Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to common questions about our products, orders, and caring for your Buddy & Joy gear. If you need anything else, we’re always happy to help.

General Questions

Who is Buddy & Joy?

Buddy & Joy is a mum founded, family run business based in Australia.

The name Buddy & Joy comes from our dog, Buddy, and our daughter, Joy. The brand was born from our own experience of becoming parents and refusing to leave our dog behind.

We design premium products with baby and dog safety in mind, focused on quality, thoughtful design, and everyday practicality. Everything we create is shaped by real family life and refined through everyday use, to help make life a little easier.

By choosing Buddy & Joy, you are supporting a small business built with care and intention, and we genuinely appreciate being part of your family journey.

What is Buddy & Joy?

Buddy & Joy is a family adventure brand designed for life with both babies and dogs.
We create smart, high quality products that make it easier to get out on outdoor family adventures, without compromise.

Who are Buddy & Joy products designed for?

Buddy & Joy products are designed for families who share life with both babies and dogs.

Our products are thoughtfully designed with baby and dog safety in mind at all times, using premium materials and considered details that support everyday family life.

Everything we create is made to be practical, durable, and easy to use, helping families move through their days with a little more ease and a lot more confidence.

What is next for Buddy & Joy?

Buddy & Joy is just getting started.

We are actively working on new product ideas inspired by real life with babies and dogs. Everyday moments, small frustrations, and those “there has to be a better way” situations that come up as family life evolves.

Not every idea makes it to market. Products are tested, refined, and only introduced when they genuinely add value and meet our safety, quality, and usability standards.

If you would like to stay in the loop as Buddy & Joy grows, you can sign up to our newsletter for early VIP access to new products, and follow us on social media to be part of the Buddy & Joy community.

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Why should I buy from Buddy & Joy?

Buddy & Joy creates premium, mum-designed products built for real life with babies and dogs. We use high-quality, non toxic materials selected with baby and dog safety in mind, and every detail is thoughtfully designed in Australia, tested through everyday use, and refined to meet high safety and quality standards.

We are a small, family-run business and genuinely care about the products we create and the families who use them. Orders are shipped from Australia and typically dispatched within 48 hours of order confirmation.

We also stand behind our products. If something is not right for you, we offer a 30-day money-back guarantee on the product cost, no questions asked. Just email us on hello@buddynjoy.co.

When you buy from Buddy & Joy, you are choosing considered design, trusted materials, and a brand built with care and intention.

Can I share feedback or ideas with Buddy & Joy?

Absolutely. We would love that.

Buddy & Joy is built around real-life experiences with babies and dogs, and some of our best ideas come from listening to families who live it every day. The small frustrations, the “why doesn’t this exist?” moments, and the quiet what if there was a better way thoughts.

If there is something you struggle with, something that feels harder than it should, or an idea you wish existed, we genuinely want to hear about it. We use this feedback to guide our research, testing, and future product development, always with safety and practicality in mind.

You can share your thoughts with us anytime via our contact page, email, or by connecting with us on Instagram or Facebook. Being part of the Buddy & Joy community means helping shape what comes next.

You haven't answered my question

Sorry about that. We have tried to cover as many questions as we could. Please email us at hello@buddynjoy.co and we will get back to you ASAP.

Buddy & Joy Hammock
Care & Usage

Can the Buddy& Joy Hammock be used on either side of the car?

No. The Buddy & Joy Car Hammock is side specific.

It is available in two versions: a left-hand drive version and a right-hand drive version, each designed to suit how families typically set up their car when travelling with a baby and a dog.

Many families place their baby seat diagonally from the driver seat so the driver can easily see their baby. To support this setup safely, the hammock is designed for a specific side of the car.

Left-hand drive version: suitable for US and most European vehicles
Right-hand drive version: suitable for UK and Australian vehicles

If the hammock is used next to an adult passenger rather than a baby seat, placement becomes a personal preference and depends on where you would like your dog to sit.

Please select the correct version at checkout to ensure the best fit and function.

Will the Buddy & Joy Hammock fit in my car?

Buddy & Joy is built for SUVs, wagons, 4WDs and dual cab Utes. If that's you, you're good to go.

Driving a hatchback or sedan? We'd strongly recommend measuring before ordering to avoid any disappointment. A quick measure now saves a return later.

What to measure:

Seat width: 75cm — measure the section where the hammock will sit
Full depth from seat back to footwell floor: 68cm
Front panel height: 40cm / Rear panel height: 50cm
Make sure your back seat has headrests on all four anchor points — including the middle seat
Door cover length: 105cm from the driver-side corner of the seat. Fully removable if not needed.

Not the right fit once it arrives? You're covered by our 30-day money back guarantee — no stress.

In a hatchback or sedan? We're seeing a lot of interest in a smaller version. Let us know and we'll keep you posted on delivering a smaller version to the market.

Which backseat configuration do I need?

Most families install the baby seat behind the front passenger seat, so it sits opposite the driver. This makes it easier to check on your baby while you’re driving and makes kerb-side access a lot less chaotic.

In this common setup, the hammock sits behind the driver seat.

If you’re based in:

• US or EU (left hand drive vehicles) → Select Left
• Australia or UK (right hand drive vehicles) → Select Right

Of course, this is optional. The best way to choose is to match where your baby seat is actually installed in your car.

If you don’t have a baby and simply want the 2/3 seat hammock, either option will work. Just choose the side where you prefer your dog to sit, or where you want to keep the spare seat for a passenger.

