An open window on a warm day is not adequate to keep a vehicle cool enough to leave a dog. This amazing product is designed to allow greater airflow and ventilation by keeping the tailgate open but locked.

There are many times at trials, and during rest stops on the way to and from trials, that is convenient to leave your dogs in the car. But until now, for the security of your dogs and everything else in your vehicle, the only ventilation you could provide for them is leaving the windows cracked open. The Cool Dog Tailgate Lock allows more ventilation into your vehicle than just having the windows open, while at the same time allowing you to lock your vehicle in the normal way, using either your key or keyless locking device.

The Cool Dog Tailgate Lock works by fixing your rear door or tailgate in a semi-open position. Combined with a front window open just an inch or two, you'll have free-flowing air just where the dogs need it most—on their noses at the back of the vehicle. It takes only 10 seconds to install or remove the Tailgate Lock; no tools are required.

The Cool Dog Tailgate Lock is made from steel and then coated with a tough polymer-based epoxy polyester finish. It is incredibly strong and made to withstand a lifetime of hard use and all but the most determined thief. 

Note: This product works like the Ventlock that we sold previously, as well as the Cool Dog Tailgate that we currently sell. Because of problems getting stock from the manufacturers, we have chosen to carry both the Bootlock and the Cool Dog products so that we have more inventory available.

Will the Cool Dog Tailgate Lock Fit My Vehicle?

The Cool Dog Tailgate Lock fits 99% of estate cars, hatchbacks, vans, and 4-wheel drive vehicles fitted with a rear door. The lock will fit your vehicle if it has a catch or post similar to anything shown in these photos:

We are frequently asked whether the Cool Dog Tailgate Lock will work with your alarm system. It works on the majority of manufacturer-installed central locking and alarm systems, which means that you can use the Tailgate Lock and still lock and alarm the car. However, occasionally, some vehicles (usually those fitted with alarms after the car has been purchased) have sensors that do not allow you to leave any doors open. In this case, you would lock the car with the central locking and the Tailgate Lock in place, but not set the alarm.

Security Notes

• On some vehicles, such as full-size vans, there may be a manual latch on the rear doors to open the vehicle that will be accessible with the Cool Dog  Tailgate Lock in place. In this event, be aware that the Tailgate Lock will not keep your vehicle secure from others entering it. However, if you frequently crate your dogs in your car at trials and don't require locked security, you may still find the Tailgate Lock useful for limiting what your dog sees. If you need locked security, however, you need to ensure that installing a Cool Dog  Tailgate Lock does not allow access to any release catches, buttons, or handles from outside the vehicle.

• It's important to note that unlocking your car will only unlock the Cool Dog Tailgate Lock, it will not release it from the latch. You must lift/open your door handle to release the Tailgate Lock from its position.

Safety Notes

• As dog owners ourselves, we feel duty-bound to say that whatever method of ventilation or protection against sunlight you use for your dogs when they are in a parked car, there can be no substitute for checking your dog on a regular basis—even if they are in the shade. Do not leave pets unattended in a parked vehicle in direct sunlight even with your windows open.

• The Cool Dog  Tailgate Lock is not suitable for use when the vehicle is moving or when the engine is running.

What size Tailgate Lock do you need? Click on the Sizing tab above for advice on what size you should buy.