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Original poster

Has anyone had a dog who travels badly? Please could you tell me your experiences?

19 replies

KingCanuteIAm · 13/05/2009 13:37

Hi, as many of you know I now have a puppy. In almost every way he is great, he is pretty calm, fairly well behaved and is learning his obedience lessons quickly. My trouble with him is traveling. He finds the car very very stressful, he is rarely sick but salivates constantly. He does not cry in the car but he will do anything to get away when he knows he is going to go in it. He seems to know from a good 100yds away that we are heading for the car and immediatly starts going the other way and salivating. I have been really concerned about this as I do not want the behaviour to "set", it is easy to pick him up and deposit him now but that will change very soon

He will not eat in the car, near the car or when he knows he may be going to go in the car, even if we are a long way away so treating is out.

Usually he is in the back of the car in a cage with a secure, comfortable, non-slippy base. Today I took him out without the children so I put him in the backseat of the car to see how that went, he was great, no salivating, just looked out of the windows, lay down, slept a bit, looked a bit more... However, I need my back seats so this cannot be long term.

I would be interested to know other peoples experiences, especially if you managed to identify what was actually causing the stress. I am guessing it could be one (or more) of these,

being at the back of the car - worst place for travel sick people,
not being able to see out,
being too far from me (although he does not get anxious any other times he is away from me),
lack of air movement in the boot
having to face front or back, not sideways on IYSWIM...

As I said I want to crack this and I am trying to get a plan together in my head to deal with it as quickly and easily as possible. I know trial and error might work but I think that too much messing around could exacerbate things.

TIA for any suggestions or experiences

OP posts:

Original poster

KingCanuteIAm · 13/05/2009 13:38

Gosh, that is long and a bit garbled sorry! Feel free to ask if something is not clear!

OP posts:

MadreInglese · 13/05/2009 13:41

MILs dog hates cars, she lies herself flat and drools excessively, poor thing I don't know if she actually feels travel sick as she never vomits, or if she is just stressed out with the movement of the car

Apparently you can get some kind of hormone spray that calms them down, but I don't know if MIL has tried it yet

madwomanintheattic · 13/05/2009 13:44

imo most puppies go through this and eventually learn that car=fun, particularly if you space out the vet trips with lots of loccely walkie ones lol.

we did have a munsterlander who was petrified of vehicles (the drooling thing is uber-familiar). we eventually cured her after a year of getting her in and out of the car without going anywhere, and gradually building up to short and then long trips... we found out later she had been in an rta where the caravan had flipped and rolled the car she was in...

perseverance. he'll get used to it. (current puppy2 was similar - he got over it lol)

crokky · 13/05/2009 13:48

Since he is still a puppy, you are probably in a good position. My mum first took her dog in the car as a puppy and she sat on someone's lap first of all for a few times. She will travel anywhere in teh car now without any problems. I think if you do it often when they are puppies, it helps.

clumsymum · 13/05/2009 13:50

We had a Jack Russell years ago who hated the car (and was often sick).

My dad cured her, over a period of about 3 weeks, just doing a little every day.

Start by picking her up, and sitting in the car cuddling her, but not driving anywhere. Be calm and talk soothingly, stroke slowly and gently for a few minutes, then get out, close the car, and praise her. Do this 3 or 4 times in the day.

After 2 or 3 days, do the same, but get someone to drive you a short distance (maybe even just yards). Again praise her afterwards.

When she seems a little settled with this, put her in the car, not being cuddled (in her crate? or however you will expect her to travel generally), and go very short distances.

Gradually lengthen the distance.

Our Russell settled down fine (altho my dad used to have trouble getting out in the car without her ).

Original poster

KingCanuteIAm · 13/05/2009 13:55

We use the car with him regularly, at least every other day, if not more. He has been to the vet 3 times so it is not a negative association thing, no accidents, nothing has ever fallen on him... he is always going to interesting and fun places and loves everything when he is there, I am a big believer in exposure of puppies so he has done all sorts of things so he is mentally stimulated. Using the car is a huge part of our life as we are always off to local areas for days out and so on.

