In this article, we’ve researched and sourced a variety of highly praised rear dog guards that we think are the most effective, adjustable and convenient. Read on for the lowdown. However, these aren't major complaints, nor would I say they'd prevent us buying the dog guard if we were in the market for an entry-level, universal guard. Build quality of the actual guard is okay, if not a touch flimsy. A dog wouldn't be able to get through the guard, but because it's a universal fit rather than car-specific, it'll fit different models in different ways. Keep your dog safe in the car with the Halfords Mesh Headrest Dog Guard. Fitting most cars with headrests, this dog guard will stop your faithful friend from moving about the car and distracting you from driving. Its modular design means it's suitable for most cars and can be fitted together in different shapes - very handy if you have more than one car! It can be attached to either the front or rear seats too, giving you plenty of options.

Although we noticed no rattles with this model, the mesh is a bit spindly and the jury’s out on the pale grey colour, which makes it stand out for all the wrong reasons. It’s a bit ugly, in other words. Nevertheless, this is one of the easiest dog guards to remove if you need full load access and is just as simple to refit when required.

Some planning is required to establish the best position for the guard, i.e. making sure it's the right way up (with the RAC label easy to read), with or without the extensions, and - if with extensions - how they should be attached. It can be done by one person, though it's a bit fiddly. But it's definitely easier with two people the first time it's fitted.

Given all the extra struts it comes with, the Travall is very easy to fit. Depending on your vehicle model, in most instances you simply affix the rear window sill mounts – which come with plastic stoppers on the ends so they don’t leave any marks – and attach the supplied tension rods to your car’s tie-down rings. That’s pretty much it; no tools are required and absolutely no drilling. The metal sections, which hold the guard in place, slot into the rubber seal of the boot. We left the guard in place during the six weeks we tested it, but if you do need to remove it then it's very easy. The guard has no sharp edges, so scratching yourself, your car or your dog won't be an issue. Using a dog restraint or guard can be as important as putting on your seatbelt. It’ll help keep you and your four-legged friend safe in an accident but will also help prevent mishaps in the first place, by stopping man’s best friend from distracting the driver. Multi Adjustable fittings and modular design makes it suitable for most vehicles (fits most vehicles with headrests)

This alternative to a harness will look after your interior as well as your dog. It could even be used for a cat or other pet. It’s pricey, but it feels like a quality item, with a soft interior and plenty of zips and roll-up flaps to give various options for nervous animals. It can be folded for easy storage when not being used. Just like baby seats, it has tethers to attach it to the car’s Isofix mountings, and the maker claims it has been crash tested, too. We are a nation of dog lovers but they may be a distraction to you if they move around in the car whilst you are driving. The Sakura Headrest Dog Guard prevents this risk by hooking easily on to your vehicle?s headrests and creating a secure barrier between the cabin occupants and the dog.? Given that there are no extra attachments involved, this model may not be suitable for larger breeds because the guard can slip out of position if not braced and tightened correctly. It may also leave indentations in the ceiling’s upholstery if you tighten it too much when fitting.

The RAC Dog Guard is easy to install and does indeed fit many different cars. It's ideal if needing to use in more than one car, or for occasional use. Plus it's lightweight, easy to install and doesn’t take up much room if stored.

As we used a small car, there was no need for attaching the wings to extend the dog guard, but these would be attached using the connecting clips supplied.

Usually, the less you spend, the lower the quality of the materials, so if you have a strong, large breed such as a rottweiler or German shepherd, consider spending a bit more for peace of mind. What are the alternatives to a dog guard?Despite Hershey being quite a large dog, the Travall guard was sturdy enough not to budge when he pushed his face against it. The coating on the guard is also scratchproof, so there were no bite marks left after his escape attempts. In the car we used, there's a small gap above the guard, but a dog couldn't get through there (we hope). Although, a very determined dog might be able to pull at the guard because its only points of attachment are at the bottom - meaning the top of the guard moves a bit. The instructions do tell you to tighten it as much as possible though so it doesn't move. For the restraints, we enlisted the help of Doris the poodle to judge ease of use. Then we tried universal-fit dog guards in two cars – a Land Rover Discovery 4 and Vauxhall Astra – to see if they fitted well in a pair of quite different vehicles. We judged their ‘dog proof’ abilities, how easy they were to fit, and whether they damaged the car and remained rattle-free on a journey. Final factor was price. Verdict In the box comes the dog guard - in three separate parts, assembly instructions, nuts and bolts, plus a small spanner. The instructions aren't very detailed, but they don't need to be as the assembly is quite self-explanatory.