<p>Some of you know that S1 recently moved to Cincinnati. We live in Connecticut. He also acquired a dog. We’re starting to plan for the holidays and, initially, the plan was for S1 to drive home, with the dog.</p>
<p>The dog, however, throws up and/or poops whenever he’s in the car for more than 20 or so minutes. S1 has tried some prescription that the vet prescribed – didn’t work. Also tried the “thunder vest”; didn’t work.</p>
<p>We all really want him to come to CT for the holidays. Does anyone have some good ideas how to get the dog more comfortable in the car??</p>
<p>lots of short trips to fun places. 10 miinutes to the park, 10 minutes to the water, once he gets used to that, make the trips a little longer. Do at least one trip a day. </p>
<p>Also, it might not be anxiety, it could be good old motion sickness. See if there is a med for that instead of anxiety.</p>
<p>I agree with lots of short drives to fun places, I was going to say the same thing. A lot of dogs never go into the car except to go to the vet or the groomer, and as a result you get a lot of dogs that are ill behaved in the car or make themselves sick. The trick is not to train them that the car is always or usually a bad thing.</p>
<p>Agree that it could be motion sickness and that is something to explore. That is something that is especially common in younger dogs and many go on to outgrow it. How is he traveling with the dog, just letting him hang out free in the back? Keeping him in a carrier so he has to face forward if he looks out the windows can help, as can cracking the windows. Added benefit of carrier is poop/vomit not ending up on the car interior.</p>
<p>The dog can develop an association between the car and getting sick that can make the situation worse, and even if he doesnt come to CT for the holidays the dog will eventually have to endure a car ride, so this is something he should really make a priority to figure out.</p>
<p>We took many trips to fun places; then we took a longer road trip. Every time I looked in the rear view I could see the thought balloon-- 'When are we getting to the dog park?" I agree with the crating (if he is happier there) and find a sedative that will work for you. Happily there is a lot of time to figure out what that will be. This reminds me of a conversation I had with our local dog whisperer who said that she could get any dog in a canoe; all it takes is a generous amount of time and treats. :)</p>
<p>Awww, VeryHappy, your son’s dog must be nervous and/or has motion sickness during the car trips. Our dog enjoys car trips especially when he gets to stick his head out of the window with the wind blowing on his face. We even went on a road trip from the East to the West coast and our dog had no problems at all. </p>
<p>I, of course, had done what vlines suggested when I got him at 8 weeks old. But I don’t think it’s too late to train your S’s dog. </p>
<p>Make sure that the dog has eaten his meal hours before the trip and has gone to the bathroom right before the trip. </p>
<p>I agree with Emahee that the dog may have a negative view of the car, associating it with a vet’s shot or a kennel. Or it could be the “scary” sound of a big wheel truck beside your son’s car while driving along the highway. So, positive experiences in the car will help. Aside from what vlines suggested, actually probably as a first step, tell your son to drive the car in a noisy street, park the car at the curb but keep the engine running and the windows down. Allow the dog to just look out the car window and relax while your son just sits on the driver seat. This allows the dog to get used to the noise of the car engine, other vehicles honking, and various noises while he is inside the car. </p>
<p>Adding to vlines suggestion, your S should walk, play fetch or let the dog run around in the park or wherever the short trip’s destination. This is the dog’s “reward” for riding in the car.</p>
<p>The key to learning a new trick or behavior modification is to do the training at least once a day. At the start, a few minutes per session twice a day is better than doing it 30 minutes per day. I think by doing it this way each short session ends with the dog hopefully happy and wanting more rather than cranky and sick by the end of a long session.</p>
<p>our dogs begin long car rides as puppies, like 15-25 hours. One did it at eight weeks and always loved the car thereafter. The other had a similar long drive home from the breeder and thereafter loved the car.</p>
<p>One thing that we did that ended up making the car a special place is to take the dog to a cool place for a walk every day. Then after an hour romp, the dog would often nap in the car, it really became his place. Make sure he is comfortable, not slipping on vinyl or leather seats, not falling off the seat etc.</p>
<p>Trip home or not, socializing animals to like the car has advantages. I had a cat that loved car trips, and hung out in the car when windows were left open. A little dangerous, when finding him in the car on the way to somewhere he could not go. </p>
<p>The above suggestions are great, and should be used of whether planning a long trip or not. The dogs in my life have always loved car trips, even if just to the grocery store to pick up a few items. Crack a window, you’re good. But yes, this dog needs all sorts of rewards and good times in the process of conditioning.</p>
<p>I also do the same thing but be careful. There are certain places where the cops are strict in enforcing laws regarding dogs or animals inside a vehicle. In LA, for example, we parked the car in the shaded area of a parking lot and all four windows were half-way open. (Don’t worry it was nice, safe area in L.A.) Ten minutes later my H returned to the car. He opened the rear door, sat down on the cargo area with our dog and his water dish beside him. A few minutes later a cop passes by and told him he got a call about a dog left inside an SUV. My H explained he left the dog only a few minutes and thankfully the policeman saw the dog’s water dish and just gave my H a stern warning not to do it again.</p>
<p>Here is a link to a table of States with Laws Prohibiting Inhumane Confinement of Animals in Parked Motor Vehicle:</p>
<p>Very interesting about dogs in cars! What you were doing was so reasonable. I find this sad, as many dogs want to truly be your companion, and travel well. They’re happier, better behaved if not isolated at home. I used to think of my car years ago as a rolling kennel on wheels. Good view, comfortable seats, air in the face when en route. Of course this needs to be coupled with common sense when temperatures are extreme. </p>
<p>But what this points to, is the changing nature of laws about dogs in the last 20 years, which is when I last owned one. Things are far more restrictive, and I’m sad for the dogs.</p>
<p>Looking at the CA statute, it does not look like leaving an animal for a short time with water and ventilation would be against the law. Though suffering is open to interpretation. </p>
<p>“Leave or confine an animal in any unattended motor vehicle under conditions that endanger the health or well-being of an animal due to heat, cold, lack of adequate ventilation, or lack of food or water, or other circumstances that could reasonably be expected to cause suffering, disability, or death to the animal.”</p>
<p>Our last dog got car sick too. He eventually grew out of the worse effects but never really liked the car. He found comfort sitting up and looking out the front window or sitting in the front. This helped my sister too. :)</p>
<p>Many of our foster dogs have been scared of cars. Many have never been in one. </p>
<p>The short trips to fun places is a good suggestion. We usually have one person sit in the back with them (someone they like/trust) and pet them during the first few rides. If they like the crate, that’s a good idea, too. </p>
This always looks cute, and some dogs love it, but any vet will tell you it’s dangerous. Dirt, gravel or other debris can be kicked up into a dog’s eye. You wouldn’t let a kid ride around with his head sticking out the window, right?</p>
<p>^^ I was going to say the same thing - that’s a bad thing for the dog.</p>
<p>Also bad - having a little dog riding on the driver’s lap as well as having any dog ride unrestrained - unless you’re not a believer in the value of seat belts. In addition to helping in accidents plenty of dogs have been killed and injured by either jumping out of the window or tearing out of the car as soon as the door is opened and running straight into traffic.</p>
<p>So if you’re starting to work on training the dog to enjoy or tolerate the car rides, please also make sure Fido is safe.</p>