The hormone spray sounds interesting, I assume a feliway type thing?

I wonder if I should risk him just getting over it in his own time? I know my aunt had a dog wo never got over it and was scared her whole life, I am keen to avoid it if I can...

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Original poster

KingCanuteIAm · 13/05/2009 13:56

Sorry, thank you for your responses, it is very useful to hear other experiences and thoughts

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bella29 · 13/05/2009 14:04

Hi KC

Yes, you can get DAP (dog appeasing pheromones) from vet or PAH.

I would have suggested giving him his meals in the boot of the car without even starting the engine or closing the boot at first. Will he really not eat anything at all? Even very smelly cheese or chopped up liver?

He should grow out of it though, especially as the positive associations build up.

HTH

ohdearwhatamess · 13/05/2009 14:10

I think this is quite common for puppies. Both mine did it, one much worse than the other, but grew out of it.

I'd do lots of small trips and build up the distance, and give lots of praise afterwards. After a while mine seemed to twig that car trip=fun (visiting family, special walk etc).

My current dog still whines and drools if he's going somewhere he doesn't like (kennels, vets).

ohdearwhatamess · 13/05/2009 14:13

LOL I've just remembered taking our first dog out for car trips into the nearby town on Friday and Saturday nights. There was so much to see (drunken brawls, women staggering around without enough clothing, cars etc) that it distracted him from whining.

Original poster

KingCanuteIAm · 13/05/2009 14:13

Hi Bella

No he really will not eat anything at all, he won't even take a treat when we walk past the car on the drive when walking with the car not involved at all!

Sorry Clumsymum, I didn't see your post! Your dads approach sounds great, my main problem would be that I don't have another driver... also I am wary of petting him when he is already distressed is this can reinforce the behaviour, I will keep it in mind though, a variation could work well!

It is a puzzle, I hope he will grow out of it, I just don't like to see my lovely pup distressed when he is so good in other ways, he is just not a nuerotic dog!

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Original poster

KingCanuteIAm · 13/05/2009 14:18

Whatamess, I am glad he is not the only one, in fact it does sound like it is a pretty normal stage to go through!

Does your dog "know" when he is going somewhere he doesn't like? I have spent ages trying to work out what, in my behaviour, lets him know we are going back to the car. I cannot identify anything, I don't get the keys out, don't walk faster... I just don't understand how he knows

Maybe I will try ditching the crate for a while and see if being able to see out will help, this seems the easiest thing to try first.

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ohdearwhatamess · 13/05/2009 14:42

In our case the kennels and vet are reached by a route we would only go on when going there. Also for kennels he sees me pack up a tupperware box with his food and put it with his vaccination papers ready to go. Then he gives me a sad 'how could you' look.

I think they sense apprehension too. I hate doing both trips.

bella29 · 13/05/2009 15:57

Don't worry, KC - my lab was like this too when he was younger. He has now grown out of it to such an extent that he will jump in the boot if I even just quickly open it to get something out

Your pup's still very young, isn't he?

Original poster

KingCanuteIAm · 13/05/2009 20:16

I agree that they seem to sense when you are going to do something they are not going to like! Mind you they can always sense when you are going to do something they will like too - like get their dinner

Yes he is Bella, very young, so he has a long way to go yet! So far it seems I am lucky enough to have a fantastic little pup and I want to give him every opportunity I can.

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bella29 · 13/05/2009 21:23

KC - chill, honey

Original poster

KingCanuteIAm · 13/05/2009 21:35

I can't, I can't, I can't

I know, I am utterly bonkers but hey what can ya do?

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bella29 · 13/05/2009 22:10

KC - are you a border collie by any chance?

Sorry if there's not much left in there. Had to give it to Blondie on the other thread cos she was upset about big hairy spiders or something. And you know how she just necks it.

Night all!

Original poster

KingCanuteIAm · 13/05/2009 22:22

Crossed with a Springer Spaniel

Night

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