{"id":3078,"date":"2021-11-15T08:30:48","date_gmt":"2021-11-15T16:30:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sitmeanssit.com\/dog-training-mu\/dog-training-pittsburgh\/?p=3078"},"modified":"2025-02-15T17:31:41","modified_gmt":"2025-02-16T01:31:41","slug":"traveling-with-you-anxious-dog","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sitmeanssit.com\/dog-training-mu\/dog-training-pittsburgh\/uncategorized\/traveling-with-you-anxious-dog\/","title":{"rendered":"Traveling With Your Anxious Dog"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The holidays are fast approaching. Perhaps faster than some of us would like!<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">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? <a href=\"https:\/\/sitmeanssit.com\/dog-training-mu\/dog-training-pittsburgh\">Sit Means Sit can help you<\/a> start taking the steps needed to reduce car anxiety and increase your bond with your pup, starting with these tips and tricks.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h1><b>Some dogs love car rides and in others it produces anxiety.<\/b><\/h1>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">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.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You probably already know if your dog has car anxiety. But in case you\u2019re 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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Resists getting into the car<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Trembling\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whining or barking<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Panting, yawning, or drooling\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Constant lip licking\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chewing or licking themselves\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bathroom accidents\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Vomiting.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So where do these fears and anxieties come from?\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For puppies, it could be just the unknown. A car ride is a new experience and they don\u2019t know what to expect.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">From older dogs, it could be due to\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A bad car ride experience<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Motion sickness<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A feeling of being trapped\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Going mostly to an unpleasant location- like the vet\u2019s office.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h1><b>How to help your dog get comfortable in the car.\u00a0<\/b><\/h1>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are a few steps you can take to start to condition your dog to like, or at least tolerate car rides.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gradually introduce your dog to the car.\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">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.\u00a0 You want to make the car a positive thing in his life.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Let your dog investigate the inside and outside of the car.<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">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\u2019t bad. This isn\u2019t to say that you can\u2019t encourage this decision. Using treats or toys just inside the car can encourage your dog to investigate further.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Practice sitting in the car with the door closed.\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once your dog has progressed to getting into the car and is comfortable with the doors open, it\u2019s 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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once your dog is comfortable being in the car with the doors closed- try turning it on.\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With your dog in the car and the doors closed, get into the driver\u2019s 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\u2019ve increased the amount of time that he will tolerate being inside with the car turned on.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Finally, it\u2019s time to take a trial drive.\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When your dog is able to handle being inside the car with the doors closed and the car on, it\u2019s 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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This process may take several days or weeks to complete. While it can be time-consuming, it\u2019s important to work at your dog\u2019s pace to not increase fear and anxiety surrounding car rides.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once your dog is comfortable riding in the car for a distance, take practice trips to many different locations so that car rides aren\u2019t associated with one destination- like the vet\u2019s office or groomer.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you are struggling with helping your dog become acclimated and relaxed in the car, consult an expert trainer like our trainers at<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/sitmeanssit.com\/dog-training-mu\/dog-training-pittsburgh\/#trainers\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Sit Means Sit Pittsburgh<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. We work with you and your dog to enjoy the car without anxiety.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h1><b>If motion sickness is your dog\u2019s problem.\u00a0<\/b><\/h1>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here are a few ways to combat motion sickness in your dog:\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keep the temperature cool in the car\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Open the windows for some fresh air and their noses to hang out of\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Limit food and water intake before a trip\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Discuss medication options with your vet<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Try dog pheromones. It comes as a spray you can use in the car. They have been shown to help relax dogs.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h1><b>Other great tools to try for reducing car anxiety.\u00a0<\/b><\/h1>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A few other things you can do to increase the success of the car ride with your dog and reduce his anxiety are:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bring familiar toys\/bedding<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If your dog is crate trained and your vehicle is large enough-bring the crate and put them inside<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Exercise before the planned trip. Tiring them out means less energy they have to expend on anxiety.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">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.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So whether you decide to travel for the holidays and to take your dog or not, it\u2019s important to read your dog\u2019s body language to see what he\u2019s 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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you need a little help getting your dog ready to ride, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/sitmeanssit.com\/dog-training-mu\/dog-training-pittsburgh\/sms-contact\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">give us a call!<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> We can help you start taking the steps needed to reduce car anxiety and increase your bond with your pup today! <\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The holidays are fast approaching. Perhaps faster than some of us would like! &nbsp; 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.\u00a0 &nbsp; Our pets&#8230;<\/p>\n<div><a href=\"https:\/\/sitmeanssit.com\/dog-training-mu\/dog-training-pittsburgh\/uncategorized\/traveling-with-you-anxious-dog\/\"><b>Read More <i class=\"fas fa-angle-right\"><\/i><\/b><\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":152,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3078","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sitmeanssit.com\/dog-training-mu\/dog-training-pittsburgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3078","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sitmeanssit.com\/dog-training-mu\/dog-training-pittsburgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sitmeanssit.com\/dog-training-mu\/dog-training-pittsburgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sitmeanssit.com\/dog-training-mu\/dog-training-pittsburgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/152"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sitmeanssit.com\/dog-training-mu\/dog-training-pittsburgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3078"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/sitmeanssit.com\/dog-training-mu\/dog-training-pittsburgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3078\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3925,"href":"https:\/\/sitmeanssit.com\/dog-training-mu\/dog-training-pittsburgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3078\/revisions\/3925"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sitmeanssit.com\/dog-training-mu\/dog-training-pittsburgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3078"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sitmeanssit.com\/dog-training-mu\/dog-training-pittsburgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3078"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sitmeanssit.com\/dog-training-mu\/dog-training-pittsburgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3078"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}