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Dog Car Problems or Sickness
Dogs can
be fun traveling companions, and some
people are lucky enough to have friends
and family who welcome their furry
friend. The majority of dogs love to go
on car rides, but there are some who are
very afraid and still others who
experience motion sickness.
Socialization is the key with fear of
riding in the car. You can tell the
difference between those who are motion
sick and those who are afraid, because
the frightened ones will begin to appear
anxious before the car even starts to
move. Panting, salivating, refusal to
get in, scratching at the door and other
symptoms can alert you that it’s a
socialization problem.
Begin by working with your dog on basic
obedience commands, especially the
“heel” (walk at my side), “sit” and
“down.” Then you’ll be able to use the
commands to help your dog to feel more
comfortable during the car training
exercises.
Next, you’ll need to use lots of
patience. For some dogs it can take one
day of practice, others may require
weeks. With your car doors open (use the
back seat if possible), practice simply
“heeling” your dog in one door and out
the other. Praise lavishly when it’s
accomplished. Once your dog is doing
this with no problem, work on getting
into the car and just sitting there
together for a minute or two. If your
dog is acting afraid, be sure not to pet
him… rather than feeling soothed, your
pet will feel as if you’re praising him
for being anxious. Instead, tell your
dog “no,” and use an obedience command
such as “sit” or “down,” followed by
praise.
Once your dog is sitting in the car with
no problem, gradually increase the
exercise so you’re shutting the doors,
then turning the car on but not moving,
then driving only one block, etc. Use
lots of praise when your dog is trying,
and remember not to inadvertently
reinforce fears.
Another tip is to make sure you bring
your dog to “fun” places sometimes, so
he doesn’t think he’s always going to
the vet or groomer when he goes in the
car. Some suggestions include the pet
supply store, the bank drive-thru (they
often give a dog treat), a stroll
downtown, the park or even a trip to
your vet or groomer… but not to have
anything done… just to get petted and
have a treat.
If your dog’s problem seems to be motion
sickness rather than fear, you should
still do the above exercises, and also
be sure not to feed or water your dog
for 2 hours before your trip. Having
your dog sit on the floor of the car
rather than up on the seat can sometimes
help, and be sure to keep a window open
a little for fresh air. If you have a
very long road trip planned, and you’ve
already done the training exercises, you
may want to speak with your veterinarian
about whether medication would be
appropriate.
Article written by Lori Verni
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