I Love My Mailo

Dogs normally do not have problems riding in a car. On the contrary, they love it. However, there are some who are not particularly thrilled about car rides. In fact, they hate it and they let you know by refusing to get into the car, barking, squealing, crying, biting the seatbelt or running crazy in the kennel, while some may vomit or even poop in the car from fear. If it sounds familiar, your dog has a car anxiety.

Your dog could be protesting over car rides for several reasons. If he displays fear and vomits while riding in the car, there is a great chance that he is suffering from motion sickness. Yes, dogs can have motions sickness too. It may sound strange but a car ride can make dogs nauseous which in turn can lead to vomiting in the severest cases. Another common cause of dog car anxiety is the fear from the car ride itself. Dogs that do not ride in cars often may feel uncomfortable about the sound of the engine or/and have difficulties watching everything running by at a great speed. But the most common cause of dog car anxiety is association with a negative experience. Ask yourself where do you normally drive your dog. Are you regularly taking him to the park or do you drive him only to the vet? In this case, it is not the car ride that is making your dog anxious but the vet. But how can you make car rides less stressful experience for both of you? This depends on the cause of your dog's car anxiety, so be sure to take the necessary measures according to the cause.

If you think that your dog is refusing to ride in the car because it makes him nauseous, you should limit food intake before the planned trip, fasten him turned forwards, keep the car well ventilated and take frequent stops to allow your four legged friend to get some fresh air. But if your dog has severe motion sickness or if you are planning to take him on a longer trip, you should perhaps consider dog motion sickness medications. They are available over-the-counter, however, you are recommended to consult with your vet first before giving your dog any medications.

Fear from car ride due to discomfort or association with negative experience can be dealt with pretty much the same. Rather than forcing your dog into the car, try to trick him in with a treat. Give him treats as he approaches the car and then sit in the car and offer him another one. Do not drive anywhere when he comes to get that treat but praise him for being a good dog. Repeat a few times and your dog will start associating the car with treats. When he gets comfortable getting into the car, take him to short rides (but not to the vet) to make him forget about previous negative experiences. Also, be sure that the first ride with a final destination is not a trip to the vet but a park or beach otherwise you will be back at the beginning.