Can dogs fall out of windows?
February 16, 2009 10:31 AM Subscribe
Is it dangerous to allow a dog to stand near an open window on an upper floor?
We recently adopted a chihuahua mix who loves to sit on my husband's desk and lean out the open window. This is a second story window.
I'm afraid the dog will fall out the window if he sees a squirrel and tries to lunge toward it.
My husband says dogs are too smart to do that.
Isn't is better to be safe than sorry in this situation?
We recently adopted a chihuahua mix who loves to sit on my husband's desk and lean out the open window. This is a second story window.
I'm afraid the dog will fall out the window if he sees a squirrel and tries to lunge toward it.
My husband says dogs are too smart to do that.
Isn't is better to be safe than sorry in this situation?
Unless he's an exceptionally dumb animal it's probably not a concern. Even babies have enough sense not to crawl out an open window. Not that I'm suggesting you put your babies near open windows on upper floors, but they've done tests where they put babies on a solid surface and encouraged them to crawl forward onto a place where it's only glass, and they won't do it. Maybe a pet gate would allay your fears?
posted by phunniemee at 10:38 AM on February 16, 2009
posted by phunniemee at 10:38 AM on February 16, 2009
Is this a window with a screen on it? It doesn't sound like it.
I live on the third floor and my (half) chihuahua likes to sit on the ledge and look out the window, but there's a screen. I would think she's too smart to try to jump if there were no screen, but you never know. She definitely surprised me when she jumped out of the CAR window. (Fortunately, I was in the process of parking so only going about 1 mph. I don't think she would jump out if I was going faster but again who the hell knows? Better safe than sorry.) I keep her car harness shorter now and don't roll down the window so low.
If he really loves sticking his face out the window, I'd keep it to the first floor only (if this is a house and not an apartment?) Otherwise I'd avoid it. Although I think your dog is PROBABLY too smart to jump- well, you don't want to find out the hard way you were wrong.
posted by lblair at 10:43 AM on February 16, 2009
I live on the third floor and my (half) chihuahua likes to sit on the ledge and look out the window, but there's a screen. I would think she's too smart to try to jump if there were no screen, but you never know. She definitely surprised me when she jumped out of the CAR window. (Fortunately, I was in the process of parking so only going about 1 mph. I don't think she would jump out if I was going faster but again who the hell knows? Better safe than sorry.) I keep her car harness shorter now and don't roll down the window so low.
If he really loves sticking his face out the window, I'd keep it to the first floor only (if this is a house and not an apartment?) Otherwise I'd avoid it. Although I think your dog is PROBABLY too smart to jump- well, you don't want to find out the hard way you were wrong.
posted by lblair at 10:43 AM on February 16, 2009
As a dog owner, I wouldn't do it. Our dogs could happily look out the window all day long, but I don't like the idea of them in front of an open window. A screen or a gate in front of the window would be best.
posted by kate blank at 10:43 AM on February 16, 2009
posted by kate blank at 10:43 AM on February 16, 2009
I don't trust myself to stand near an open window on an upper floor.
posted by scottatdrake at 10:44 AM on February 16, 2009 [5 favorites]
posted by scottatdrake at 10:44 AM on February 16, 2009 [5 favorites]
I used to watch a german shepherd who would patrol the top of a roof across the street from me, off leash - it always made me nervous, but s/he seemed to be completely in control and was apparently trusted not to jump off to catch a pigeon or something (as I somehow half-imagined happening).
But if it's making you nervous, maybe that's just as important as what the dog will actually do - I usually put up a screen when my cat wants to go onto the fire escape, or watch her carefully, even though she probably would be okay (I let her go out sometimes but she's not always the most graceful of animals so i usually stay pretty close...).
To slightly edit your statement, better to feel safe than anxious - if a screen or some kind of pet door that lets him poke his head out but not lean his whole body, would make you more comfortable, what's the harm?
posted by mdn at 10:53 AM on February 16, 2009
But if it's making you nervous, maybe that's just as important as what the dog will actually do - I usually put up a screen when my cat wants to go onto the fire escape, or watch her carefully, even though she probably would be okay (I let her go out sometimes but she's not always the most graceful of animals so i usually stay pretty close...).
To slightly edit your statement, better to feel safe than anxious - if a screen or some kind of pet door that lets him poke his head out but not lean his whole body, would make you more comfortable, what's the harm?
posted by mdn at 10:53 AM on February 16, 2009
Is your dog dumb enough to do this?
