Dog Mode is slowly spreading

Dog Mode

I have a friend who has had some recent headaches with her Tesla and has threatened to move on to another vehicle. But, she wonders why no one else has Dog Mode, which she makes great us of.

Dog Mode allows the temperature in the car to be set, keeping the vehicle interior at that temperature until you return. Whether the cabin needs to be heated or cooled, the car will control the HVAC to hold the selected temperature.

She has a point, and rather misses another.

First and foremost, any car — electric or otherwise — with a remote start option or a remote climate control option can be effectively used as a pet protector, which is the missed point! More on that in a bit.

But, since dog mode is such a good idea, this first spurred a search, and while its taken more time than it should have, it does appear that pet protection is at last being added by a number of manufacturers.

Other Manufacturers

The search found that Ford, Rivian, Lucid and Volvo have added similar features. Hyundai and Chevrolet were included in the list, but we couldn’t find any indication of this in any Hyundai, Kia, Genesis or Chevrolet model.

The other manufacturers use different names, and while there may be a copyright on the use of Dog Mode, its more likely that others just like to apply their own name to systems that perform the same function. For instance Ford calls theirs Pet Mode, which is sensible, while Lucid takes it a step too far calling it Creature Comfort Mode.

But back to remote start. In an EV, since there is no engine to warm up, this is nothing more than cabin preconditioning. This could easily be used in place of an actual pet mode to keep a pet safe.

However, remote start shuts down if no one comes to the vehicle to actually drive it. In a Kia for instance, this is 10 minutes.

Further, remote start is available in vehicles using internal combustion engines (ICE) as well. In this case, the engine would be running throwing its exhaust into the air, but at least your pet will be safe.

However, if you use remote start to keep a pet safe be sure you have enough battery power or gasoline. The Telsa feature only works above 20% battery or a little less than a “quarter” tank of fuel. A good rule of thumb.

But the real point to manufacturers is this: just exactly how difficult is it to gather existing software applications and making a Dog Mode button and screen? This is a seriously popular and potentially even life saving feature. It can be applied to humans left in the car as well…

If you make use of remote start for this purpose, you may want to make a sign to place in your window letting outsiders know. Otherwise a good samaritan may be tempted to smash a window to rescue your pet…

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Remember that only proper service and repair procedures will ensure the safe and reliable operation of your car. In addition, proper safety procedures and precautions, such as the use of safety goggles, the right tools and the equipment should be followed at all times to eliminate the possibility of personal injury or improper service which could damage the vehicle or compromise its safety.

These posts are for information sharing purposes only, and should not be used in lieu of an OEM service manual or factory authorized service procedure. We are not in the auto repair business nor do we publish automotive service manuals. Nothing we include on these pages and posts has been reviewed, approved or authorized by any vehicle manufacturer.

Technology is always changing and what is current and accurate today may be literally out-of-date and inaccurate tomorrow. And when it comes to the current state of flux in the auto industry, nothing is more true.