What's a good way to make a dog less nervous in the car?

Question

my dog loves to hop into my car but he hates when we start to drive is there any way to make him less nervous when we go for rides

Answer 1

yes there is. What you need to do is start by putting the dog in the car and back out the driveway and then drive back in. Then take the dog out and play with. Each day drive the car a little farther till the dog gets to like it when you can go far enough to get to a park. Take the dog there and play with it.

Answer 2

As a greyhound rescue director, I am fairly spoiled as most greyhounds are perfect travel companions, settling in and sleeping for most of the ride, or happily looking out the window quietly.

However, there are always a few dogs of any breed who just do not travel well. Here are some techniques that we have used successfully:

1) Have someone sit with the dog in the back seat, petting and talking to the dog during travel. This will take his/her mind off being nervous about riding, and provide a good happy experience. After the dog has decided he can lay down and sleep while the car is moving, you will want to move on to a second step, so that the dog can eventually travel w/o human interaction in the back seat (BTW, Dogs, like small children, should NEVER travel in the front seat).

2) Take a favorite dog chew toy, like a kong and fill it with really yummy treats, and give this to the dog when he gets into the back seat. Allow him a moment or two to settle into his treat before you start the car. Then drive only short distances so that he can successfully concentrate on the toy for the whole trip. When you stop, get him out, praise him for being so quiet, and give him a special treat. (around the block works best). Wait for several hours or a day and do it again, gradually lengthing the trip until he can go all the way to the park or the vet's or the pet store in peace.

3) once you have him making short trips with the kong peacefully, now is the time to try him w/o something else to concentrate on. This step may never be reached, and that's ok, but some folks may want to try it anyway. Try him on a short trip around the block w/o anything else to concentrate on. If he has settled and is comfortable, you should be ready for anything. Every once in a while, you may want to surprise him with a kong toy or someone riding with him, to provide variety and allow him to understand that he may still be given extra attention and treats when rigind in the car. If this doesn't work, go back to step 1 or 2 and you will not beable to go further. Some dogs never do get totally comfortable with travelling in a car, and it is probably for the same reasons as humans have difficulty sometimes - motion sickness.

I will add that if the dog does not even manage step one very well, motion sickness is probably your culprit, and you may want to discuss with your vet about medication interventions to make him/her more comfortable during travel.

Answer 3

Take several short, happy trips to show that it's not always to a bad place (like the vet's). Maybe take a treat for him. Open his window a little so he can stick his head out in the wind. My dog was very nervous on car rides at first but we make sure she is totally comfortable and gets whatever she wants, and she has become very relaxed and now looks forward to car rides!

Answer 4

To make a dog less nervous in a car hold on to it and talk and love it.Never let go of it.It might even like to stick it's head out of the window.

Answer 5

My dog is just like that. She gets all flustered and agitated once we start driving. I'm pretty sure there are preparations available to slightly tranquilize the animal, we've just never taken her on long rides so we haven't tried them. As out dog has aged, she's mellowed out a bit, but she still paces on the back seat when we drive.

Answer 6

A sedative.

I had a really high strung, separation anxiety (took antideps), yappy, un-crate trained dog (I inherited him at 7 yrs old). He would whine the whole trip. He tried to climb on my lap while I'm driving. One window to the other, back and forth. It's really hard to break old habits. I wish I'd have raised him from a pup.

Anyway, he needed a sedative.

TX Mom
not an expert

Answer 7

1.put treats in the car. let the dog get familiar. DONT DRIVE IT YET!
2. have the dog get in and just turn on the car, so they dont get startled.
3. have someone else with u and go on a really short drive. they can hold the dog and comfort them. keep saying good boy/girl and rub the tips of their ears.

just take things slowly. my dog would always puke because he was so nervous. we found it best not to have him in a crate during rides because he would feel cut off so we hold him. puking problem solved!

Answer 8

Agrees with skyhoss , this is how mine was trained in riding in the car .for about 2 wks when i get home from work he would meet me in garage i would put him in the car ride up and down drive way ,after he loves riding now

Answer 9

tie the dog to under the front passanger seat and sit them on the floor behind the passanger seat that way they will not be able to see all the things rushing past and that should calm him down hope this helps

Answer 10

take the dog for short rides....and see how it adjusts. some dogs will love riding and some never get used to it.