Why do dogs like looking out the window

Have you ever wondered why dogs love poking their heads out of car windows? The answer, according to Adelaide zoologist Chris Daniels, is much more interesting than "because they can".

"We need to remember that a dog's head is this incredible sensory apparatus," said Professor Daniels, from the University of South Australia.

"They smell so much better than we do, in that their sense of smell is much greater than we have, and they have good vision.

"Their head is jam-packed full of sensors, so when they stick their head out the window, they've got this great pressure of air moving at great speed over them, and it's a sensory overload."

Professor Daniels said every time a dog stuck its head out of a moving car window, it was evidence of its adventurous and opportunistic nature.

"There's one thing that's really become apparent over the last 20 years about a great many species, and not just mammals, and that is they like to have fun," he said.

"They like joy … they like great feelings and experiences that make them feel good."

Not all dogs like sticking their head out the window

Dogs, of course, have their individual tastes.

Professor Daniels said some liked to open their mouths so the wind could flap their jowls around. Others go with a more discreet, closed mouth.

And a few dogs prefer not to poke their head out the window at all.

Professor Daniels said he believed that was one of the best insights of all into a dog's world.

"They are not solely driven by needs. So it is not all about food, or water, or sex, or innate behaviours," he said.

"This is something that a dog chooses to do, or not to do, and it does it for no other reason than it feels good, so in that sense, they are like us … they can do things for the love of it."

But that can lead, so to speak, to other less desirable human-like behaviours — dogs can get hooked on the feeling.

"They can have an addiction sort of issue as well," Professor Daniels said.

"They get used to it, they love it, they want to keep doing it, sometimes to the point where some dogs get anxious if you don't wind down the window.

"They'll get into the car and demand the window comes down, so they can get this fix of great sensory overload."

Unfortunately, I rarely find this to be the case. 

Some dogs discover their lookout-station (window sills, backs of sofas, etc.) on their own while others have their perch created for them by their guilt-ridden humans who hate to have to leave their dog home alone. Owners who fall into this category feel like giving their dog a view makes life better for him. But does it? In most cases this could not be farther from the truth. The dog sitting on his perch barking at the mailman, cats, cars and neighbors not only feels frustrated, but also, in many cases, an increased sense of responsibility. As humans, we know that both frustration and an added sense of responsibility both fall under the umbrella of stress.  No fun!

Think of it like this. If you were anything like I was as a child you got sent to your room for misbehaving. It was called being grounded or punished. Having a window with a view of friends playing outside while being locked up in the bedroom would actually increase the punishment, not lessen it. This increases frustration.

Then there's the territorial aspect of it. Territorial dogs will only see the window as another medium to alert them of who is encroaching on their turf which forces them to be on high alert all day long.  This increases their territorial responsibility.

Both of these mental states cause elevated stress hormone levels, which is just as bad for dogs as it is for humans. And, if we look at this situation in terms of maintaining a balanced home where the dog respects his humans, it can also throw things off. A dog that has too many responsibilities can have an inflated sense of authority as well.  The dog may start to think of himself as self-employed rather than working for a family where the humans are in charge.

So, if this has made you realize that you need to take away your dog's view, don't feel badly about it. Shut those drapes, close those blinds, take away that perch and know that you are actually giving your dog a gift by lowering his sense of responsibility and frustration - hence lowering stress levels. 

You can always alleviate those feelings of guilt by taking him for more walks, joining an agility class or taking Fido with you whenever possible.

Window seats are only for the 1% of those dogs who can totally relax and enjoy the view.

-Chad Culp, Certified Dog Trainer and Canine Behavior Consultant

© Thriving Canine, 2013

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If you have kept one or more dogs, the chances are you will have noticed that they love to sit and stare out of the windows.

From my personal experience, most dogs enjoy doing this; indeed, every dog I have had has done it.

So why do they do this? Why do dogs sit and look out of the window so much?

Let’s find out.

Why Does Your Dog Look Out of the Window for Hours at a Time?

Dogs look out the window for several reasons, including watching for potential threats (canine or human), watching for prey, and general simulation (similar to humans watching movies or listening to music).

Unless they are barking at people or dogs, there is no harm in them doing it, and it can be stimulating and enriching.

A List of Reasons Why Dogs Look Out the Window:

1. Guarding the property.
2. Watching for prey.
3. General stimulation.
4. They are waiting for their owners to come home.

Let’s look at each one of those reasons in more detail.

1. Guarding the Property

Most breeds of dogs have some territorial instinct to guard the area where they live.

Obviously, a Rottweiler is more likely to be territorial than a King Charles Cavalier Spaniel, but most breeds can still display this trait.

For dogs with a strong territorial instinct, looking out of the window and making sure no one comes onto their patch comes naturally.

2. Watching for Prey

Like the guarding instinct, many dogs have a hunting instinct and are fascinated by potential prey.

Even tiny miniature Yorkshire Terriers were initially bred as tough little hunting dogs and still have a powerful prey drive.

If you live in an area where cats, birds, squirrels, or other types of wildlife are often present, this can be highly stimulating for your dog.

3. General Stimulation

Have you ever stared at the TV, not paying any attention to what’s on, just being distracted and entertained without paying attention?

Well, staring out of the window is similar to this for your dog.

They might not be looking at anything, in particular, just enjoying the view and the changes that occur.

This is a perfectly natural and normal thing to do, and in most cases, it’s a healthy way for your dog to gain mental stimulation.

4. Waiting for Their Owners to Come Home

This is the cutest and the most well-known reason dogs like looking out the window.

Dogs have a clever ability to sense when their owners are coming home and will often look out the window as they excitedly wait to greet them.

How do they do this? They might see the owner’s car through the window or catch their scent before they are visible.

But what about a dog who waits for a while, staring out of the window when they seem to know their owner is coming home?

This short but fascinating video has a really clever theory; believe it or not, it’s related to smell!

Just click the video to start playing and find out just how clever dogs really are:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ftr9yY-YuYU

Can This Behavior Cause Problems?

The only way that this behavior could be an issue is if it either stresses out the dog or disturbs other people or pets.

If, for example, your dog barks and growls at other dogs or people, this isn’t good for your dog or anyone else.

So, if your dog gets angry, aggressive, upset, and whiny when they look out of the window, it might not be the best thing for them (or your neighbors).

If this is the case, you should block off the window or stop them from getting near it so they can’t continue doing it.

At first, they might whine and complain, but they will soon get used to it.

Note – If you stop your dog from looking out of their favorite window, you should do your best to give them something interesting to do, such as a chew toy or spend more time playing with them.

Before we go any further, here is a cute video of a lovely dog looking out a window:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_kqBjslM04

Note – You might also enjoy reading this post answering the question, why do dogs’ eyes dilate sometimes?

Should You Encourage Your Dog to Look Out of the Window?

Assuming that the behavior doesn’t upset your dog or cause any issues for you or your neighbors, you should encourage it.

Dogs need plenty of mental stimulation to be happy and mentally healthy. So if they can get some of that from looking out of your windows, then great.

Some dog owners even go as far as to make shelves or raised platforms so their dogs can get a splendid view!

Final Notes About Why Dogs Like Looking Out the Window

Dogs look out the window because of their guarding instinct, hunting instinct, or just for general stimulation.

Unless they get stressed out or aggressive from this behavior, there is nothing to worry about, and in fact, it should be encouraged as a great way of keeping them entertained.

NOTE – If you enjoyed reading this post, you might also like to read this one looking at the question – can dogs see through glass windows?