What is Tesla Dog Mode?

Tesla dog mode is a climate control feature that allows drivers to keep their pets safe in a climate-controlled cabin of a Tesla vehicle. This climate control feature allows the driver to adjust the temperature and keep their pets warm or cool depending on the climate conditions. The dog mode displays a message for the passersby on Tesla’s screen saying “My owner will be back soon. Don't worry! The heater [or A/C] is on and it's XX degrees.” This message explains to them that the pet is safe in the Tesla car and the owner is in the vicinity. 

Tesla released the following video announcing the release of the new feature in February 2019, that you can watch here. The most recent dog mode update in early 2022 allowed owners to activate this setting from outside of the vehicle.

This unique feature was released after a Tesla fan tweeted Elon Musk — asking to introduce a dog mode feature. Musk is well-known for his twitter activity and he quickly replied, “yes”. The dog mode can be turned on by simply selecting the fan icon on the Tesla touch screen and clicking on “Dog” under the “Keep Climate On” settings. If the owner is gone for a long period and the battery drops below 20%, a notification is sent to the owner’s phone advising them to return to their pet(s).

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How long can you keep dog mode on?

Dog mode will remain on until your car runs out of battery. The heater or the air conditioner is directly powered by your car’s battery. The climate control feature draws the largest amount of power after driving. But the amount of power consumed is dependent on the outdoor temperature and the energy required to sustain the specified temperature.

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When dog mode is activated, the battery is drained at a rate similar to that of driving 4 miles per hour. This estimate will vary depending on whether you are using the air conditioning or heater, the outside temperature, and the model of your Tesla.

The dog mode is available in all Tesla models and you do not need premium connectivity to receive notifications or control your car from your Tesla app. Dog mode will automatically turn off once you are back in your car and start driving.

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Another New Feature

Tesla also announced the “sentry mode” at the same time it announced its dog mode. However, it should be noted that both these modes cannot be used together. The sentry mode monitors the car's surroundings when the car is locked and parked.

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The external cameras in the Tesla vehicle detect any unusual and threatening movements. If a minimal threat is detected, like someone is leaning on the car, sentry mode switches to “alert state” and the screen displays a warning that the cameras are recording. If there is a severe threat, like someone trying to break in, the sentry mode switches to “alarm mode,” which activates the car’s alarm, increases screen brightness, and turns on the car’s audio system to maximum volume. The owner receives an alert on their phone that an incident has occurred. Owners can download the video taken by the car’s cameras through their Tesla mobile app.

Tesla dog mode, along with its sentry mode, makes sure that your car is safe at all times. To ensure these features work effectively, however, your electric vehicle needs to be sufficiently charged. Optiwatt is one app that allows Tesla owners to monitor their charging needs and even save money while doing so.

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Why do we need this?

Leaving your beloved pet in the car exposed to the sun or cold is extremely dangerous. The heat can get trapped inside your car and cause your pet to overheat, which can lead to illness or death. There have been several studies that revealed that a car parked in the sun for just an hour can reach temperatures of over 120 Fahrenheit during the fall and spring. Summers are even worse and the temperature inside the car can go as high as 180 Fahrenheit.

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Even if the outside temperature is 70 degrees, the car can get as hot as 100 degrees in just 10 minutes. The average internal temperature of a dog is 105.2 degrees. If it crosses 111 degrees due to overheating, it may lead to failure of their circulation system, kidney failure, brain damage, and internal bleeding. Your dog may not survive this. In 2019 alone, around 82 dogs died after being left inside a car.

There are also several states that are allowing bystanders to rescue pets from hot cars. In 2021, a Las Vegas woman was arrested and charged with three counts of wilful malicious torture of an animal after she left three dogs in her parked car. Out of those three dogs, one had to be euthanized due to heatstroke.

Protecting your dogs is not just your responsibility but also a state-mandated law in several places. Locking your dog inside a hot/cold vehicle is illegal in 28 US states, which means you could be arrested and charged with animal abuse.

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How well does Tesla dog mode work?

Tesla dog mode works incredibly well when the battery is charged. In the case of traditional gasoline cars, the cars have to be left running for a period of time. However, Tesla allows for climate control even when the vehicle is off. With a Tesla, you won’t have to keep your car on to keep your pet safe.

The large infotainment message displayed on the touchscreen allows the passersby to know that the pet is safe and does not need to be rescued. There have not been many cases where passersby have tried to break into Tesla vehicles to save the pets locked inside. However, some people might not see the message on the display and assume the worst, so it is sometimes recommended to leave an additional note on the window to assure passersby that your pet is safe.

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