If there’s one thing most of us love more than riding in our car, it’s riding in our car with our dog. Dogs and cars share a unique bond. When you open the door, whether they knock you over to get to their favorite window or hop quietly onto the back seat, dogs love riding in cars.
Why? Why do dogs ride with their head up and in the wind, a look of pure happiness on their face? My first thought is that it’s the same reason we humans love riding motorcycles. But there are some other reasons given by folks who are a lot smarter than me as to why Fido loves Goin’ Mobile.
Kevin Behan of Natural Dog Training believes that dogs love car rides because they produce some of the same euphoric sensations as hunting. Dogs are pack animals and the motion stimulates a sensation similar to moving with the pack.
It’s no secret dogs smell better than us. I mean with their noses… trust me, I once owned a beagle. When riding with the windows down, there is no doubt a smorgasbord of olfactory sensations that would be overpowering to us and sheer heaven to a dog. If he’s happy sniffing out the mundane and familiar scents in the backyard, imagine how thrilling it is to experience thousands of new scents every minute!
So, why do we love riding in our car with our dog? That’s easy for any one of us who love both. The joy and happiness of the open road with our best friend is a feeling unlike any other. A pooch riding shotgun can even make being stuck in traffic more bearable. And if they need to make a pit stop, all that’s needed is a strip of grass. Just make sure you’ve got your scooper and plastic baggie… and Keep Cruisin’! –J.
I love and miss Maggie Mae!