Why Dogs Like to Ride in Cars

Image Courtesy of Pixabay.com/Radoslaw Zmudzinski

Does your dog go crazy with excitement when you put on your coat and head toward the garage? She knows the signs – you’re about to get in the car to go somewhere, and she wants to come along!

Why do car rides make many dogs (though not all) giddy with excitement? Here are some of the reasons.

A Close-up of a Dog’s Nose (Image Courtesy of Pixabay.com/Sven)

Enticing Smells

Dogs have more than 300 million scent receptor cells in their ample snouts, about six times as many as humans possess. Consequently, a ride in a car (especially when the windows are open) is a smell extravaganza for your pooch! As the car moves and the scent currents shift, the variety of smells is exhilarating for your dog. Restaurant odors, new-mown grass in the park, redolent open dumpsters – these sources and many more make that car ride an enticing sampler of the world’s smells. No wonder your pet loves every moment!

Cocker Spaniel Riding in the Car with a Man (Image Courtesy of Pixabay.com/Ferenc Toth)

A Cozy Home on Wheels

To your pooch, the car can seem like an extension of their home. Family members are there and she may have a familiar blanket on which to recline in the company of her pack. It’s her home away from home. Dogs who bark when a stranger walks by a parked car are acting the same way they would when someone approaches your house – it’s their territory (even if it’s mobile) and they want to protect the family “space.”

It Feels Like Hunting

The forward motion of the car, the presence of the family pack and the sight of other moving cars may make your dog feel like part of a hunting group. She is smelling, seeing and hearing potential “prey” (birds, squirrels, even cats) infiltrating her sensory fields. The whole experience is mentally stimulating, even euphoric – a sensory load that taps into their primal hunting and exploring instincts.

Four Dogs at a Park (Image Courtesy of Pixabay.com/Sonoliu)

Promise of a Reward

At least some of the time, your driving destination may bring your dog an extra dollop of happiness, beyond just the ride itself. Perhaps you’re headed to the park, the dog run or the beach, where Princess will get to roam about and fraternize with her dog pals. Maybe it’s to the local fast-food restaurant, where she’ll could snag a French fry or a bite of hamburger as a treat. Maybe you’re headed to see Aunt Susie, who always has a dog biscuit in her apron pocket. Anticipation makes the journey that much more fun.

Chocolate Labrador Hanging Head Out Of Car (Image Courtesy of Pixabay.com/Jorge Tapia)

Should You Let Your Dog Hang Her Head Out the Window?

Notwithstanding how much your dog may love a ride in the car, letting her hang her head out the window can be dangerous to her health. Cars move through clouds of dust and dirt, which can cause serious irritation to a dog’s eyes. We humans have windshields to protect us from these hazards, but larger bits of debris, such as stones big enough to crack windshield glass, could severely damage a dog’s eye.

Airborne dirt and debris can also harm your dog’s ears, injuring the pinnae (the external ear flap) or entering the ear canal and causing irritation.

So no, don’t let your dog hang her head out the window, as much as she seems to love the sensation of flapping ears. Crack the window enough to let in some smells, but otherwise keep her head out of the main force of the wind.

Or, consider protective dog goggles for your inquisitive pooch! (Source: RexSpecs.com)

Not Every Dog is a Happy Passenger

For some dogs, a ride in the car doesn’t mean a fun trip to the park; but instead, an unpleasant ride to see the vet. How your dog feels about riding in the car reflects her experience as a passenger. Have the trips been fun-filled or fear-filled? If your dog dreads car rides, the five simple techniques below can help make the trip less stressful.

Large Mastiff Behind Car Steering Wheel (Image Courtesy of Pixabay.com/PublicDomainPictures)

• Take your time. Start by introducing your pet to the car while it’s parked, providing treats and praise. Next, try turning on the engine, followed by short drives in the neighborhood.

• Provide distractions. A favorite chew toy can add an element of familiarity.

• Never force it. Making your dog deal with an uncomfortable situation destroys trust and makes anxiety worse. Let your pooch set the pace.

• Stay calm and upbeat. Remain relaxed and speak in a soothing, encouraging tone. Your dog takes emotional clues from your demeanor, so keep it light and easy.

• Above all, make the car experience as positive and safe as possible. She’ll love you more for it, and your road trips will be even more enjoyable!

  
  Many ideas presented here appeared in Northrup, J., “Why Do Dogs Like Car Rides?” June 7, 2023, Why Do Dogs Like Car Rides? — Animal Hearted Apparel.