Solvit62346 Deluxe Pet Booster Seat

I purchased this seat for my Boston Terrier puppy Maya 15 months ago when she was just 14 weeks old. After hearing and reading horror stories of pets being injured or thrown from a vehicle in an accident, I didn't want to take any chances. She took to it quickly, and it's easy to see why.Design: A+It's quick and easy to install, which is important when I want to put a human in the passenger seat! Simply slip the metal arms into the slots and fasten the straps. The height can be adjusted by the top belt that goes around the head rest, and the second belt that goes around the back of the seat keeps the booster from tottering from side to side. The backboard, which extends below the seat a good 6 inches, provides added support and stability. The straps adjust wide enough to install it in the backseat if necessary. The color of the lining hides dirt (and matches my car's interior), although it's easy to remove and wash. My neighbors think it's the cutest thing they've ever seen, and I love watching people do double-takes at traffic lights!Comfort: A+ (I'm assuming, since I don't actually ride in it!)The quilted lining is soft, and because there's no hard bottom, it's almost like a hammock that fits to your pet's shape. My pup has traveled over 4,000 miles in hers, including a two-day car trip from FL to PA. When I put her in, she usually looks out the window for a few minutes (something the height of the seat allows her to do comfortably), then curls into a ball and starts snoring. In fact, she's so secure in this seat that she trembles if she's ever put into the car without it.Construction: A-The construction of the seat is solid, using leverage to brace it against the back of the seat with two arms hidden in the lining on either side. The back board is large and solid enough to keep the seat stable, and the seat itself supports my now-23-pound pup easily. The reason for the A- is the D rings are flat rather than rounded, which makes them harder to adjust and more likely to eventually wear through the webbed straps. I'd also suggest sewing a channel for them to keep them from sliding around and causing the straps to bunch up. Obviously, these are small concerns, seeing as the seat has served us well on almost a daily basis for over a year.Maya is now a year and a half and a little large for the seat, but when I buy her a larger seat, I'll be sticking with this brand.

The seat itself, including the nice thick washable cover is very well done, of good quality. I am glad I paid attention to reviewers that recommend going for a larger size than the manufacturer suggests. I would suggest paying more attention to the actual bucket dimensions and compare these to your pet to make sure s/he will fit comfortably (specially when curled up to take a little nap). However, I noticed right away that the parts to hold the Solvit seat to my car seat were very flimsy and cheap (a disconnect when compared to the rest of the product). The straps are made of cheap, weak nylon straps. And the hardware is also very light weight and flimsy, the hooks and the slider pieces that tighten the straps around your car seat are very, very light duty. But we were enjoying the seat with no problems.And then, yesterday, after having used it, maybe 10 times, one of the hooks broke!! The hook came apart, the spring came out, the screw/peg was separate, etc. My dog was not even inside the seat, I was just beginning to tighten the strap to the car seat. If you are thinking of getting this seat for a pet that is heavier than 10 lbs or so, you may want to call the company and make sure that it is not just a bigger basket, but that the straps and hardware are stronger also for a heavier animal. I get the sense that they just change the size of the basket, but the hardware and straps are the same. The strap and hook that you attach to your pet's collar so he won't move or try to jump out are weak. I think they are meant to be as a reminder that the pet shouldn't get out of the seat. But don't expect that in an accident they would hold up. Your dog would go flying out of the windshield. I am going to try to call the company and get some replacement hardware.

I bought the deluxe seat even though my tiny 4 lb Chihuahua could have fit in the smaller one. I put her cushioned dog bed inside and it fits perfectly and she loves her bed so is comfortable sitting/sleeping in the seat. She had no trouble at all adjusting to sitting in there from sitting in my lap before I got the seat and loves to be able to look out the window. It is easy to install except the side braces are a bit of pain sometimes to get into their slots. I would have rated it 5 stars except for one complaint and it's a serious one. The metal fasteners on the ends of the straps are extremely flimsy. One of them broke as I was driving and the car seat fell down, but luckily my dog did not get thrown onto the floor or hung up in her harness attached to the seat. Since she only weights 4 pounds and this seat is rated to carry significantly more weight, I think they should provide more heavy duty fasteners on the straps. I am now using a carrying strap from an old laptop briefcase and have no worries about another accident. So, be careful of the flimsy straps/fasteners, especially for the one that goes around the headrest. It would add minimal to their cost to make sure it is secure. I haven't contacted them about the problem, though I will. But I'm really not interested in receiving another strap of the same poor quality.