Sturdy Car Dog Hammock | “Travel Buddy Mk. II” by Owleys

I've been searching for a solution to allowing a recently imported, 12-month-old, male Black Russian Terrier from Sweden with car sickness caused by panic attacks into a brand new Honda EX Accord car to take to various training schools in 3 different states in the Northeast. I pretty sure this is the perfect hammock due to the waterproof 600D Oxford Fabric, which is an extremely durable, heavyweight polyester (which is used for portable dog crates at the dog shows). The price is just right for under $200. Other similar camping stores charge over $200 without the door panels. If the customer wants door panels, that's an extra $60 per door. The Owleys hammock comes with the door panels, which with zippers and Velcro straps. My only concern is the zipper down the center, because my dog is a true artist, when he has a panic attack and loses all control of his body functions. As soon as I find out about that center zipper, I will definitely purchase this hammock. He already soiled an old, undependable Honda Accord. I do not want to get stuck on the road with this dog, especially due to his size -- and he is quite aggressive toward men at this age. He hasn't been fully socialized yet.

This is my experience with dog hammocks. I’ve been through probably close to 7-10 different ones, most failing and breaking within a short period, and the companies would disappear so I couldn’t even file a warranty claim. That was my mistake for buying the $30 ones on Amazon.

The cheap ones on Amazon look nice - but they’re photo shopped. They are not thick, the door panels don’t cover the entire door and have no extra protection besides the real thin liner, and has to hang from the handle. The zippers are the cheapest ones possibly made, clips are plastic and sewn directly onto the hammock - one clip breaks anywhere, nothing can be done. I’ve had zippers break, clips break, rip, and just overall ended up spending more money trying to find a good one on Amazon over spending money on quality.

I came across Owleys. I finally caved and got the original, and fell in love. Once in hand, I understood why it was the price it was. I was so mad at myself for not just getting it after the first cheap one broke, but they’re good with the photoshopped pictures and making them look so much better than they really are. I have been extremely happy with the original, and then I saw the new model come out and knew I had to have it, as I have a service dog who, if I’m not working, is always with me. I also couldn’t think what they could possibly improve on? So let’s find out.

The first impression I had when opening it, is the material felt a bit more durable, and the stitching was done different, my guess to increase the strength or durability of the hammock. I also noticed that there was no more seat anchors, which at first I was worried about - but after using it for about a month, I haven’t noticed a difference between seat anchor or no seat anchor. I thought the seat anchors were so important before that, I’d get in the trunk and put a bungee cord on each one and strap it to something, which by the way, was a real pain lol. Come to find out it’s not even necessary.

Just like the other version, the side panels have extra hard padding and are taller, so it actually protects your whole door and the hard padding actually works.

The zippers are extra heavy duty, and slide surprisingly easily. I say that because all of the zippers have (I think it’s leather, or a soft leather type material) that cover ALL the zippers. You would think the zippers would get caught in it, but they don’t. All the zippers at the ends have Velcro straps, which helps a lot with support, instead of relying on the zippers for support.

I like the idea they have on the new straps they’re using that go around the headrest. Instead of being stretchy or just one length, all of them are now adjustable in length so you can make it smaller for smaller cars, which will help keep the hammock raised and even, or lower it if you have a big car. Awesome idea. Really like it because on the old one just barely on the top corners of the seat, my girl could get by and would get a little slobber on it. I was able to raise it that extra inch or two, problem solved. They also added a third pair of buckles for cars that have 3 headrests in the back for more support.

They also made this one super portable. Pop it out of the car real quick, and you can fold it up and it has a strap to close it and a handle to carry it. It’s surprisingly light and folds up REALLY small for how big it actually is. For people who are not like me and dedicate his entire back seat for his dog, and take the hammock out frequently, will love this.

Overall, I can’t complain about anything. There isn’t a better car hammock for pets on the market. Don’t do what I did and buy the cheap Amazon ones. They offer no where near the level of protection that this one does. My dog spends a whole day at a time, very often, in the back on the hammock, and my back seats still look like the day I bought them & my door isn’t all scratched up by the arm rest or handle bar from her trying to put her head out the window. If you don’t believe me, buy one of the $30 Amazon ones and buy one of Owleys. If you care about your car, see which one gets returned ;)

If you're looking for a way to keep your car clean and your dog safe during car rides, look no further! This hammock is amazing. Love the beige color – it's so chic!

Say goodbye to dog hair and muddy paw prints! This hammock has kept my car remarkably clean