Dogs in Hot Cars: What the Numbers Say and What to Do Instead

The plain rule on dogs in hot cars is that the dog does not wait in a parked car, not for a quick errand and not with the windows down. The American Kennel Club backs that rule with numbers, and we have quoted them below exactly as it wrote them.

We make single ingredient treats in Malvern, Pennsylvania, and we spend summer weekends at car shows, so we think a lot about what a parked car turns into. This page covers what the figures are, why a cracked window changes nothing, and what to do instead. Everything we say about heat comes from the quotes. The rest is plain planning.

What the numbers say about dogs in hot cars

Most people picture a blazing afternoon when they picture a hot car. "The inside of a vehicle parked in 70-degree Fahrenheit weather can reach 100 degrees Fahrenheit in just 20 minutes," writes the American Kennel Club. It adds: "On very hot days, temperatures inside parked cars can climb to 140 degrees Fahrenheit in less than one hour."

Those are the club's figures, and we are not adding any of our own. Read them as the reason for the rule, not as a timer that tells you how long you have. The rule is the same on a mild day as it is on a scorching one.

Why a cracked window does not change it

The cracked window is the usual plan, and it is the one that gets people into trouble. "A parked car with the windows cracked heats up at almost the exact same rate as a car with the windows rolled up, putting pets in serious danger," says the American Kennel Club. Its first rule leaves no gap for the window either: "You should never leave a dog alone in a parked car, even if the windows are cracked."

A cracked window is fine for fresh air while you drive. It is not a plan for leaving the dog behind.

Shade does not change the rule

A tree makes a nicer parking spot for the car, and that is all it does for this question. The ASPCA says: "Never leave your animals alone in a parked vehicle." There is no clause in that sentence about shade, a short stop or a quiet lot.

What to do instead: leave the dog home for the errand

The fix is a boring one. In summer, the errands that need a stop go without the dog. The dog stays home, indoors, and the car trip becomes just a car trip.

Drive-through lanes and curbside pickup take care of a lot of errands without anyone leaving the car. Order ahead, pull up, and the dog stays beside you the whole time. The grocery store, the hardware store and the bank all work better with the dog at home on a summer day.

Two people, one dog

If you are driving with someone, split the job. One of you goes in, and the other stays with the dog, in the car with the engine and the air on. The car is never left running with nobody in it, and the dog is never the only one inside. Trade places if you both need to go in, or take turns while one of you walks the dog outside the building.

Plan the stops around the dog

The best summer drives are the ones where every stop is a place you both get out. Think of a park, a trailhead, a rest area with a strip of grass or a patio that welcomes dogs. If a stop has a no-dogs door, change the stop. We keep a page of summer road trips with a dog if you want somewhere to start, and a longer Labor Day road trip for the end of the season.

Keep water in the cup holder and a bowl in the door pocket. Look at the day backward from the last stop: if it ends somewhere the dog cannot go, the dog stays home from the start.

The cargo area is its own question

A dog who rides in the back of an SUV is a different case from a dog left in a parked car. We wrote a page on it, heat in the cargo area of an SUV, and it is worth reading before a long drive.

If you see a dog in a hot car

Call local authorities. Give them the location and a description of the car, and stay where you can keep an eye on it until someone arrives. Do not walk away and assume someone else made the call.

A cold treat for when you get home

When everyone is back home and out of the car, there is Pup-Ornaut Ice Cream in banana peanut butter. It is freeze-dried in small batches in Malvern, and the pieces are light and crunchy. Because they are freeze-dried rather than frozen, they will not melt on a counter or a back seat.

The ingredients, in full, are nonfat Greek yogurt, banana, and peanut butter made from dry roasted peanuts and sea salt. Peanuts and dairy are both in the bag, so it is not a single ingredient treat. The label says to feed it as a treat or reward, to break pieces smaller for small dogs and to supervise while snacking. After opening, reseal the bag and keep it cool and dry. If your dog is on a special diet, or you are unsure about peanuts or dairy, ask your veterinarian first. The rest of our line is in the freeze-dried treats collection, and more summer pages are on our summer page.

Hot car questions

How hot does a car get for a dog?

We do not have a figure of our own, and we would rather not guess. The American Kennel Club numbers in the section above are the ones to go by, and the rule they sit under is that a dog is never left alone in a parked car.

Can I leave my dog in the car with the windows cracked?

No. The American Kennel Club quote in the cracked window section answers it directly, and it uses the same words for a cracked window as for a closed one.

Is it all right to leave the dog if I park in the shade?

The rule does not change. The ASPCA line in the shade section has no exception for a shady spot, and we do not add one.

How long can a dog stay in a parked car?

Alone, it cannot. We do not give a time because the rule has no time in it. Someone stays with the dog, or the dog stays home.

What should I do if I see a dog in a hot car?

Call local authorities. Tell them where the car is and what it looks like, and stay nearby until someone arrives.

Is there a cold treat for after the drive?

Our Pup-Ornaut pieces are freeze-dried rather than frozen, so they will not melt in the bag. See the section above for the full ingredient list, including the peanuts and dairy.