Dog Is My Co-Pilot

From quick spins around town to multiday road trips, dogs make great car companions except when they're gunning for your lap, getting tossed across the back seat or get so hot and thirsty they try to drink your Big Gulp. And we are not alone in this belief. Canine car-ridership has spiked 300 percent since 2005 according to Bark Buckle UP, an organization devoted to pet travel safety. Why, you ask? "We've seen a huge increase in pet-friendly hotels, restaurants, stores and parks," says Christina Selter of Bark Buckle UP. As a result, it's simply easier nowadays to pal around with your pet, whether on vacation or around town. With that in mind, here are some accessories that will help keep you and your pooch safe and sound on the road.

Comfort

A dog bowl that fits into your cupholder is worth its weight in treats. The To Go Bowl, made by Furry Travelers, has a no-spill lip for when your pooch is drinking, a lid to keep the water in while you're in motion and a little compartment in its base where you can store kibble. No more makeshift water bowls (i.e., random plastic cups) or drenched floor mats ($19.95; ).

For canines who like to take in the scenery, Doggles makes shatterproof, fog-resistant goggles and sunglasses with UV protection. Lenses for the shades come in pink, silver and copper; the doggle frames are a bit more butch, decorated with patterns like racing flames, green camo and silver skulls ($12.99 for the sunglasses, $21.99 for the doggles; doggles.com).

When the thermometer drops, keep Fido warm in the back seat with a SnuggleSafe heat pad it's like a hot water bottle for dogs. Put the Frisbee-sized, nontoxic gel disc in the microwave for a few minutes, slip it in the back seat, and it'll keep your dog toasty for up to eight hours ($29.95 or $34.95 with cover; ).

Safety

Car seats aren't just for human toddlers. Little-dog owners can keep an eye on their Chihuahuas, dachshunds or pugs and let the dogs see what's happening on the road with canine car seats. Pet Gear Inc. makes one that resembles a pet carrier with a sunroof (the pooch sits inside with his head popping out the top), and it sells another that's more of a booster seat for teacup-sized dogs weighing up to 6 pounds. The boosters have a bling factor: You can order them with heaters. Yes, seat warmers for Yorkies ($45 for the car seat carrier, $99 for the booster seat; petco.com).

To keep your dog from getting onto your lap (which, by the way, is extremely unsafe while driving), Outward Hound's Front Seat Barrier separates the back seat from the front with a black nylon sheet that attaches to the headrests. The company also makes a Back Seat Hammock that drapes from the front headrests to the back ones and serves a few purposes: It keeps the pooch in the back, provides him with a comfy cradle, and keeps his fur off the car's seats ($11 for , $18 for hammock; ). If the way back is where you want your furry friend to stay, Solvit's Net Pet Barrier is the answer. It's a mesh curtain that hangs from the ceiling behind the back seat (think mosquito netting) ($50; MSN Shopping).

Discuss:
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Canine seat belts may seem like overkill, but how many times have you stopped short and catapulted Spot to the car floor? "Most dogs travel unrestrained," says Selter. Several companies make dog-specific vehicle restraints: Ruff Rider's is a nylon-web harness that you loop the human seat belt through (from $24.95; ). K9 Seat Belt makes one that's more like a fleece-lined vest, but functions the same way ($39.95; canineseatbelt.com). Either of these can be used in lieu of a collar as a walking harness when you get to your destination. But Selter warns "Each breed has different needs. Travel harnesses work especially well with big dogs."