If so, don't let him anywhere near the open window.
posted by jjb at 10:55 AM on February 16, 2009
If so, don't let him anywhere near the open window.
posted by jjb at 10:55 AM on February 16, 2009
I knew someone who would leave the window open (no screen) on his second story apt. His dog loved to sit on the back of the couch look outside, and did so without incident for a year. Something happened one day (squirrel? lost his footing?) and the dog fell out. The bushes below cushioned the fall, and the dog was okay. I would recommend you put in an adjustable screen insert or gate.
posted by amme at 10:59 AM on February 16, 2009
posted by amme at 10:59 AM on February 16, 2009
I used to work in an emergency animal hospital and I can think of at least 5 or 6 animals we treated over the last year who jumped or fell from second story windows. Here's a product that might help, depending on the teeniness of your chichi.
posted by Rock Steady at 11:08 AM on February 16, 2009
posted by Rock Steady at 11:08 AM on February 16, 2009
Whether or not he'll leap out the open window kind of depends on the dog--you'll have to determine for yourself if he's smart enough. But keep in mind that there could be other dangers besides lack of self-preservation instinct.
During a very hot summer, we used to keep our (second story, screened) windows open at night. I woke up one morning to the sound of one of our cats yowling, and found one of the window screens popped out of the frame, with one very terrified indoor cat lying on the concrete below. The best I could figure, he must have stretched while leaning against the screen like he does against walls sometimes, and the screen just gave out.
The cat was okay (thankfully), but needless to say, we never leave the windows open when we're not in the room anymore.
posted by tomatofruit at 11:10 AM on February 16, 2009
During a very hot summer, we used to keep our (second story, screened) windows open at night. I woke up one morning to the sound of one of our cats yowling, and found one of the window screens popped out of the frame, with one very terrified indoor cat lying on the concrete below. The best I could figure, he must have stretched while leaning against the screen like he does against walls sometimes, and the screen just gave out.
The cat was okay (thankfully), but needless to say, we never leave the windows open when we're not in the room anymore.
posted by tomatofruit at 11:10 AM on February 16, 2009
My sister's dog jumped/fell out of a second-story window, and the vet bills were huge.
posted by ClaudiaCenter at 11:17 AM on February 16, 2009
posted by ClaudiaCenter at 11:17 AM on February 16, 2009
Definitely put up some sort of gate or screen. Even if he is "smart", accidents do happen--he could fall inadvertently.
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 11:24 AM on February 16, 2009
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 11:24 AM on February 16, 2009
My sister's dog jumped from the upstairs balcony when he saw my sister on the ground level. Ended up with leg injuries requiring surgery.
posted by randomstriker at 11:39 AM on February 16, 2009
posted by randomstriker at 11:39 AM on February 16, 2009
Safe not sorry! If you need evidence of the sad things that can happen with open windows you can listen to Eric Clapton's Tears in Heaven.
posted by abirae at 11:40 AM on February 16, 2009
posted by abirae at 11:40 AM on February 16, 2009
Hmmm...ClaudiaCenter, do we have the same sister?
posted by randomstriker at 11:40 AM on February 16, 2009
posted by randomstriker at 11:40 AM on February 16, 2009
Its pretty improbable according to JP Donleavy, who for a while now has been writing a book about a dog who jumped off a balcony in NYC.
posted by sidr at 11:44 AM on February 16, 2009
posted by sidr at 11:44 AM on February 16, 2009
I wouldn't risk it. Who knows how good the dog's eyesight is and its sense of depth perception. We lived in a third floor apartment with a balcony. I would have never thought the cats would jump off there. But, one day I see one of my cats kind of straddling the lower part of the railing between supports and doing the butt wiggle thing while eying about a 1.5" piece of trim on a window ledge. He would have fallen on to concrete and probably broken a leg if not his back. After that, we put up a barrier around the bottom of the balcony and didn't let them out there unsupervised. My cat's brain is about the size a walnut and I don't trust his reasoning capabilities.
posted by amanda at 12:01 PM on February 16, 2009
posted by amanda at 12:01 PM on February 16, 2009
Yes, it can happen and yes, it's better to be safe than sorry. My friend came home to his high-rise apartment and found his dog dangling halfway out the window. This was from 30 floors up.
posted by hooray at 12:10 PM on February 16, 2009
posted by hooray at 12:10 PM on February 16, 2009
By the way, this is the cat. He looks pretty smart, doesn't he? Brain. The size. Of a walnut.
