Skip advert
Advertisement

Dogs jumping from high SUVs risk injury, says study

Jumping out of high SUV boots is shown to place more stress on dogs’ front legs, potentially doing long-term harm

Nissan X-Trail 4Dogs concept

A new study has shown dog-owning SUV drivers could be putting their pets’ health at risk by forcing them to jump out of their cars’ high boots.

Researchers analysed the impact leaping from different heights had on dogs’ legs, getting 15 dogs to jump from platforms set to three different heights.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Best cars for pets 2018

The study’s authors found that “allowing dogs to repeatedly jump clear from vehicles with high boot compartments may be inadvisable."

The dogs in question were made to jump from platforms set at 0.55, 0.65 and 0.75 metres, simulating common car boot heights. The study, published in Vet Record, found that the stresses placed on the dogs’ front legs progressively increased as the platform’s height was increased.

There was roughly a 25 per cent increase in peak ground force pressure between the lowest and highest platforms. This led Dr Alison Wills, one of the study’s authors and a senior lecturer in animal science at Hartpury University, to warn that “allowing dogs to jump from bigger cars with a higher boot sill may result in augmented levels of loading on anatomical structures."

Dr Wills also cautioned that “dogs jumping from a vehicle may have undergone an extended period of rest meaning they lack the warm up that is essential for injury prevention."

Dog owners concerned about their pets’ jumping from their SUVs may wish to give Nissan a call: following the positive reception of its 4Dogs concept, the company introduced an optional Paw Pack for its X-Trail SUV. This includes a dog guard, a bed, and crucially a ramp for dogs to walk up and down when accessing the car’s boot.

Need to keep your car clean for your dog? These are the best car boot liners money can buy…

Skip advert
Advertisement

Find a car with the experts

Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k
Kia PV5 Passenger - show front

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k

New entry into the electric people carrier market undercuts the VW ID. Buzz by a significant margin
News
29 Apr 2025
Car Deal of the Day: BMW’s ultimate luxury SUV at an unusually low price
BMW X7 - front

Car Deal of the Day: BMW’s ultimate luxury SUV at an unusually low price

German firm’s flagship SUV could never be called cheap but it is exceptional value at £735 a month – making it our Deal of the Day for Sunday 27 April
News
27 Apr 2025
New 2025 Kia PV5 van starts from a tempting £22,645
Kia PV5 Cargo on display at Commercial Vehicle Show - front 3/4

New 2025 Kia PV5 van starts from a tempting £22,645

All-new entry into the van market promises competitive pricing and comes with a range of up to 247 miles
News
30 Apr 2025