I’m a Vet, and I Would Never Let My Dog Do This Favorite Canine Activity

It looks like so much fun to be a dog riding in a car with the window open: tongue hanging out, ears flapping in the wind, the breeze rippling through your fur, nose picking up countless scents, and squinted eyes watching the scenery whip by. But for me, that’s a hard no.

So, am I a big meanie for not letting my dog experience these simple pleasures? Or are there good reasons why I cringe every time I see a dog sticking their head out of a car window?

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Why I stand strong on this rule

Dogs aren’t always the best at predicting the outcomes of their actions, so pet parents sometimes have to step in and say things like “No, you can’t lick up that garbage juice” or “Maybe trying to chomp that porcupine isn’t the best idea.” Total bummer if you’re a dog. Letting your dog enjoy the wind in their face during a car ride may seem harmless enough, but as an emergency veterinarian, I’ve seen enough problems that I’d never let my dog do it.

One of the most common issues I’ve seen from open car windows is that sometimes dogs decide to leave the vehicle while it’s still moving. If the window is open enough for them to have their head out comfortably, it’s open enough for them to leap through. Whether it’s to play with another dog who looks like fun, to find the source of a tasty smell, or to chase down a pesky squirrel, dogs can show a total lack of self-preservation and jump from a car that is moving at highway speeds. The thought of road rash, broken bones, and worse never occurs to them.

Similarly, open windows pose a problem in the case of an accident. Even low-speed collisions or sudden stops can be deadly for pets who are in the car unrestrained. An open window allows for a dog to be either forcefully ejected from the car or use the open window as an escape route while their parent is still processing the incident. I know of many dogs who ran off after car accidents, never to be seen again.

Tree branches hanging into the street, motorcycles passing by too closely, road signs, and flying debris all pose hazards to a dog with their head out the window, too. Something that would be a gentle bump to a dog at walking or running speed can cause significant injury at road speeds. Think about the shower of gravel kicked up by the truck in front of you that you hear tinking off your windshield. Your dog will catch that same shower with their face if it’s out in the breeze.

People have also accidentally rolled up the wrong window while their dog has their head outside. Dogs who enjoy dancing on the armrest can also accidentally step on the window button and trap themselves. Powered car windows lack safety measures and can easily injure a dog’s trachea or neck, especially if the dog panics when they feel the window closing on them. It’s easy to tell yourself you’d never do this, but it’s as simple as pulling up on the wrong button while you’re distracted.

Even if everything goes great during the ride — smooth journey, no collisions, no road debris — the constant force of the wind in your dog’s face can be harmful by itself. Wind burn can cause skin irritation and discomfort after a long ride. The wind and airborne dirt can cause eye issues like excessive drying and micro-abrasions. While superficial corneal ulcers are a relatively minor inconvenience, penetrating injuries from larger pieces of debris can result in chronic problems or even loss of an eye.

All in all, it’s just not worth the risk to your dog for the simple pleasure of feeling the wind on their face.

Am I secretly judging you if you let your dog ride with their head out of the window?

A little, yeah. It’s not quite the same as leaving your dog locked in the car or letting them ride in the bed of a truck, but it’s definitely not the best idea. I’m sure many, many dogs spend their whole lives with their heads out of the window whenever they take a car trip and never have an issue. I’ve just witnessed enough problems from it that I don’t let my dog do it. 

Could I be convinced to let my dog ride with his head out of the car window?

With my current dog? No. He’s definitely one who would launch himself out of a moving car if he spotted something interesting. Or maybe he would do it just because he thinks the car ride is boring. Even with a less spirited dog, I’d still be pretty hesitant to roll down that window for them.

In the grand scheme of things, the risks aren’t worth the rewards. Plus, if I never let my dog do it, he won’t even know that he’s missing out on something he might like. As far as he’s concerned, the car is a magic capsule that gets him from the house to awesome places where he can do fun things. He enjoys it enough as it is.

What I suggest doing instead of letting your dog ride with the window down

Enrichment remains key. If you want your dog to feel the wind in their hair, take them with you on a trail hike or a trip to the beach. There are countless ways to entertain them and provide new experiences that are lower risk than letting them hang out of a car window. Finding new scents on a walk in a different part of town or learning a new trick will be much more rewarding for them than a face full of wind.

Make car rides fun and safe for your dog. There are many car safety devices available that can help to prevent tragedies in the case of an accident. If your dog is desperate to know what’s going on outside, you can crack the window a little so that they can enjoy the smells as they pass by. 

Overall, the idea of a dog riding with their head out the car window seems overrated to me and has probably been idealized in advertising and fiction. Have you stuck your head out of the window while driving? The thought of bugs in my teeth, grit in my eyes, and a bright red, windburned face are enough to make me stay away. You should probably do the same for your dog.