It might seem cute when dogs hang their head out the car window, but it can actually be extremely dangerous. While few dogs will attempt to jump the Snake River Canyon on a rocket propelled motorcycle like Knievel did in 1974, most dogs would jump at a car ride with wide open windows and the chance to stick its head out and let the wind whip by. Find out the secret behind this odd dog behavior!. Also, never allow your dog to travel in the front seat, even if your dog calls “shotgun.” Dogs in cars can unfortunately, cause a distraction to the driver, which puts you and your dog at risk of serious injury. They just have to stick their noses out. Despite the feel good nature of this pleasurable experience, it's actually a very dangerous habit. The constant flapping of a dogs ears can cause the ear flaps to swell, and repeated trauma to the ears can cause scar tissue to form inside the soft tissue of his ears. Because if a cat is sticking it’s head out of a car window it’s getting ready to jump regardless of how fast the car is going. You know that feeling you get when the wind is rushing trough your head & hair while your on a road trip in your convertible. “Man, is that dog having fun! It is because of their highly sensitive hearing and smelling, when dogs are in cars, they hear the noises of the running machine many times louder to them that does not bother human, also the smell in the car can be complex and stuffy for them, that's why they like to stick their heads out of the window to get away from the noise and also for some fresh air. In the early days of automobiles, most cars did not have windshields and their top speed was approximately 45 mph. Find answers now! The ear can’t trap all the debris a dog must contend with. Given those conditions, drivers wore You've no doubt pondered that great mystery of the universe - why do dogs enjoy having their head out of the car window, but hate having air blown in their face? "Putting their head[s] out the window gets them closer to all the exciting happenings outside of the car." Moreover, get a whiff of this fact: the way dogs exhale is remarkably different from humans and allows dogs to continue smelling new odors as they exhale.1 That’s nothing to sneeze at. Moreover, if an accident does occur, serious injury to your dog can occur if the airbags are deployed since they are not designed to protect animals. In comparison, human noses have six million, which means the dogs ability to smell and process smells is between 10,000 to 100,000 times greater than humans. By sticking their heads out of car windows, dogs get the rare opportunity to soak up the brand new and unfamiliar sights, whether the laughing members of the family in the next car or the cows grazing in the rural fields. What makes it so dangerous? Answer Save. Not all dogs like sticking their head out the window. Why Do Dogs Put Their Heads Out Of Car Windows? You always see happy dogs on the road, heads hanging out of car windows, tails wagging and fur blowing freely in the breeze. Dr. Jack L. Stephens, president of Pets Best Insurance, founded pet insurance in the U.S. in 1981 with a mission to end euthanasia when pet owners couldn’t afford veterinary treatment. Why do dogs stick their heads out of car windows? Why Do Dogs Stick Their Heads Out Of Car Windows? Pet insurance coverage offered and administered by Pets Best Insurance Services, LLC is underwritten by American Pet Insurance Company, a New York insurance company, or Independence American Insurance Company, a Delaware insurance company. Canines Who Love Car Windows. But what about sticking their head out a window makes dogs lose their minds? Why? “When sticking their head out the window, they can smell every person in the street, every trash can they go by, every patch of grass, restaurant and other dogs. We often think of our pets as our fur babies, so it’s good common sense that we take the same precautions when driving with our pets as we do with human cargo. Dogs sense what every teen instinctively knows: it's inherently cooler to travel on wheels than by foot. Dogs hanging their heads out car windows is just plain dangerous, and I’m sure your children keep their heads inside the car too, right? They hang their heads out of windows to get all the smells from outside. It is not uncommon for dogs to jump out of a moving vehicle, even if they have never done so before, if they catch a particularly interesting sight or smell. when we look at the genetic make up of the average dog we learn that they A. don't poses thumbs and B. dogs love decapitation. Unfortunately, allowing your dog to do this is very dangerous. For long drives, make sure you take frequent brakes and provide plenty of water. il y a 1 décennie Why do dogs like to put their heads out of car windows yet hate it if you blow in their faces? This is why you should never let them do it. Well, maybe they don't actually enjoy having their head out of the window, maybe they merely tolerate it in order to get another benefit, writes Simon Foden. Anonymous. They recommend doggie seat belts or crates be used. He actually looks like he is smiling!” And indeed they are having fun. Why does my dog hang his head out of the car window? 15 Answers. Not only do they love the feel of the wind in their fur but they like the many scents they’re receiving as they experience new locations. Stagnant car air is no party for humans or dogs. First, foreign objects like leaves, insects and rocks can strike them with tremendous velocity. A car beside you on the road with a big doggie smile hanging out of the back window, tongue out, and a face that seems in bliss. Also, it is not recommended for your dog to have his head out of the car window … And just how dangerous is it? Why Do Dogs Put Their Heads Out Of Car Windows? The science behind why dogs expose their heads to the wind may surprise you. In other words, a lot of bad things can happen to your dog, you and your passengers, and other drivers. If you click these links, you will leave the Site. Dogs image via ShutterstockDogs seem to stick their heads out of moving cars almost any chance they get. Simple as that,” Dr. Moffat says, adding that “putting their head out the window gets them closer to all the exciting happenings outside of the car.” According to Dr. Moffat, things like a wider view of the passing scenery and increased accessibility to enticing scents outside the moving vehicle can be irresistible to an animal whose sense of smell is so much more sensitive than ours. This is similar to dogs riding in the back of pick-up trucks. Daredevil Evel Knievel famously said, “I love the feeling of the fresh air on my face and the wind blowing through my hair.” Dogs