The holidays are fast approaching. Perhaps faster than some of us would like!

 

If the impending holiday season means traveling to see friends and family for the holidays, big decisions about whether to mask or not mask (*ahem Covid*) or take your dog with you may be weighing on your mind. 

 

Our pets are certainly part of the family. And traveling with them may seem like a logical decision to make. But what if your dog has anxiety in the car? How do you get him to enjoy the ride? 

 

Some dogs love car rides and in others it produces anxiety.

 

A lot of dogs love going for car rides-it brings a sense of excitement and adventure. For other dogs, a car ride brings fear and anxiety.  

 

You probably already know if your dog has car anxiety. But in case you’re on the fence about if his behaviors are excitement or anxiety, here are some signs a dog may display to show that they are anxious. 

 

• Resists getting into the car
• Trembling 
• Whining or barking
• Panting, yawning, or drooling 
• Constant lip licking 
• Chewing or licking themselves 
• Bathroom accidents 
• Vomiting. 

 

So where do these fears and anxieties come from? 

 

For puppies, it could be just the unknown. A car ride is a new experience and they don’t know what to expect. 

 

From older dogs, it could be due to 

 

• A bad car ride experience
• Motion sickness
• A feeling of being trapped 
• Going mostly to an unpleasant location- like the vet’s office. 

 

How to help your dog get comfortable in the car. 

 

There are a few steps you can take to start to condition your dog to like, or at least tolerate car rides. 

 

Gradually introduce your dog to the car. 

 

Let your dog tell you where to start. If his anxiety increases just getting near the car, start there. If he will go all the way to the car and put his paws on the floor, then start there. The important thing is to start slowly and reward him for the behavior you want.  You want to make the car a positive thing in his life. 

 

Let your dog investigate the inside and outside of the car.

Letting your dog sniff, investigate, and decide for himself to get into the car or put his feet up is better than trying to force him to take this step. He needs to explore and see for himself that the car isn’t bad. This isn’t to say that you can’t encourage this decision. Using treats or toys just inside the car can encourage your dog to investigate further. 

 

Practice sitting in the car with the door closed. 

 

Once your dog has progressed to getting into the car and is comfortable with the doors open, it’s time to practice with the doors closed. Try for just a few seconds, allowing him to exit the car if he starts to become anxious. Keep repeating and rewarding until you can increase the time frame of your dog being in the car. 

 

Once your dog is comfortable being in the car with the doors closed- try turning it on. 

 

With your dog in the car and the doors closed, get into the driver’s seat and turn on the car. Again this will be for just a few seconds to start with, always rewarding for good behavior and ending the session if he starts to get anxious. Repeat this process as above until you’ve increased the amount of time that he will tolerate being inside with the car turned on. 

 

Finally, it’s time to take a trial drive. 

When your dog is able to handle being inside the car with the doors closed and the car on, it’s time to take a short drive- perhaps just down the street to start. Leash your dog during this trip so you can let him out of the car if he starts to become anxious. Always reward for desired behavior while the car is moving. As your dog becomes more relaxed in the car, you can gradually increase your distance. 

 

This process may take several days or weeks to complete. While it can be time-consuming, it’s important to work at your dog’s pace to not increase fear and anxiety surrounding car rides. 

 

Once your dog is comfortable riding in the car for a distance, take practice trips to many different locations so that car rides aren’t associated with one destination- like the vet’s office or groomer. 

 

If you are struggling with helping your dog become acclimated and relaxed in the car, consult an expert trainer like our trainers at Sit Means Sit Pittsburgh. We work with you and your dog to enjoy the car without anxiety. 

 

If motion sickness is your dog’s problem. 

 

If your dog is plagued by motion sickness, the above steps will not be as much use to you. Motion sickness is more common in puppies and is usually outgrown. However, a few unlucky dogs are always plagued by this uncomfortable condition into doghood. 

 

Here are a few ways to combat motion sickness in your dog: 

• Keep the temperature cool in the car 
• Open the windows for some fresh air and their noses to hang out of 
• Limit food and water intake before a trip 
• Discuss medication options with your vet
• Try dog pheromones. It comes as a spray you can use in the car. They have been shown to help relax dogs. 

 

Other great tools to try for reducing car anxiety. 

 

A few other things you can do to increase the success of the car ride with your dog and reduce his anxiety are: 

 

• Bring familiar toys/bedding
• If your dog is crate trained and your vehicle is large enough-bring the crate and put them inside
• Exercise before the planned trip. Tiring them out means less energy they have to expend on anxiety. 
• Give frequent rest/potty breaks if the trip is long and your dog is experiencing anxiety- A break reduces stress and gives a pause from the motion of the car. 

 

So whether you decide to travel for the holidays and to take your dog or not, it’s important to read your dog’s body language to see what he’s telling you. If your dog is the anxious type and you really want to take him with you, start working on the steps above to increase his tolerance to the car. 

If you need a little help getting your dog ready to ride, give us a call! We can help you start taking the steps needed to reduce car anxiety and increase your bond with your pup today!