Proceed with Caution
However, it isnt the perfect solution, and pet owners still need to use discretion. This feature isnt a substitute for any laws, and theres always a risk that dogs may overheat in the vehicle.
Even recently, there was an error with Tesla’s Dog Mode. An owner set the car to dog-mode, but made a slight adjustment to temperature before leaving the car. His manual adjustment turned Dog Mode from Auto to Manual, and shut off temperature control after just 10 minutes. Thankfully, he returned before his dog was harmed. Elon Musk has already responded and is actively working to fix the issue.
As Tesla continues to develop its vehicles and accompanying updates, this feature is sure to only get better with time. And hopefully, other carmakers will follow suit and include similar options like Dog Mode.
Will Tesla’s Dog Mode Make it Safe to Leave Your Pup in the Car?
Imagine this. After weeks of scorching temps, a cold front moves in for a much-needed reprieve from the heat. It’s about 70 degrees, making it a perfect day to get a few quick errands done.
As a dog parent who loves spoiling your baby, you decide to bring her along to get some fresh air. Youve heard the warnings about leaving your pets in parked cars during the summer. But the weather has cooled to the lowest it’s been in weeks, and you cracked the windows. Besides, you wont take long. Surely theres nothing to worry about, right?
Unfortunately, it couldn’t be further from the truth.
Do All Teslas Have Dog Mode?
At this time, the Model S, Model X, Model 3, and Model Y can all receive over-the-air updates for Dog Mode capability. The Model S and Model X have the most spacious layouts for pets using Dog Mode for longer periods (or for multiple doggos on one trip). For short errands in a Tesla, even a Model 3 in Dog Mode has plenty of space.
The one exception to Tesla’s Dog Mode lineup is the original Tesla Roadster, which does not have the feature.
Regardless of the Model, always make sure your Tesla is updated to the latest version to keep Dog Mode programming current. It can also be helpful to test Dog Mode under safe circumstances after major updates to ensure that everything is working properly before leaving your pet alone in the car. There have only been a few reported glitches in Dog Mode after updates, but it’s still worth checking occasionally.
Tesla with Dog Mode
Many believe that leaving pets inside a Tesla vehicle is one of the safest options of leaving your beloved animals while owners go out and run errands. This is because Tesla vehicles have what’s known as “Dog Mode,” which keeps the temperature inside the EV car cool for pets.
However, one Tesla owner discovered that there’s a flaw in the design and that it only works if the app is on auto mode. If the feature is set manually, there’s actually a very big chance that the feature could turn off and endanger animals.
“@elonmusk @Tesla warning about dog mode… Its hot as all hell in Seattle. Today I used dog mode and luckily I kept the app open, to my horror the car was 85 degrees and climbing! Dog mode only works if in auto, if you manually set the fan and leave the AC turns off,” Tesla owner Rahul Sood said in a Tweet.
According to The Verge, Sood turned on Dog Mode before adjusting the fan settings. He then left his 7-month-old Boxer pup inside his Tesla Model X. When he later checked on the Tesla app, he discovered that the temperature has gone up to 85 degrees because the Dog Mode automatically turned off. He then returned to his car to check on his pup. Fortunately, it was safe.
The pet feature is part of Tesla’s “Cabin Overheat Protection” which rolled out early this year and was conceptualized to make sure that the car remains cool when it reaches certain temperatures to ensure that (human) babies and pets left in the car remain safe.
Aside from adjusting temperatures, it also leaves a note on the car’s touchscreen to inform passersby that the occupants inside the car are safe and that the owner will be back soon.
The Tesla owner was elated that Musk noticed his warning. “The fact that the CEO responded as quickly as he did is pretty awesome,” he said.
Musk’s EV company is known for introducing various updates to its vehicles via over-the-air software updates, so the Dog Mode function could be corrected through this as well. Aside from Dog Mode, Tesla has several other unique car features including driver assistance and even video games mode.