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One of the secrets to keeping my dogs in the back seat where they belong when I am driving is a good dog bed. Black Lab’s Venture Tough Dog Bed is the best dog bed designed for vehicles that I’ve found. Not only do my dogs love to lay in it—sometimes two at a time. But the bed has safety features, including secure points to attach it to all types of cars, protective side flaps to keep pawprints, scratches, and errant saliva off of car doors, and a clip to keep your pup securely in the bed and in the back seat.
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What It Is
Courtesy Image
Black Lab’s Venture Tough Car Bed is a padded bolster bed for dogs that attaches to the back seat of cars and trucks with adjustable headrest straps, seat belt loops, and handles that tuck into the space between car seats and backrests to keep the bed securely in place. Bolsters on four sides support a dog’s neck and spice—they easily unzip to flat if needed to make it easier for your dog to get in and out of the bed.
The bolsters made the bed into a nest that in our testing, three out of three dogs rated 10 out of 10. The removable bottom pad lifts out for easy cleaning. And the bed is made from a Polygiene StayFresh canvas-like fabric that not only is extremely dog claw resistant, but also anti-stink. Side flaps on the bed clip to above-window hand holds to protect the sides of your car from scratches and drool. A leash attachment in the back of the bed helps keep unruly pups in the backseat. Attach the clip to a harness, and it also keeps your pup from getting thrown in the case of an accident.
Berne Broudy
The 42x28x12-inch bed is big enough that often two of my three dogs will share. And did I mention that the bed doesn’t get stinky or saturated by dogs who go from lake to car. That’s a huge win if your dogs are in and out of the woods or water, or they like to roll in things.
Black Lab Venture Tough Car Bed Overall Impressions
My house is littered with dog beds. I have at least six beds in my bedroom for three dogs—two of my dogs will usually only sleep with dog beds doubled up. I have three sets of dog beds in my office, and three more in the living room.
When I first got the Venture Tough Car Bed, I dropped it on my living room floor expecting it would get a few sniffs and that the pack would wander off to their normal double-padded posts. Not so. Maple immediately got in the bed and flopped down draping her head over the side. Sassafras stole the bed from Maple when Maple got up to take a drink. Cedar snaked the bed from both of them after dinner. With Cedar quietly and contentedly curled up, Sassafras climbed in and claimed the other side, ignoring Cedar’s claim to the delightfully padded cube. The rectangular box shape and cozy padded sides seem to be what they all love most, whether they’re tucked inside, or have a head and/or paws hanging overboard.
Berne Broudy
When I installed the bed in the back seat of my truck, Cedar followed me outside and hopped in before I had finished attaching it. I kicked him out, and he was back in the bed as soon as I stepped away to admire it. The price tag is steep, but this bed is a problem solver. It’s compact, comfortable, it doesn’t get stinky, and it has a strap sewn in to keep dogs in the back seat.
Key Features and Tech
The Venture Tough bed is made of super high quality materials that in four months of use don’t show wear–even from regular pawing by sharp dog toenails. The bolsters are holding form. I haven’t washed the bed, and it still smells as fresh and good as when it was new. The bed is made from a certified recycled face fabric with a TPU waterproof backing to keep wet dogs from soaking your car seats.
Berne Broudy
The ballistic tarpaulin fabric is heavy duty, and it has no PFAS or other chemicals in the fabric, anti-bacterial/anti-stink, or water repellent coating. The corners are sealed and reinforced so pups can’t easily free the bed of its stuffing. Coated hidden chain sealed zippers similarly are waterproof, easy sliding and they discourage chewing. Bonded thread with bartack reinforced construction means this bed will hold up to many years of aggressive napping and regular romping in the back seat. When it’s dirty, shake the bed out, wipe it down or hose it off. Sure, you can spray it with a cleaner or spot remover, but often water does the trick.
Pros
- Attachment points for most cars
- Anti-stink Polygiene treated
- Quality materials
- Easy to move between vehicles
- Great for indoors too
Cons
- Lots of straps to tuck away
Final Verdict
Spending $289 on a dog bed seems indulgent. But it’s nothing compared to care detailing to get the dog hair and scent out of my car upholstery, torn seats from dog toenails, etc. My dogs have a lot of choices when it comes to beds, and all three of them seem to love the Black Lab Venture Tough Car Bed the most.
Why You Should Trust Me
I’ve been a gear editor, gear reviewer, and outdoor writer at multiple publications for over 25 years. I’ve tested and reviewed everything from backcountry skis and rooftop tents to chainsaws and dog booties. I’ve had dogs my whole life, and in the past five years, I’ve tested at least 50 dog beds. I currently have three mixed-breed rescue pups ranging from 55 to 75 pounds. And all of us think this bed is awesome.
