Kurgo Wander Booster Seat Review: Does This $60 Car Seat Keep My Small Dog Safe?

Introduction

My 12-pound Chihuahua mix, Mochi, has always been a total menace in the car. She’d bounce from my lap to the passenger seat, then squirm under the steering wheel like she was trying to hotwire the car. I almost got into two accidents because of her—once I swerved to stop her from chewing on my parking brake, and another time she hit the gear shift while I was driving. I’d had enough, so I ordered this Kurgo Wander booster seat to finally get her under control. After using it for a month, I put together this full Kurgo Wander booster seat review to see if it actually lives up to the hype.

Before this, I’d tried a bunch of cheap solutions. I got a $15 seat belt tether, but she just chewed through it in a week. I tried putting her in a crate, but she screamed the entire ride like I was torturing her. I was this close to just letting her roam free again, even though I knew it was dangerous, until I found this seat. I’d seen so many people recommend it, so I decided to give it a shot, even though I was skeptical that a $60 seat could fix all my problems.

What Is the Kurgo Wander Booster Seat? (A Kurgo Wander booster seat review)

So, what exactly is this thing, anyway? The Kurgo Wander Booster Seat is a small, headrest-mounted car seat built specifically for small dogs, rated for pups up to 30 pounds. It’s got that classic black and blue colorway, it’s collapsible so you can fold it up and store it in your trunk when you’re not using it, and it’s got a waterproof outer layer that repels stains and water. The inner fleece liner is removable and machine washable, which is perfect for messy pups, and it comes with a built-in safety tether that clips to your dog’s harness to keep them secured in the seat.

It’s designed to lift your small dog up so they can see out the window, which is something most small dogs can’t do on their own. That’s not just for fun, either— a lot of small dogs get car sick because they can’t see out the window, so lifting them up helps with that. It installs in like two minutes, too: you just strap the top strap around your headrest, and the bottom strap around the base of your bucket seat, and you’re good to go. No fancy tools, no complicated instructions, just clip it in and go.

My First Drive

When the seat arrived, I was excited to try it out, but I was also nervous that Mochi would hate it. She’s never been a fan of new things, so I wasn’t sure how she’d react to being in a little seat.

Installing it was easier than I thought, at first. The top strap wrapped around my headrest, but I did notice it was a little tight— my SUV has a pretty tall headrest, and I had to pull it as hard as I could to get it to clip. I almost thought I’d gotten the wrong one, until I realized the strap was adjustable, and I could lengthen it just enough to fit. Once I got it installed, it felt solid, no wiggling or moving around when I pulled on it.

Then I put Mochi in it. At first, she froze. She stared at me like I’d just locked her in a cage, and she tried to climb out, until I clipped the tether to her harness. (Yes, that’s the same dog who will roll in dead bugs without a second thought, but a little car seat? That’s where she draws the line.) I gave her a treat, and she settled down a little, and then she realized she could see out the window.

Her whole face lit up. Before, she was too short to see anything but the ceiling of the car, so she’d just run around bored. Now she was pressed up against the window, watching cars go by, staring at birds, totally fascinated. We drove to the dog park, and for the first time ever, she didn’t move the entire ride. She just sat there, looking out the window, no bouncing, no chewing, no trying to get into the front seat. I even tested a quick stop at a stop sign, and she didn’t even lurch forward— the tether held her perfectly.

And the best part? She didn’t get car sick. Normally, after a 15 minute drive, she’d be drooling all over everything, ready to throw up. This time? She was totally fine. I couldn’t believe it.

What I Like and What I Don’t Like

After using this for a month, I’ve gone through all the pros and cons, and I even checked out hundreds of other reviews to see what other people were saying, to make sure I wasn’t the only one with these experiences.

What I Like

• The waterproof outer layer is a game-changer: Mochi is a messy little thing— she spills water, she tracks mud in the car, she drops treats everywhere. Before this, my backseat was always covered in stains. Now? I just wipe the outer layer with a wet wipe, and it’s good as new. I saw one review from a guy who had his dog drool all over it on a hot day, and it just wiped right off, no stains at all.
• The removable liner is so easy to clean: Last week, Mochi got car sick on our way back from the vet (old habits die hard, I guess). I just pulled the inner fleece liner out, threw it in the washing machine, and it came out good as new. No weird smells, no stains, nothing. A lot of other reviewers said the same thing— they’ve washed theirs dozens of times, and it still looks brand new.
• It’s collapsible, so it doesn’t take up space: When I have friends in the car, I just fold the seat up and stick it in the trunk. It’s tiny, it doesn’t take up any room, which is perfect for my small car. I saw one reviewer who brings it camping with her, because it’s so easy to pack.
• It actually keeps her safe: I don’t have to worry about her running around the car anymore, or flying forward if I have to stop short. The tether holds her in place, and the seat itself is sturdy enough to keep her from moving around. One reviewer said he got into a minor fender bender, and his dog didn’t move an inch, which is exactly what I want to hear.
• It fixed her car sickness: Like I said, before this, she’d get sick every single time we drove. Now? She’s fine, because she can see out the window. I saw so many other reviewers say the same thing— their dogs’ car sickness went away completely after they got this seat. That alone was worth the $60 for me.