Left

Right

Is the Buddy & Joy hammock safe to use next to a baby seat?

Safety comes first. Always.

The Buddy & Joy Car Hammock is designed to sit alongside your baby seat without interfering with its installation. It does not sit underneath the baby seat and does not change how your baby seat is installed in the car.

By giving your dog their own dedicated space, the hammock helps reduce movement, jumping, and distractions while driving.

We always recommend following your baby seat manufacturer’s installation instructions and checking your setup carefully before every trip.

The hammock is made using non toxic materials and a baby safe design, with zippers and loose ends positioned away from the baby side so they are not accessible.

How does the Buddy & Joy door cover work, and will it affect my car window or tint?

The Buddy & Joy hammock features a fully integrated door cover designed to protect your car door while allowing easy, hands-free entry and exit for your dog.

The door cover slides securely into place as part of the hammock installation and sits inside the door frame, without interfering with the window mechanism. Your window can still open and close normally, and the cover does not rub, scratch, or damage the glass or window tint when used as intended.

If your car door shape or setup does not suit the door cover, it can be easily removed using the zipper, without affecting the rest of the hammock.

Buddy & Joy is the only Australian dog car hammock available with a fully integrated door cover designed for hands-free dog entry and exit. Unlike other hammocks that rely on separate flaps or zips that need to be opened and closed every time, the door cover stays in place. This allows you to keep holding your baby, manage bags, and make car trips easier and less stressful.

How does the Buddy & Joy barrier work between the baby and dog?

The Buddy & Joy hammock features a reinforced central barrier designed to create a clear separation between your dog and the baby seat (or passenger) next to them.

The barrier helps guide your dog into their own area, reducing movement, leaning, and attempts to cross the back seat. It is structured to hold its shape during everyday driving, including when dogs shift or place their paws against it.

The design intentionally allows airflow, access, and visibility from the front seat, so you can still see and check on both your baby and your dog while driving, without the back seat feeling closed off.

It is important to note that the barrier is not a rigid or fully enclosed divider. It is designed to strike a balance between separation, comfort, and access, making it more difficult for a dog to reach across while still allowing necessary space around a baby seat.

Can I use the Buddy & Joy Hammock with an adult passenger?

Yes. Buddy & Joy is designed to take up about two thirds of the back seat, which means the remaining seat stays free for a passenger.

An adult can comfortably sit next to the hammock while your dog stays safely in their own space. The seatbelt remains accessible and the built in barrier helps keep muddy paws, fur and excited noses on the dog’s side of the seat.

Many families also use this space for other “big babies” too. A grandparent, partner or older child can sit there just as easily.

It is all part of the idea behind Buddy & Joy. Creating a back seat that works for real family life, not just the dog.

How do I clean the Buddy & Joy Hammock?

Real life gets messy. We designed it that way.

For everyday cleaning, shake off dirt, sand, and dog hair, then wipe down with a damp cloth.

For deeper cleans, the hammock can be machine washed on a gentle, cold cycle. Before washing, remove all support poles and internal plates. Air dry only. Do not tumble dry, bleach, or use fabric softeners.

Please note that, as with most waterproof fabrics, frequent machine washing may gradually impact the waterproof layer over time. Where possible, spot cleaning and wiping down will help extend the life of the waterproof coating.

Designed to handle muddy paws, dog hair, and everyday family life.

Shipping and Orders

Where do you ship?

We currently ship Australia wide from our Australian warehouses.

We are working currently on international shipment to be available on the website for ordering and will update when this is ready.

If you’re located outside Australia and can’t wait, email us at hello@buddynjoy.co and we’ll see what options are available for your location.

How long does delivery take?

We dispatch all orders within 48 hours of order confirmation.

Metro areas typically receive their order within 2 to 3 business days. Regional areas usually take 3 to 5 business days. If you are in remote Australia, it can take a little longer.

You’ll receive tracking details as soon as your order leaves our warehouse to keep track on the delivery.

Can I change or cancel my order?

We’re a small Australian business, and once an order comes through, we move quickly.

Because we dispatch within 48 hours of order confirmation, it can be difficult to catch us before your order ships. If you need to make a change, please email us as soon as possible at hello@buddynjoy.co and we’ll see what’s possible.

If your order has already been dispatched, you’re still covered by our 30 day money back guarantee. If it’s not the right fit for your car or dog, you can return it within 30 days of receiving it.

For full details, please refer to our Shipping Policy and Refund Policy.

What is your returns policy?

You are covered by our 30 Day Money Back Guarantee.

We offer 30 day returns for a full refund. If it’s not the right fit for your car, or your family, you shouldn’t have to keep it.

To organise a return, please email us at hello@buddynjoy.co before sending anything back. We’re unable to accept returns that arrive without prior approval.

Once we receive your email, we’ll guide you through the simple return process.

All returned items must be in good condition with no excessive wear beyond a reasonable trial.

For full details, please refer to our Refund Policy.

What if my item is damaged or faulty?

We stand by the quality of every Buddy & Joy Hammock, and if something isn’t right, we’ll make it right. If your hammock arrives genuinely damaged or with a manufacturing fault, contact us at hello@buddynjoy.co within 7 days of receiving it. Please include a photo of the issue and your order number - and we’ll sort it fast, whether that means a replacement, repair, or refund.

We’re not here to make it hard - we’re here to build a brand you can trust.

Not Sure What You Need?

Not Sure
What You Need?

If you’re unsure if the product is right for your family or need help with an order, reach out anytime. We’re happy to help you find the best fit for your life with a baby and a dog.

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