agree. Dogs hang their head out the car window not to tease the other kenneled, fenced-in, or in-the-house-dogs with the fun they are having. Dr. Stephens went on to present the first U.S. pet insurance policy to famous television dog, Lassie. Let’s face it: we are bombarded with images of dogs enjoying the wind in their fur as they ride down the highway with their head out the window. The reason that dogs like to stick their heads outside cars while driving is because the wind smells so good. Dogs Do Jump/Fall Out of Cars. Dogs should never be allowed to stick their heads out of the window. Many dogs are not tall enough to have an unobstructed view of the outside world from the front seat, and most dogs are too short to have any forward or rearward view from the back seat. Dogs are intelligent animals that rely heavily on their nose and eyes to help them navigate and understand the world. Well dogs get that same feeling and they love it. Have you ever wondered why dogs love poking their heads out of car windows? There was air conditioning inside the pickup, but the dog was sticking his head out, with the air distorting his face. Besides keeping the windows closed, there are many precautions you should take when traveling with your dog in a car. Allow me to explain further. To review this information or withdraw your consent please consult the. Check out 53 Secrets Pets Won’t Tell You. By poking their heads out of car windows, canines receive the chance to experience the coolness of the … Something as harmless as a leaf or insect could cause serious damage to your dog’s eye, particularly if you are driving at a high speed. It`s a very dangerous thing to allow a dog to do this as its head could be hit by a car coming close the other way or post if the car is driven to close to it, and also insects can be blown into the dogs ears … Most importantly, never leave your dog unattended in a vehicle under any circumstances. Travel crates, like child car seats,  are often designed to work with seat belts and will ensure your pet’s safety on the road. If there was an accident, the dog would go flying through the windscreen and be killed. Q: Why do dogs hang their heads out of windows in the car? Dogs can’t seem to help themselves when it comes to open car windows. We see it all the time, and you probably have to. Why do dogs like to sleep with their heads hanging and dangling off the sofa and bed? Professor Daniels said some liked to open their mouths so the wind could flap their jowls around. Dogs agree. Dogs love to have their head out of car windows. 1 Tyson, Peter. The Issuer makes no warranty or representation regarding, and does not endorse, any linked web sites or the information appearing thereon or any of the products or services described thereon. The result is that a dog’s sense of smell is far more powerful than ours. In Hawaii, driving with your dog in your lap or unrestrained could result in a fine. Just think back to the damage a tiny pebble might have done to your windshield or the finish of your car. Having the breeze blowing in your face can’t be that comfortable, so why do they do it? Why do dogs enjoy sticking their heads out of the window of a moving car so much? Top Ten Reasons Dogs Stick Their Heads Out Car Windows (submitted by FishBoy477) To keep the hair out of their eyes (body) They are looking for waldo (Packy the packiderm) Their mothers told them not to, so they do it anyway. Copyright © 2006-2020 Pets Best Insurance Services, LLC - 2323 S. Vista Ave. Ste. now when we think about this logically we know they can't possibly decapitate them self's thus shows the ever increasing amount of canines, so the next best choice is to stick there heads out of a car window so as to have to done non manually. October 3, 2012. https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/article/dogs-sense-of-smell/ by K9 Natural on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them. It is dangerous, same way as it is for children. But blowing in a dog’s ear, even gently, can hurt it, not because of the softness of the skin or the sensitivity of the nerves, but because of the sound of the blowing. Dogs enjoy sticking their heads out of the windows of moving cars because it allows them to get a view of the outside while cooling off. If They can stick their heads out it means they are not safely restrained in the car. from entering the ear canal, damage to the ear and hearing is prevented. Instead, you could leave a window slightly cracked to let the wind circulate throughout the car. 1 Questions & Answers Place. Unfortunately, allowing your dog to do this is very dangerous. As air moves over the olfactory membrane, odor molecules settle on the receptors and get recognized. Share. The dog uses its eyes and nose as a way to explore the world when it is riding in a car. The potential dangers … Find out the secret behind this odd dog behavior!. Trauma to the ears can cause … Also, make sure your dog is wearing a collar with contact information in the event your pet gets lost on a road trip. Dogs should never be allowed to stick their heads out of the window. Related story Here's Why Your Dog … There’s no denying that dogs love to ride with their head out the window. Professor Daniels said some liked to open their mouths so the wind could flap their jowls around. Answering questions about dog behaviour, training, health and more. 2 Ingram, Leah. Dogs jumping or falling out of cars happens more often than you think; pet owners just don’t want to admit it. The best protection for your dog is to drive with your pet in a travel crate that is safely secured on the floor or back seat. It might look like fun, but it could also be dangerous. 0 Comment. They could be struck by flying debris and small objects. Ever Wonder Why Dogs Stick Their Heads Out of Car Windows? In fact, Dr. Klein mentioned that sticking their heads out of car windows is one of the major causes of ear infections in dogs. Just remember, if you do let your dog hang his head out the car window then please be careful and protect your dogs eyes with a product like Doggles, get him a safety restraint so he can’t jump out of the car, and maybe just try cracking the window so he can catch the scents with his nose, but not put his entire head out the window. [adrotate group="8"]Sensory Stimulation In … Dogs are basically walking noses. Why do dogs hang their heads out of car windows but they don't like it when you blow in their face? Nothing makes a pooch happier than having his lips and ears flap in the wind (1:20). Dogs put their heads out of car windows because this activity is perceived as reinforcing. 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