What I Don’t Like

• It’s way smaller than it says: It’s rated for up to 30 pounds, but honestly? It’s really only good for dogs under 20 pounds. Mochi is 12 pounds, and she has just enough room to turn around. I saw so many reviews from people with 25+ pound dogs who bought this, and they said their dog could barely fit— they couldn’t lay down, their legs hung over the edge, it was just too small. One guy with a 24-pound beagle said he had to return it, because his dog couldn’t even sit comfortably.
• The headrest strap is a little short: Like I said, my SUV has a tall headrest, and the strap was almost too short to fit. I saw a lot of other reviewers with trucks or larger SUVs say the same thing— the strap just barely fits, and some of them couldn’t get it to fit at all.
• Some people got missing parts: I got lucky, mine had all the parts, but I saw a handful of reviews from people who got the seat missing the tether clip. That meant they couldn’t even use it, because there was nothing to secure their dog, and they had to buy a replacement separately. That’s so frustrating, especially for a safety product.
• The metal parts can fade if you get the wrong color: I got the black and blue one, which has held up great, but a lot of people who got the orange one said the carabiner and the metal buckles faded after a few months, turning all gross and rusty looking.

Is This $60 Seat Worth It?

So, is this $60 seat actually worth the money? For me, absolutely— but that doesn’t mean it’s right for everyone.

If you have a small dog, under 20 pounds, and you drive with them regularly? This is a no-brainer. Think about it: $60 is nothing compared to what you’d pay if you got into an accident because your dog was running around the car. A minor fender bender costs at least $1,000 to fix, not to mention the vet bills if your dog gets hurt. This seat is way cheaper than that, and it gives you so much peace of mind. I used to spend every drive stressed out, checking the rearview mirror every two seconds, worried that Mochi was going to cause a crash. Now? I can just drive, relax, and enjoy the ride.

On the other hand, if you have a dog over 20 pounds? This isn’t worth it. It’s just too small, they’ll be cramped and uncomfortable, and it won’t work. And if you almost never take your dog in the car? Then you probably don’t need it, you can just get a cheaper tether. But if you’re like me, driving with your small dog all the time? It’s 100% worth it.

If you’re interested in trying it out, you can check it out here: [buy link: Kurgo Wander Booster Seat] (affiliate link)

Common Questions

I got so many questions from my friends after I posted about this, so I wanted to answer the most common ones here:

Can this work for large dogs?

No, honestly. It’s rated for up to 30 pounds, but from what I saw in reviews, it’s really best for dogs under 20 pounds. Anything bigger than that, they’ll be too cramped to lay down or move around, even for short rides. It’s just not built for bigger dogs.

Is this easy to install?

For the most part, yes. It just straps around your headrest and the bottom of the seat, takes like 2 minutes. The only issue is if you have a really tall headrest, the strap might be a little short, but it worked for most cars I tried, and you can adjust the strap to make it longer.

Can I wash this?

Yep! The inner liner is removable and machine washable, and the outer waterproof layer just wipes clean. I’ve washed mine twice already, and it held up great, no shrinking or fading. A lot of other reviewers have washed theirs dozens of times, and it still looks new.

Final Thoughts

All in all, this Kurgo Wander Booster Seat has been a total game-changer for me and Mochi. It’s not perfect— it’s a little small for bigger dogs, the headrest strap was a little tight at first, and some people have had issues with missing parts— but the pros way outweigh the cons. It solved all my biggest problems: Mochi doesn’t run around the car anymore, she doesn’t get car sick, and I can finally drive without worrying about getting into an accident.

For $60, it’s the cheapest insurance I could buy for my dog and myself. I don’t have to worry about her getting hurt if I have to stop short, and she’s happier too, because she can look out the window and enjoy the ride.

Do you have a small dog that turns into a chaos machine in the car too? Have you tried any booster seats before? Tell me your story in the comments!

You Might Also Like

• How to Choose a Dog Car Seat – 3 Options
• Kurgo Tru-Fit car harness review: Crash-Tested & Worth It?
• How to Choose a Dog Seat Belt for Cars – 3 Options

A Quick Disclaimer

I’m not a vet or professional trainer. Just my personal experience.