As soon as the car starts, your dog is already on the lookout: nose quivering, ears back, he's just waiting for one thing: to stick his head out the window! Although this habit may seem amusing to us, it above all meets a very real need. In your dog, the nose is a real exploration tool. With its extraordinary olfactory capabilities, it transforms each journey into an experience particularly rich in sensations.
An avalanche of information
For us, driving at 80 km/h with the window open means a lot of wind in our hair. But for a dog, it's something completely different! It's a real olfactory bombardment. With its 100 to 200 million olfactory cells (compared to around 5 million in humans), it evolves in an invisible universe teeming with details and information. The air that reaches its nose carries a multitude of molecules: freshly cut grass, rain on the asphalt, food, passers-by, other animals… Each puff allows it to collect clues about its environment and what happened there. This hyperosmia (in other words, this particularly developed olfactory sensitivity) largely explains his enthusiasm when the window of your vehicle goes down.
The anatomy of dogs is also particularly well adapted to this hunt for odors. The olfactory slit, located in the upper part of the nasal cavity, promotes the passage of air towards areas dedicated to the detection of odorous molecules. As for the Jacobson organ (or vomeronasal organ), it participates in the detection of certain chemical substances and complements the olfactory abilities of your faithful companion.
Let's add that it's not just your nose that is stressed when you drive with the window open. The wind on its snout and lips, the sounds of traffic, temperature changes and the sensation of movement create real sensory stimulation. For him, the car journey can thus resemble a 4D film in which the images and smells appear at full speed. So obviously, when a window opens, it's hard to resist the urge to take a seat in the front row!
Why it's better to keep your head inside
As amusing as it is, the spectacle of your dog, nose blowing in the wind and ears flattened back, is unfortunately not without danger. At 50 or 80 km/h, the slightest dust, insect or small gravel can become a real projectile and reach your eyes, with a risk of irritation or injury to the cornea. The wind rushing into his ears can also be particularly aggressive for his ear canals. Finally, there is also the risk that a dog, suddenly attracted by another animal or something that intrigues it on the side of the road, will try to jump out of the window. However, there is no question of completely depriving your 4-legged companion of his great moment of exploration! Just be sure to take a few precautions.
Woopets info – Dog in the car: how to combine pleasure and safety?
No need to choose between your dog's happiness and his safety! A few small precautions are enough to allow him to enjoy his famous olfactory IMAX film throughout the journey:
- Secure it correctly: install your dog in the back seat with a safety harness connected to the belt, or place it in a securely attached transport box;
- Lower the window slightly (a few centimeters are enough to let in the air currents and their precious odorous messages);
- Let him enjoy the smells: even without sticking his head outside, your dog will be able to stick his nose near the opening and analyze the scents passing by;
- Keep the window under control: the goal is to provide it with air and odors, not a way out. A sufficiently ajar window allows him to enjoy the trip without risking jumping or receiving a projectile in the eyes.