How to keep your dog safe in the car during hot weather

Gareth Herincx

1 day ago
Auto News

Skoda supporting dogs

Skoda UK has partnered with dog behaviourist Anna Webb to share top tips on keeping pet pooches cool in the car.

When it’s warm outside, cars can act like a greenhouse and trap the sun’s heat — so if it’s 23ºC outside, in-car temperatures can reach a whopping 47ºC in under 10 minutes. That’s hotter than the aptly-named Furnace Creek, Death Valley; a Californian spot known as the hottest place on Earth.

What’s more, a dog’s body temperature is consistently two degrees warmer than a human’s. Anna warns that when a dog’s temperature hits 40ºC, they are at risk of life-threatening heatstroke.

Dog behaviourist Anna Webb

Drawing on over 20 years of experience, Anna’s top tips for the nation’s dog-owning drivers include ice cubes on dogs’ gums, meaty mocktails and a cooling vest or mat to chill underbellies.

Skoda has a long-standing commitment to the care of canines, shown most recently by its sponsorship of Crufts 2023. Earlier this year, the Czech brand drew on Anna’s expertise to create a mindfulness playlist to calm anxious dogs in the car — and this remains just as relevant heading into the summer months.

A dog’s mental health has a big impact on its body temperature. According to Anna, if a hound is relaxed in the car, it’ll be less likely to feel hot, as raised cortisol levels increase body temperature and thirst.

Tasty treats combined with short acclimatising sessions in the car, along with the Skoda ‘Happy Hounds’ playlist – calming selection of songs curated especially for dogs – can prepare pooches for the stress and heat of a long journey.

“It can take under an hour for a dog to be pushed to the brink by extreme heat, and that time comes around so much faster when they are in a warm car,” said Anna. “Pet owners need to be aware of the dangers so they can help protect their pups.”

Anna Webb’s top tips on keeping dogs safe in a car during warmer weather:

  • A dog’s body temperature is always two degrees Celsius hotter than ours, with normal levels between 38.3 – 39.2 degrees Celsius. Small dogs tend to run hotter as they have faster metabolisms than larger dogs. Never leave your dog in a stationary car, even with the windows open, or in the shade, as the car turns into a greenhouse. When it’s 22ºC outside in a stationary vehicle, without air conditioning, temperatures ‘in car’ can reach 47ºC in fewer than 10 minutes.
  • De-sensitise your dog to travelling in the car before any long journey, but especially when it’s hot. Signs that your dog is feeling the heat (or going Hyperthermic) will be excessive panting, drooling and restlessness. A dog that’s relaxed in the car will be less likely to feel hot. Raised cortisol levels increase a dog’s body temperature and thirst.
  • Cooling vests and mats work to keep your dog’s underbelly nice and chilled. Make sure your dog is ‘carrier-trained’ for maximum comfort. Carriers should be well-ventilated and spacious enough for your pooch to turn around.
  • Use tasty treats to help train your dog to enjoy their cooling accessories in their carrier (or seat belt) indoors first! Make the acclimatising sessions very short and always finish on a positive note. Your dog could get stressed or bored in the car and chew the cooling mat and/or the vest — becoming more stressed and even hotter.
  • Cooling vests should be soaked in cold water before you put them on your pet. The simple process of      evaporation from the heat of the dog dries the vest, cooling them down.  They do need to be re-dampened — maybe combine this with a comfort break for the dog (or for you) at the services. Combine these indoor travel sessions with the Skoda ‘Happy Hounds’ playlist. Association with positive experiences indoors, like this calming playlist, will help your dog relax. When you’re confident your dog is  calm in their pet carrier with their cooling ‘kit’ and the playlist, transfer them to the car. Gradually extend  the time with the engine off and the engine on. At the first sign of any stress, including panting or drooling, stop! Try again tomorrow…
  • Before setting off, check that your air-conditioning is reaching the back seat. If not, or if your dog travels in the boot, securely attach some portable fans to encourage air circulation and cooling.
  • Take regular comfort breaks in the shade so your dog keeps cool. Avoid tarmac and concrete paths — both absorb heat and can burn bare paw-pads. Be mindful to park your car in a shady spot and think of windscreen sun shades to help keep your car cool.
  • In summer months, travel in the cooler times of the day – early morning or evening. Make sure your car is roadworthy to minimise concerns of breaking down in the heat.
  • Be prepared – take your dog’s drinking bowl or a portable bowl, but check your dog will drink from it before you set off! Take a cool bag with plenty of fresh bottled water and a flask of ice cubes. Simply melting an ice cube on your dog’s gums cools them very quickly, or just offering an ice cube to lick and crunch is fun on your comfort break. Keep a wet towel in your  cool bag. If your dog overheats, wrap them in the cool towel and keep dampening it with cold water. Do this in the shade or in a cool room. Pouring water directly on your dog is ineffective as it simply runs off and evaporates.
  • Frequently, an overheated dog will refuse to drink. This is their instinct kicking in as they associate drinking with peeing, which means they would lose body fluids.  I recommend packing an isotonic hydration drink especially for dogs, or some pre-packed broth, in your cool bag.  Both contain electrolytes and minerals, along with a meaty flavour, which will get your dog drinking and hydrate them quickly.
  • When ‘staycationing’ always take familiar toys, chews and blankets with you to make your dog feel at home!

