You would think all dogs love riding in cars based on TV commercials. But that is not the case. A significant percentage of dogs have extreme fear of riding in cars and often will run away or pull back on the leash when bringing to the car. Other dogs froth at the mouth so much you would think they just injested come carbonated water with a Mento. Some dogs pace back and forth, whining and looking for a way out, and remain restless the whole ride.
If you have one of these dogs, here are some steps to hopefully alleviate your pup’s fears and gradually make him OK with car riding and eventually ecstatic about the concept.
The first thing you need to do is make sure your car is clean and as odorless as possible. A strong, negative odor (like a cigar) may cause your dog undue anxiety. Next, just walk up to and around the car, giving him a few treats along the way. After doing this for 5 minutes or so, roll the car windows down and lift him into the car’s back seat but don’t clip him yet or put in his crate if you have one. Sit in the back with him giving him lots of sweet talk and a few treats for calm behavior here and there. You also may want to have his favorite toy(s) there. If he doesn’t accept your treats, you have moved too fast and need to start outside the car a while longer.
Assuming he is taking treats, hang out in the back seat of the car for at least 15 minutes, sweet-talking and treating your pup along the way. Read his body language – if he is panting and foaming at the mouth, let him out for a while to regroup. If his tail is tucked under his body, same thing. However, if he is closed-mouth, or barely panting and the tail is relaxed and he is sniffing out the window, you have successfully passed this phase in getting your pup accustomed to your vehicle.
Next, clip him to the seatbelt or crate him if you have one. Stay right with him continuing the sweet-talk and treats. Take it slow and look for the signs outlined above. Do not move too fast or it could become a traumatic incident and then it will take ten times longer to get your pup accustomed to the car.
With your pup in his restraint and you in the back seat, have a partner start the vehicle and leave in park. Again, continue the sweet-talk and treats and look for positive and negative signs of comfort within your pup.
Assuming that after 15 minutes all is well, you are ready to drive sloooowly up and down the driveway for 15 more minutes. Rinse and repeat the steps above. Assuming all is well, take a break (maybe even earlier than this step) for at least an hour and then you can restart inside the car with the dog restrained. Your partner should then drive slooowly around the block once and then park in the driveway and turn off the car. Let your dog out for a little air for a few minutes, then take another spin around the block.
If all is successful, start taking slightly longer drives, still with you in the back seat and the windows open. Eventually, like a few days later, you can try driving yourself, but it’s recommended that you have a friend or family member in the back seat for a few weeks. Remember to take your dog on plenty of rides that end up in places he likes (i.e. not the vet or groomer). In no time, he’ll be a tail-wagging, ears flopping in the wind, tongue-dangling, wide-eyed happy car-riding pup!
