Heads Out The Window

[Camilla and Darwin]

Do you let your doodles ride with their head out the window? Darwin loves to do this, and he seems to be a lot more antsy when the windows are not down. He is always harnessed in but an still easily reach the window to put his head out. Sometimes I worry that the car will kick a rock up into his face or something, although this has never happened. Do you allow your dog to do this? Do you think it's too risky to be worth it?

[Bonnie and Kona]

I completely agree. It is my pet peeve, too.

[Camilla and Darwin]

Thanks everyone for responding. Of course, we would never allow him to do this when we are on the highway or any high speed road, it's always just slower surface streets. Not that this takes away all of the risk. Also, we would never allow Darwin to ride in the back of a pickup... thought I should clear that up. I agree that it is insanely dangerous to do that.

I do think that "better safe than sorry" is a good motto. I think this winter is a great time to wean him off of this, because we won't ever have our windows down, too cold! We will just continue leaving them up once it warms up. He loves it so much that I am kind of wishing we never allowed him to get used to it... but he will survive anyways. :-)

[Kaytlin and Cooper]

I think Cooper would love to do this - she likes to sniff at the fresh air coming in. But I do not let her have enough space to even partially get her head out. I wouldnt let a human child hang out the window and so i wouldnt let my dog either.

My old neighbours once had friends visiting and they took all the dogs to the beach. Cooper cried as she was being left behind, so they took her with them. They had a covered pick up truck. the dogs were all in the back. The window was open JUST A LITTLE for fresh air. Cooper saw I wasnt going too, got distressed and jumped out the tiny space. Thankfully her leash (which they left attached) didnt catch on something or she might have hung herself. For once, Cooper landed on all 4 feet (shes a klutzy doodle) so she wasnt hurt. She then had to go in the truck on someones knee. They were still stationary thankfully or she could easily have been a dead doodle.

I NEVER take her anywhere without her harness attached to the seatbelt, and even then I worry about her stepping on the release and not being secure (which she has done a few times)

So no.... I never have the window open enough for her to squeeze out of (and believe me, dogs can fit through small spaces if they want to!)

[Leigh & Allie]

Allie rides with us every morning to take Mark, my son, to school. She is the "school mascot". Every one knows and loves to see her. She has a seat belt on and her head just comes up to the edge of the window. She is a mini. I have many people who actually stop me at stop lights to ask me what kind of dog she is! You would not believe how many people stop me. She loves it and I have been wondering what will happen when it gets too cold to have the window down.

[Christine & Camus]

Camus loves, loves, loves, to have his head in the wind. And I too know he should not be allowed, that it is dangerous, but he looks sooo happy with his face in the wind. He reminds me of the dog in the movie "The Never Ending Story." I have been trying to figure out how to take a picture of him with the wind in his face, but that too is dangerous as I am usually driving!

[Denise & Hunter!!!]

Yes, I let Hunter do this and I know it is dangerous - normally she will just stick her nose and about 1/2 her face out - I don't think she likes the wind in her eyes. She goes get antsy to if none of the windows are down also. I don't let her do it on highways just on more of the back roads - I still crack the window on the busier roads but she can't get enough of her face out for anything to happen she can just get the fresh air.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Yes, Peri loves doing it and I get worried about it. We only do it when we are going on slower roads. She has a seatbelt harness too. I am worried something will hit her and am glad this discussion came up. I think we might have to stop doing this. Better safe than sorry :(

[Tante & Jordan & now Annie!]

Jordan never sticks her head out ever! By her own choice.

[Kim]

We do let Allie do this and she loves it - BUT we only let her do this when we are going like 20 MPH in our neighborhood. It just scares me. She does prefer the drivers side back window (lol)...

One time on my way home from work - I was behind this guy with a Boxer... the Boxer's whole entire body (other than his 2 hind legs) were outside of the van, and his 2 front legs were on top of the side mirror!!!!! I was SO hoping nothing bad happened that I had to witness!!!! Luckily I only had to follow him for a few miles!

[ItoFisher family]

Yuzu loves to put her head out.

[Denice Caouette]

My Sabrina does not even want to go near the window, but Coco LOVES it! I got this great gadget and the Pet Convention here that slides down between the car door and window and then makes a ledge for them to stand on. Has a really rough surface so they can get traction. I only let Coco do this when we are driving slowly around a neighborhood. She knows to get down when we pick up speed and then I just close the window! I try to be REALLY aware of other cars around us also!

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

We are one of the "Head out the window" crowd too. Murphy has loved it since he was a pup on my lap. We have been all over the country in our jeep and now around town with his hair blowing in the wind and not had any issues. I consider us very cautious and careful dog owners, as most of us on DK are. So, when done with safety in mind, I don't see a problem. Some of his happiest expressions are seen watching him in my side mirror as we drive around town.