cube?
It pops down easily, doesn’t take up loads of room, and keeps Patch’s hair from covering every inch of my car.
Creator Dru on the Car Cube
When I interviewed Dru at Edition Dog Live, she said: “We identified a need for a practical solution to help dogs who don’t travel well.
“The Car Cube is designed to provide a safe and comfortable space for dogs during car journeys and is practical, easy to use and doesn’t take up much space when not in use.
“I wanted to bridge the gap between the very small dog carriers on the market and something that can comfortably hold a small Labrador.
“It’s a piece of kit that will keep your dog calm and comfortable in the car for many years.
“I hope it’s a worthwhile investment for any dog parent who travels with their pet.”
Links if you want to check it out:
Car Cube – The Big Dog Bed Company – starts at £159
Kurgo Direct to Seatbelt Tether
Further reading
Why Claire Harris created Pet Travel Safety Day