Just as a car can be like a greenhouse in summer and become much hotter than it is outside, it can also act like a refrigerator in the winter and become much colder. A car has little to no insulation.
Sure, if your dog is a Siberian husky or another northern breed with a thick coat, she’s probably going to fare well in the cold weather while waiting in the back seat as you pick up a few odds and ends. But once the temperature falls below 45 degrees Fahrenheit, many dogs with thin coats will start to feel uncomfortable. In fact, when it’s extremely cold out, a canine pet left in a car that has been turned off can potentially develop hypothermia while you do your shopping.
The smaller the dog, the greater the safety hazard. They have more surface area relative to their volume than larger dogs do, meaning they lose more heat than they take in.
If you do have to leave a small dog in the car when it’s particularly cold out, keep your errand short. The American Kennel Club also suggests having blankets your pet can burrow into to trap her own body heat. Another option is to just leave your dog home. Remember, walking from your heated car to a heated store takes you a minute or less. Imagine how it would feel to have to sit still for 10 or 15 minutes when it’s 30 degrees out.
Take note: A number of states have laws against leaving a dog in a parked car, no matter what the season.
