Dogs hanging out car windows – and why it could be bad for them
Even when it’s a bad habit
OF COURSE, NOBODY has been able to interview canines on the subject, but the consensus is that dogs like to put their heads out of car windows because they are visually curious. 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 rear view from the back seat. Poking their head out of the window is a good way to check out their surroundings and enjoy a nice, cool breeze at the same time.
Dogs also have a very keen olfactory system that is far more sophisticated than our own. When a dog sticks his head out of a moving vehicle, it picks up on a multitude of scents with all sorts of information about the passing environment, resulting in a highly stimulating experience all round.
As much as dogs enjoy leaning out of cars, it’s actually not a good idea. Obviously, if your dog becomes overstimulated and falls or jumps from your moving car, it could injure itself. Wind-borne dust and pollen can irritate dogs that have allergies, and high-speed wind gusts can damage a dog’s eardrum. Plus, dogs are vulnerable to flying debris such as small stones or sticks. According to veterinarian Ben Klein, sticking their heads out of car windows is one of the major causes of ear infections in dogs.
Blowing inside a dog’s ear, even gently, can hurt it. While we may associate blowing into the ear of a dog as playfulness, the frequency of the sound drives them nuts. Although different dog breeds have varying sensitivities to ear-blowing, all are bothered by it.