We all know our pets are like mini-humans and a key part of any family unit. With that in mind, we would never consider driving a car with a toddler not secured safely so the same needs to apply to our dogs too.

In fact, you may be breaking the law if you ignore the rules that are clearly set in force by the Highway Code. It states in Rule 57 that “When in a vehicle make sure dogs or other animals are suitably restrained so they cannot distract you while you are driving or injure you, or themselves, if you stop quickly. A seat belt harness, pet carrier, dog cage or dog guard are ways of restraining animals in cars.”

Ignoring those guidelines could have serious repercussions with the possibility your insurance will become invalidated and you could also face police prosecution if you are driving without proper care and attention while being distracted by your pet. That could lead to on-the-spot fines of £1,000, rising to £5,000 and the possibility of penalty points on your licence.

In order to avoid such issues, there are all manner of safety restraints, including crates, a pet carrier, a boot dog guard or seat hammock that is used with a harness.

Skoda offered us the opportunity to test out a few features in their dog-friendly range while putting the Karoq through its paces.

This five-door SUV in Sportline trim, powered by a 2.0-litre diesel engine delivered 150PS and it could complete the 0-62mph sprint in 8.7 seconds. It maxed out at 126mph while achieving a combined 47.0mpg with carbon emissions of 157-161g/km.

But for once it wasn’t the performance stats on this £41,095 car that we were focussed on. We wanted to test out the pet accessories that it came with and, most importantly make sure Teddy (my Cockapoo) was totally happy with them.

The vehicle included a dog hammock which protects the back seats and this was priced at £117.50. This has loops that hook over the front and rear head rests, thus creating a hammock for your dog. It is used along with a dog harness that are available in all sizes to fit dogs of all breeds. We used a medium harness, priced at £71.50 which was solid, but not too heavy. This harness is then attacked by a chain and clipped into the normal seat belt connection. They can also be used if your dog is travelling in the front passenger seat, but remember to deactivate the passenger airbag before setting off.

The hammock we were testing protected the car better than traditional on-line styles as it featured zip-up sides to stop the door panels getting mucky. These could easily be lowered for easy access and, to be honest, we kept both sides down as Teddy likes to look out the window.

The harness was comfy and nicely padded. This is important as the more content the dog, the happier your journey will be.

We had a couple of beach days during the loan of the car complete with accessories and it couldn’t have been easier. If the car seat (hammock) gets wet and sandy, you simply take it out by unclipping the fastenings and give it a good shake. It’s a process that takes seconds rather than minutes.

Our vehicle also featured a double-sided boot mat which is ideal for days at the beach. Any sandy boots and towels can be thrown into the car and when you get home, you simply take out the mat, wipe it down and place it back in the boot.

Whatever method you choose to keep your dog safe and secure whilst travelling, it’s definitely worth checking out your options. It’s essential that they are protected, but you also want them to be comfortable at the same time. And I have to say Teddy was most content with the accessories Skoda supplied.

Our Karoq featured 4×4 capabilities and was also fitted with a removable tow bar, making it ideal for slightly more adventurous driving experiences. And that’s just perfect as far as both myself and Teddy are concerned. Now, where’s that next beach?

Compiled for Regit