SZEE Dog Car Seat Review — Small & Medium Booster

intro

I’m The Pet Dude, a pet parent and gear nerd, and I spent time digging through the SZEE Dog Car Seat listing and real owner feedback to figure out who this booster actually works for. The SZEE booster is a compact, faux-leather car seat that the listing positions for small and medium dogs and that owners frequently use for cats and other small pets too. What sold me on it from the specs was the mix of stability features (adjustable straps and metal chains) plus a detachable faux leather cover and a convertible backrest so it can function as a bed. The internal owner notes add useful color: pets often settle into it, the cushion ships compressed and plumps up, and installation is straightforward.

This review sticks strictly to what the product listing and owner reports say — dimensions, materials, and real-world quirks come only from those sources. I’ll walk you through first impressions, day-to-day use by breed and pet type, build and materials, safety flags to check, who should consider this seat (and who should skip it), and my verdict with a practical "Check before you buy" checklist you can use in the store or before you order.

What it is / first look

On paper the SZEE dog car seat is a compact booster-style car seat that also converts into a bed. The listing gives precise product dimensions of 20.5 x 20 x 19.75 inches and a listed item weight of 4.92 pounds. The brand and model are SZEE, model number EEUS-250822, and the material type listed is faux leather. The product page names the seat as fitting most vehicles — from SUVs to sedans — and highlights that it’s designed for small and medium dogs, with a bullet calling out "up to 35 lbs" and the specifications listing a "Maximum Weight Recommendation: 30 pounds." The seat ships with a detachable faux leather cover and two adjustable metal safety chains: one to connect to your dog’s collar or harness and one to secure around the car’s headrest.

Other features called out in the listing include wide adjustable straps that allow you to feed a seat belt through, a storage pocket on the front (owners refer to pockets on the sides too), and machine-wash product care instructions. The listing also emphasizes multi-scenario use: fold down the backrest and the seat becomes a bed for home and travel.

In daily use

Owners report a mostly positive daily experience with this seat. Several of the internal notes describe pets that calm down and nap in the seat for short rides and even longer trips. One owner specifically bought it for a dog with car anxiety for a four-hour ride and said the dog eventually relaxed and slept. Practical day-to-day details from owners match several of the listing claims: the straps are adjustable and easy to use, the seat is easy to install in a backseat, and the removable cushion cover is machine washable.

For small breeds and puppies

If you have a small-breed dog or a puppy, this seat appears to be a natural fit for both training and comfort. The listing lists dog breed size as Medium, Small and specifically names target species like French Bulldog, Pembroke Welsh Corgi, and Shiba Inu. Owners with mini breeds report that the seat’s outer frame is plush and thick enough that a small dog can stand up without collapsing the sides, and many say their small dogs like the elevated view and felt secure. The seat’s compact footprint (roughly 20" square) works well in most backseat spaces, according to the listing and owner notes.

For medium dogs (measure first)

The product copy calls the seat "universal" for medium-sized dogs and gives two slightly different weight numbers across the listing: a bullet feature says "up to 35 lbs," while the formal specifications list a maximum weight recommendation of 30 pounds. Because both figures appear in the product data, I encourage you to measure your dog and consider comfort, not just listed max weight. One owner said the seat truly fits pets up to the 30 lb recommendation comfortably; another said they wished the cushion were a little bigger but still found it usable for two Mini Schnauzers in the medium size.

Cats and other small animals

The listing explicitly identifies the pet type as Cat, Dog, and internal owner reports expand on that — owners have used it for cats and even suggested it could work for bunnies or chinchillas during visits or moves. One owner who’s planning a cross-country move mentioned ordering this seat to help comfort a cat who hates carriers and intends to harness-train for the trip. The seat’s convertible bed function is a reason owners use it beyond the car: it can be folded down into a cozy bed at home, which helps a pet bring familiar scents into the car-facing piece and reduces stress for some animals.

Installation, storage, and travel practicality

Installation is consistently described as straightforward. The listing and owners report wide straps that let you feed a seat belt through, and another strap secures over the headrest. The included metal chains are adjustable: one connects to the seat (to the pet) and another secures around the car’s headrest. The front (and in owner notes, side) pockets are handy for stashing a leash, treats, or a toy for short trips. The seat’s relatively light listed weight (4.92 pounds) makes it easy to remove from the car, and the detachable cover makes it usable as a temporary bed in a hotel room or at a friend’s house.

Materials & build quality

The listing lists the material type as Faux Leather and several owner comments describe the seat’s outer fabric as plush and soft. Owners repeatedly describe a nice plush insert and an "egg crate" style foam cushion beneath the removable cover — that detail appears in the internal notes rather than the formal spec, but multiple owners mention the same cushion style and say the cushion often arrives compressed in shipping and regains volume in a dryer or over a day or two. One owner explicitly said the cushion’s cover is removable and machine washable.

The seat includes metal safety chains and adjustable straps (both specified in the product bullets and attested by owners). Owners described the outside frame as "well made, plush and thick" and said the seat looks and feels nicer than expected for the price. That aligns with the listing’s callout that the faux leather cover is detachable and adds a premium appearance. A caveat repeated in owner feedback is that the vinyl/faux leather layer for the insert cover is not very thick; one owner said they doubted it would keep water off the cushion or chair frame if a dog got very wet, and that they planned to line it with a washable puppy pad for rainy days.

Packaging notes: owners report the seat is shipped vacuum sealed and that the cushion takes about a day and a half to fully regain its shape. The listing includes Product Care Instructions: Machine Wash. The product includes a manual as an included component.