I wonder if something like this wouldn't be worth looking into. Screens really are not meant to keep people or animals from jumping through them. They might help and definitely provide a visual marker but you shouldn't rely on them.
posted by amanda at 12:12 PM on February 16, 2009
I wonder if something like this wouldn't be worth looking into. Screens really are not meant to keep people or animals from jumping through them. They might help and definitely provide a visual marker but you shouldn't rely on them.
posted by amanda at 12:12 PM on February 16, 2009
Yes. A friend of mine's dog fell out a window and died. I wouldn't take any chances.
posted by mgarnhum at 1:00 PM on February 16, 2009
posted by mgarnhum at 1:00 PM on February 16, 2009
Unless he's an exceptionally dumb animal it's probably not a concern.
Unfortunately, small dogs tend to be pretty dumb. The Maltese I grew up with charged a horse, and the chihuahua I have now will charge anything and everything bigger than she is. Put up a screen.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 1:25 PM on February 16, 2009 [1 favorite]
Unfortunately, small dogs tend to be pretty dumb. The Maltese I grew up with charged a horse, and the chihuahua I have now will charge anything and everything bigger than she is. Put up a screen.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 1:25 PM on February 16, 2009 [1 favorite]
Yeah this makes me really nervous, please secure your companion and your egresses.
posted by turgid dahlia at 2:57 PM on February 16, 2009
posted by turgid dahlia at 2:57 PM on February 16, 2009
When I was little, my medium-sized dog jumped out of my sister's bedroom window on the second floor. She landed on her back on the driveway, got up and bolted away*. I'm not sure how she escaped physical harm.
Please please don't let your doggie near an open window on an upper floor.
*She loved running away, but I *swear* we were really nice to her.
posted by Stewriffic at 3:46 PM on February 16, 2009
Please please don't let your doggie near an open window on an upper floor.
*She loved running away, but I *swear* we were really nice to her.
posted by Stewriffic at 3:46 PM on February 16, 2009
I wedge cookie-cooling racks in the unscreened windows of my apartment. They fit in there nice and tight, don't impede air flow as badly as a screen does, they only cost a buck at the dollar store, and they give me peace of mind. I think my cats are probably smart enough not to fall out the window, but on the other hand, they do drink out of the toilet and they occasionally fall off the couch.
posted by pseudostrabismus at 4:27 PM on February 16, 2009
posted by pseudostrabismus at 4:27 PM on February 16, 2009
Response by poster: Thanks so much everyone!
No, there's no screen, but even if there was, screens are not a good barrier even for a little dog.
Yes, we live in a house in a residential neighborhood. It's not a long drop, but there are pointy bushes down below that would probably impale our little Peanut.
posted by SallyHitMeOntheHead at 5:24 PM on February 16, 2009
No, there's no screen, but even if there was, screens are not a good barrier even for a little dog.
Yes, we live in a house in a residential neighborhood. It's not a long drop, but there are pointy bushes down below that would probably impale our little Peanut.
posted by SallyHitMeOntheHead at 5:24 PM on February 16, 2009
My friend's dog jumped off a second story balcony once. My dog is not stupid, but if he sees something worth chasing I do not doubt for a second he would attempt some acrobatics to get at it. I don't think it's a smart vs dumb thing, just that some things are irresistibly shiny to them so when they are all SQUIRRELSQUIRRELSQUIRREL!!! the fact that they might not be able to make the jump doesn't really enter the equation.
posted by bradbane at 5:32 PM on February 16, 2009
posted by bradbane at 5:32 PM on February 16, 2009
"My husband says dogs are too smart to do that. "
smart animals (and people) get into accidents all the time. Put up a screen.
posted by silkygreenbelly at 5:39 PM on February 16, 2009
smart animals (and people) get into accidents all the time. Put up a screen.
posted by silkygreenbelly at 5:39 PM on February 16, 2009
Sometimes dogs have no concept of their relative space.
Case in example:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9nCBXhoo3M
posted by pakoothefakoo at 1:56 PM on February 18, 2009
Case in example:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9nCBXhoo3M
posted by pakoothefakoo at 1:56 PM on February 18, 2009
This thread is closed to new comments.
I had two cats, one of which would loll about securely on the windowsill all day long, and another which would spot a bug outside and dash himself against the glass. Guess which one didn't get to go near open windows...
posted by Aquaman at 10:38 AM on February 16, 2009