Tips to Keeping Your Pets Safe and Your Car Clean for Tesla Owners

Discover the features and products available to get your Tesla ready for your pet companions.

When taking pets for a drive, there are always two things we consider, how to keep our pets safe and how to keep our interior protected and clean. The good news is that Teslas are incredibly pet-friendly. They have a feature called Dog Mode to keep your pets comfortable, and they are compatible with several pet accessories that protect your pets while maintaining your interior free of dirt and hair.

Keep reading to learn more about how to keep your pets safe and the many accessories available to keep your Tesla spotless.

Dog Mode

Dog Mode is a feature that maintains a comfortable cabin temperature while the car is parked so that pets can safely wait inside the vehicle. It also displays the temperature and a message on the touch screen so that people passing by the car can see that the pets are safe.

This feature is convenient for Tesla owners who need to run quick errands with their pets.

To enable Dog Mode, park the car and tap on a fan icon at the bottom of the touch screen. Set ‘Keep Climate On’ to ‘Dog’ and adjust the temperature using the arrows. If the car’s battery reaches less than 20% charge, you will receive a notification on their mobile app, a cue to head back to the car.

Seat Protectors

Car seat protectors are a must to keep your pets safe and your car free from dirt, damage and pet hair. When looking for the perfect seat cover, here are some things to consider:

• Front, Back, or Cargo. You can find a cover for every seat of your Tesla. If you choose a backseat protector, you have the option of a classic bench cover or a hammock that hooks onto the headrests of the rear and front seats in the car to create a hammock for your pet.

• Easy Installation. Easy to install and remove for washing.

• Maintenance. Easy to wipe off and 100% machine washable.

• Material. Polyester and cotton are the most common materials for the best dog cars seat covers that combine durability and comfort. Make sure the material is stain-resistant, scratch-proof, water-resistant or waterproof and colourfast.

• Safety. To keep your pet safe, go with an option with non-slip backing, additional padding and slits for threading seat belts.

Orvis makes seat protectors that are a favourite amongst the Tesla community. They produce covers for every seat with prices that range from $89 to $198 USD.

Door Protector

If your pet likes to climb on the door ledge to look out the window, invest in guards that can help protect your car doors from scratches and dirty paws. Like the seat protector, look for an option that’s easy to install, easy to clean and made from quality material.

The vehicle door protector by K&H pet accessories is reasonably priced, has a universal fit and stays in place.

Dog Car Harness

A good dog car harness acts as a seat belt for dogs and keeps them anchored in case of sudden braking or a collision. A harness spreads the force of a sudden jolt to the dog’s entire body, putting less strain on a single part.

The Kurgo Dog Harness comes in five sizes and adjusts comfortably to fit a range of dog breeds. The harness attaches to the vehicle’s seat belt system and has been crash-tested for dogs up to 75 lbs.

Handheld Vacuum

If your pet sheds, you’re going to want a handheld vacuum that can tackle pet hair. Choose a lightweight vacuum that can get into tight spots, is not too noisy and most importantly, removes pet hair like a pro.

The Shark Wandvac comes highly rated by Consumer Reports based on its ability to clean up pet hair. It’s sleek, ultra-lightweight and has excellent suction power.