Dogs love a good car ride because it feeds into their sense of adventure and love of a good hunt. It mimics their instinctual roots of riding in a pack, which brings them comfort and even a type of euphoric high. Riding in the car allows a dog to explore new sites, sounds and smells

Lola and Fenway the Berner in a BMW M4 convertible on a Starbuck’s run. Lola is pretty excited and Fenway just wants to get home and take a nap.

The sound of car keys or the mere sound of the word “ride” or “car” can send some dogs into euphoria. The dancing, smiling and rush to the door is only surpassed by the word “walk”. There doesn’t appear to be a lot of research about why so many dogs enjoy car rides, but many dog owners have witnessed the excitement firsthand. Dog experts surmise it may have to do with things like the smorgasbord of smells or simply who’s in the car with them. Stanley Coren, dog behaviorist and professor of psychology at the University of British Columbia, points out that dogs have 225 million olfactory receptacles in their noses, compared with the mere 50 million we have.

Dogs have over 200 million receptacles in their noses for receiving scent messages. In comparison, humans have 50 million. A ride in the car with the window open is an intense sensory experience for a dog. As the car moves and the scents change, a dog is constantly getting updated information about the world around him.

A dog views the family car as an extension of the family home. This is why some dogs left in a parked car will bark like crazy when someone comes by. When in the car with you, they feel like they are in their home with their family. They will naturally want to be with you in this mobile version of the home, and are just as eager to protect it in the same way they protect the house.

Some dog behaviorists think that riding in a car feels like hunting to a dog. The forward motion of the car surrounded by other moving cars makes your dog feel like she is part of a pack on a hunting expedition. This sensation is said to give your dog a feeling of euphoria.

Dogs tend to be naturally curious and outgoing, so they love it when something new and exciting happens. A car ride is a great adventure for them, full of new sights, smells, and sounds…much more fun that just hanging around at home waiting for the mailman to show up.