Dogs prefer electric cars for stress-free journeys

Skoda shares top tips to for aiding a dog’s anxiety when travelling by car

Dogs really feel more relaxed when travelling in electric cars, suggests new study carried out by veterinary surgeon Dr Scott Miller.

The dog expert, who is ITV This Morning’s resident vet, found canines are less stressed when travelling in an EV in comparison to fuel powered cars.

The research involved monitoring a dog’s heart rate when travelling in three cars with different fuel types – electric, diesel and petrol.

One year-old Cocker Spaniel Mango was driven around a private track in three different Škoda models. Reaching speeds of up to 70mph, Mango’s behaviour was monitored during each drive and his pulse rate checked after each journey, with significant results.

Mango’s resting heart rate of 80 beats per minute (BPM) only rose to 100 BPM in the new Elroq. In contrast, his heart rate surged to 120 BPM and 125 BPM in the petrol and diesel cars, respectively, indicating higher stress levels.  

What’s more, Mango appeared to be more relaxed in the Elroq, lying down and almost falling asleep during the drive. In the fuel-powered cars he appeared more distracted and less settled.

The experiment was conducted to mark Škoda’s continued sponsorship of Crufts, the world’s largest dog show, and took place at the former Top Gear test track in Surrey.

Dr Miller said: “The experiment clearly shows the health and psychological benefits of travelling in an EV for dogs. Observing Mango’s reactions while travelling at the same speed on the same track, but in different vehicles, made it clear that the EV provided a smoother and more calming experience.

“The quiet mechanics, absence of gear changes, and the spacious interiors of electric cars create a soothing environment for dogs, ensuring a more relaxed and happy travel experience for our furry companions.”

The test'sresults are further supported by a survey of 1,500 dog-owning drivers, revealing that nearly a third (32%) worry about their dog's anxiety during car journeys.

Dog owners’ also have concerns about their pet’s safety (38%), lack of space (7%), and difficulty securing their dog safely (7%).

The survey from Škoda found that 53% of dog owners hit the road with their pets at least once a week. However, more than half (54%) have avoided driving with their dog altogether, and 51% would steer clear of specific journeys if their dog had to come along.

For those who do brave the open road, the biggest deal-breaker drives for dog owners include long motorway or A-road trips (50%), journeys over 30 miles (46%), and navigating busy built-up areas (40%).

The fact that our four-legged friends hold such a special place in our lives was born out with nearly half (41%) of dog owners even factoring their dog‘s comfort into choosing their next car. And, with almost a third (31%) believing EVs offer a quieter, comfier ride, it’s clear that dog-friendly driving is a growing priority when choosing a new family car.

Dog behaviourist and expert Anna Webb said: “Mango’s body language clearly showed his preference for travelling in an EV where he’s lying down on the back seat, relaxed, with soft semi-closed brown eyes. Whereas in the traditional fuel powered cars, he’s sitting bolt upright and tense. Turning his head dramatically with rapid wide eye movement, showing the whites of his eyes all clear physical signs of stress.

“Confirming Mango’s adrenalin and stress levels were physiologically higher in the traditional vehicles, his resting pulse rate at 80 beats per minute (BPM) raised to just 100 BPM when travelling in the EV. In contrast, it increased to 120 BPM in the petrol model and 125 BPM in the diesel vehicle.

“As dogs’ hearing is four times more acute than ours, they pick up on sound frequencies of the traditional engine noises that are inaudible to people. Similarly, the vibrations of the petrol and diesel cars can cause ‘motion sickness’, raising Mango’s heart rate by feeling nauseous.”

Top tips

Anna Webb shared her top 10 tips for keeping your dog calm no matter what car you drive:

1. Make them feel safe: Train your dog to settle in a pet carrier, crate or in a dog seat-belt harness. It may feel restrictive at first, but it creates a secure and protective space. It’s also the law under the Highway Code (rule 57), and non-compliance can result in a hefty £5,000 fine!
2. Spot signs of stress: If you notice signs of stress through ‘physical signals’ like barking, whining, drooling, panting, chewing their paws, licking, or chewing the carrier/seat belt, you should stop and shorten the experience with a break. Keep training sessions short and fun, as the aim is for your pooch to stay calm and be settled.
3. Ease into travel: From your dog’s perspective, a car is a closed space (without an escape route), which can stress your dog. Start with short trips and gradually increase the duration, always making each journey positive.
4. Create a consistently positive environment: Associate the car with positive sensory experiences. Play the radio or a playlist, like Happy Hounds on Spotify, outside of the car as well as inside to use ‘sound therapy’ to familiarise your dog with their environment.
5. Listen to vocal cues: Listen out for vocalising including whining, howling, barking, and heavy panting, all of which are expressed when other more body language cues have failed to communicate their discomfort, anxiety and stress. If this happens, pull over, take a break and go back a few steps in your training.
6. Manage sound sensitivity: Your dog’s hearing is 4 x times more acute than yours, and they hear both high and low frequencies that are inaudible to people. So be mindful of engine noises, other vehicles, heavy rain and keep your  radio or playlist at a low level.
7. Ensure proper ventilation: The vibrations from traditional cars in transit can trigger stress from ‘motion sickness’ and feeling nauseous, and a dog’s immense olfaction (which is over a million times more acute than ours) means smells can trigger motion sickness. Drive smoothly and ventilate your vehicle appropriately. 
8. Stay calm: Stay calm in a traffic jam! Scientific research proves that dogs can smell cortisol (the stress hormone) rising in their owners, making dogs feel pessimistic. So keep a lid on your stress to help keep your dog feeling calm and optimistic.
9. Monitor temperature: Even in winter, a car’s interior can get hot, and dogs’ body temperature is two degrees higher than ours. Always ensure the back seat remains under 20 degrees centigrade and carry a flask of water with you.
10. Plan your journey: Travel early or late in the day to avoid the heat or rush hour traffic, factoring in regular comfort breaks so your pooch can take the air, stretch their legs, have a drink and receive positive attention to feel refreshed for the next leg of the trip.