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Dog owning drivers are not prioritising safety

Gareth Herincx

6 hours ago
Auto News

Dog in a Skoda Karoq

New research has revealed that Britain’s dog lovers spend more than £4,000 per year on their pet, but just half safely secure their dog on every car journey.

To mark International Dog Day on August 26, Skoda – in partnership with BorrowMyDoggy (a national organisation that connects dog owners with trusted local people to help take care of their dogs) – is highlighting how simple solutions can help keep dogs safe on the move.

Of the estimated 9.6 million dog owners in the UK, the Skoda study revealed more than seven million travel with their dog in the car at least once a week.

However, just 51% said they always correctly secured their dog while driving, with 14% only doing it some of the time and 9% admitting that they have never secured their dog safely in the car.

Dog in a safety harness - Skoda Karoq

The yearly average bill of £4,087.20 is made up of food, pet insurance and edible treats, but owners are risking doubling this cost for not securing pets safely when on the move. Nearly half (44%) are unaware of current laws around travelling with a dog in the car which can lead to a fine of up to £5,000 and invalid insurance.

According to the Highway Code, dogs need to be suitably secured so they avoid distracting the driver and to prevent injury in the case of a sudden stop.

The research found 12% of owners let their dogs sit on their lap or even on the dash (9%) while driving, while some let their dogs move freely around the car. This figure was even more pronounced among younger drivers (18-24 years old), with over a quarter (27%) letting their dog sit on their lap while driving.

In total, 68% of drivers said they drove more carefully with their dog in the car, though nearly a quarter (24%) said they found themselves to be more stressed.

When thinking about their car, dog owners said that the most important aspects were firstly that it should be easy for the dog to get in and out (60%), followed by good boot size (51%), interior space (44%) and durable materials (43%).

Top tips for travelling with dogs in the car*

  • Keep dogs on a lead when getting in and out of a car
  • Securely fasten your dog in the car with a harness or in-car carrier
  • Keep toys, food and water on-hand, for example in the glovebox
  • In-car dog accessories make travelling much more secure and comfortable, such as the Skoda rear-seat dog hammock
  • Extras like blankets and dog beds can help to keep a dog calm and relaxed
  • Take regular breaks for fresh air and to allow your dog to stretch their legs (and yourself)
  • Never leave your dog in the car on a warm day, even if you have parked in the shade

*Advice courtesy of Skoda and BorrowMyDoggy

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Brits spend nearly 900 hours cleaning up after their muddy dog during its lifetime, according to a survey of 2,000 dog owners by Jeep.

Over the course of a year, owners devote around one day each cleaning their canine companion (23 hours), muddy house (24 hours) and car (22 hours).

Jeep Wrangler drivers have an advantage when it comes to mucky pups in their cars. Underneath the floor mats there are a number of plugs which can be removed to allow water to drain.

Whilst this feature is typically used when off-roading, it also means any seriously muddy floor pans can be carefully hosed out and drained ready for the next ‘Paw X Paw’ adventure.

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Inspired by the time Brits dedicate to cleaning up after their muddy dog, Jeep has worked with forensic soil experts at The James Hutton Institute to investigate which dogs pick up the most mud on their daily walks.

‘Paw’ticipants’ were instructed to go on three walks with their owners then tasked with collecting the mud picked up by the dog post-walk. The mud sample was then sent back to The James Hutton Institute to be weighed.

The Jeep ‘Paw X Paw’ campaign sets out to celebrate those muddy expeditions and find out which dog loves and attracts mud and adventure just as much as the Jeep range.

Jeep’s ‘Go Anywhere, Do Anything’ motto is one most dog owners will relate to, especially if their four-legged friends have a tendency to follow any trail, find every puddle and disappear off-road.

A sample of 30 dogs from around the UK took part in the challenge, from small breeds including Chihuahuas, to canine giants such as Great Danes as well as ‘wildcard’ mixed breeds, from the well-known Cockapoo to a more unknown Lhasa Apso Cross.

The first-of-its-kind study revealed the muddiest and most explorative adventures can come in all shapes and sizes, with Ollie Mo the Yorkshire Terrier crowned ‘Paw X Paw’ Muddiest Dog of the Year.

Ollie collected a greater proportion of soil compared to his own body weight than any other dog. Gathering 14g of soil on his walk – 0.29% of his own weight. He was followed in second place by Evie, a Bearded Collie, who collected 0.15% of her weight.

To celebrate the muddy dogs that took part in study, Jeep has created a muddy dog’s calendar which can be downloaded for free.

“Dog breed and size, environment and weather conditions, such as recent rainfall and soil type, all influence the amount of trace evidence that could be recovered from the canine suspects,” said Lorna Dawson of The James Hutton Institute