everytime i need to take my dog for a car ride he is excited to get in but once we start driving he starts shaking and moving around a lot. is there any way to get him to relax at least a little bit?
breed: black lab terrior mix
size: small
age: 3years (but still acts like a puppy)
2007-02-02 13:23:00 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Dogs
I don't know exactly how big your dog is, but if he is small enough(or your vehicle is big enough) let him ride in a pet carrier. He will feel safer that way. A lot of dogs feel overwhelmed by all the sights riding in a vehicle. My parents have a rat terrier and he only goes "bye-bye" if he can get in his "house" first before getting in the van.
Hope I helped! ;)
2007-02-02 13:33:34 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Many dogs have no trouble adjusting to a car journey, long or short, but for others it can be a bad experience if they have not been properly prepared, or their needs during the trip are neglected.
First, if your dog has not been used to being in a car, take them for short trips, always before a meal rather than soon after (this helps avoid car-sickness). Make the association with the car ride rewarding for the dog by giving a treat or meal as soon as the trip is over
To make the dog more comfortable during traveling:
-Have the dog ride inside the car rather than in the back of a pick-up or inside a camper.
-Make sure there is plenty of fresh air and that the temperature is not too hot towards the back of the car where the dog will likely be
I think your dog may be suffering from motion sickness. You can tell if your dog is restless or vomiting. You should try travel drops. Travel Drops are an all-natural, homeopathic mixture that is designed to ease the symptoms of dogs who suffer from motion sickness. It has a calming effect on the dog's nervous and digestive systems. It's not a sedating formula, and works well for car-sickness, sea-sickness, and air-sickness as well. Waiting at least six hours between the last meal and traveling will help. In severe cases of motion sickness, your veterinarian can prescribe medication to be given before a journey.
Hope this helps!
2007-02-02 13:31:48 · answer #2 · answered by Jennifer 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have fiest dogs they are similar to Jack Russell's and I have one she just freaks and sits on my shoulder but I started taking her to a breakfast place we have in this region and they give out through the drive thru little real biscuits shaped like a bone and she will take it over to the other side of the front seat and eat it and she now stays there after that looking out that side of the car.Good Luck MC Donalds chicken nuggets may work fine onlt just a couple of small bites then your pooch will relate the car with a treat. but as time goes by she may want to sniff out the window and come spring time she will have forgotten about the treat thing.
2007-02-02 14:24:56 · answer #3 · answered by connor'snana 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try exercising him first (to tire him out a bit), and then just sitting the car without it moving and get him used to sitting quietly. Keep doing this until he can sit and relax in the car for at least 15 mins with the car not moving. (Of course, he needs to be trained to sit and stay very well in the house before he can be expected to listen and control himself in an excitable environment.) Then, once he can sit and stay and relax in the car without it moving, drive around the block. Keep building it up until he can stay for any length of time and relax. You can also drive around empty parking lots where it's safer for both of you. Feel free to dole out plenty of treats when he is sitting quietly & relaxing to reinforce that behavior.
2007-02-02 13:36:14 · answer #4 · answered by iceez81 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
my dog is 15 years old and he still acts like a puppy. the way I get him settled is to allow him to look out the window. dogs hate not knowing where their heading, their kinder like humans, you would get car sick too or play up because you couldnt see anything. If your the only one in the car tie his lead around the door loosly with the window open a bit. Moving around or shaking is natural too, they like to get comfortable so they circle an area alot before sitting, just like they do at home.
2007-02-02 13:37:05 · answer #5 · answered by bluetinkerbell 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try small short trips - around the block, maybe - every so often and get him use to the car. Take him out, play with him after the card ride and offer him a treat! Make it a game, if you can.
2007-02-02 16:16:59 · answer #6 · answered by wotana02 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My labrador too, can't sit quietly like my other dogs. Wondering all labs are too too exited in the car. Maybe my lab is worst, he'll climb to the driver seat, exploring why we're holding to the steering.
For me, I don't dare to drive alone with my lab coz he is too active. I get someone else to come with me and control him.
At times when I'm taking him alone, I'll talk to him all the way, telling him he is a goodboy and must sit quietly..etc..
This does helped a bit.
2007-02-02 13:40:40 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Put him in a kennel, it may seem cruel but having him loose in the car can also be dangerous, imagine if you had an acident, he could go through the windshield.
2007-02-02 13:31:49 · answer #8 · answered by Graham S 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
1: exercise him
2: kennel
3: train him to sit still during car rides ("sit" command and treats for good behavior" keep extending time between treats
Good luck with your pooch!
2007-02-02 14:11:36 · answer #9 · answered by LakeviewChitown 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
use a seat belt lol. im actually being serious.
2007-02-02 13:31:01 · answer #10 · answered by shakethejake08 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