Safety considerations

Safety is the single most important factor for any travel product. The SZEE listing emphasizes safety features: two adjustable metal safety chains — one to connect to your dog’s collar or harness and another to secure around the car’s headrest — plus adjustable straps that let you thread a seat belt and secure the seat to the vehicle. Owners echo that installation is simple and that the chains and straps keep pets from jumping around the car during rides.

From the owner comments, a few safety-adjacent caveats emerge: several owners noted the vinyl/faux leather cover on the cushion is not very thick. That doesn’t necessarily compromise the seat’s restraint system, but if your dog gets soaked in rain or has a bad bout of car sickness, that thin cover may not be fully moisture-resistant, and owners say they sometimes add a washable puppy pad or the included optional moisture-resistant lining (owner-reported) to protect the cushion and the car. The listing itself highlights the detachable faux leather cover as scratch-resistant and dirt-blocking, but internal notes temper that with a comment on the cover’s thinness — so treat the "dirt-blocking" claim as workable for light messes but not a guarantee for heavy soaking.

Other safe-use points that follow directly from the listing and owner notes:

• Attachment options: The metal chain is designed to connect to either a collar or a harness (the listing explicitly says it connects to your dog’s collar or harness). Make sure whatever you attach to fits your pet and that the chain length prevents dangerous dangling but doesn’t overly restrict breathing or movement.
• Seat security: The seat secures to the car with straps around the headrest and allows the vehicle seat belt to pass through. Owners say this makes installation easy and stable.
• Water exposure: Because owners say the vinyl cover is not very thick, consider adding a puppy pad or the owner-noted moisture-resistant lining if your pet is prone to wet paws, rain, or car sickness.

Who this is for / who should skip

Short version: this seat suits small and many medium dogs and can also work for cats and other small animals for professional visits or short travel. But don’t assume it fits every animal just because the listing says "medium" — check dimensions and the weight notes carefully.

Good fit if you:

• Have a small dog or many medium dogs in the sub–30 lb range. The product is sized at about 20" x 20" x 19.75" and the listing gives a maximum weight recommendation of 30 pounds while the feature bullets also say "up to 35 lbs." Both figures appear in the product data.
• Want a booster that doubles as a bed. The listing describes a fold-down backrest to convert the seat into a cozy bed for home use or travel.
• Prefer easy cleanup. The listing lists Product Care Instructions as Machine Wash and owners report the cushion cover is removable and machine washable.
• Need secure attachment points. The seat includes two adjustable metal chains and adjustable straps for around the headrest, and owners report those systems keep pets in place during rides.

Skip (or double-check) if you:

• Have a large dog. The seat is explicitly marketed for small and medium dogs; the listing’s maximum weight recommendation is 30 pounds (with a separate feature callout of 35 lbs elsewhere). It’s not described for large-breed use.
• Frequently travel in very wet conditions with your dog and expect heavy soaking. Owners say the faux leather cover works for light dirt and is easy to clean, but some describe the vinyl covering on the cushion as thin and not fully protective against heavy moisture.
• Depend on a super-wide sleeping surface for multiple medium dogs. One owner wished the cushion were larger and said it was "OK" but a bit small for more than one small dog in comfort.

Verdict

Bottom line: the SZEE Dog Car Seat is a practical, budget-friendly booster for small and many medium pets that prioritizes pet comfort and straightforward installation. The listing’s dimensions and weight numbers are clear, and owners overwhelmingly report pets settling into the seat, easy installation, and the convenience of a removable cover. Metal safety chains and adjustable straps give you multiple secure attachment options. The convertible backrest that turns the booth into a bed is a real plus if you travel frequently and want a familiar surface for your pet outside the car.

Where it loses points: the faux leather cover and vinyl insert are described as thinner in owner feedback, so I wouldn’t call this seat fully waterproof for heavy messes. The weight recommendation appears in two places as both 30 and 35 pounds, so measure your dog and consider how comfortable they’ll be in a roughly 20" square box before you order.

Pros

• Clear specs and light listed weight (4.92 pounds) make it easy to remove and move.
• Two adjustable metal safety chains and multiple straps for secure installation.
• Convertible design — fold the backrest down and it becomes a bed for travel or home use.
• Detachable faux leather cover and machine-washable cushion cover for easier cleaning.
• Front/side pockets for small accessories; owners find the storage handy for treats and leashes.

Cons

• Two different max-weight figures appear in the listing (30 lb in specs; up to 35 lb in marketing copy). Measure and consider comfort rather than assuming the larger figure.
• Owner notes suggest the vinyl/faux leather cover can be thin and might not block heavy moisture.
• The cushion ships compressed and takes time to regain shape — plan ahead if you need it immediately out of the box.

Check before you buy

1. Measure your pet and compare to the seat dimensions (20.5 x 20 x 19.75 inches). The listing cites these exact dimensions.
2. Decide which weight number you want to use: the product bullet says "up to 35 lbs" while the formal specification lists a maximum recommendation of 30 pounds.
3. If your pet is prone to accidents or gets wet a lot, plan to line the seat with a washable puppy pad — owners report the vinyl insert can be thin and suggest added protection.
4. Confirm you’ll secure the seat using the headrest strap and thread the vehicle seat belt through the base as shown in the listing; owners report installation is easy and stable when done this way.
5. Expect the cushion to arrive compressed: owner feedback says it plumps back up in a day or two or after a dryer cycle.
6. Bring or buy a harness you trust — the listing says the metal chain connects to a collar or harness; ensure the attachment is comfortable and safe for your pet.

Colors available

• Black (listed color and shown in product images)

Overall, if you want an affordable, comfortable booster that doubles as a bed and you have a small or many medium-sized pet (within the listed weight guidance), the SZEE seat is worth considering. Just double-check weight guidance, add a moisture barrier if your dog tends to get wet, and expect a compressed cushion on arrival.