Car Anxiety

[Waspie]

Our Labrador is 7 and has never liked being in the car. At first I thought perhaps this was because she associated the car with going to the vet so I hoped she would get over this in time with lots of trips to fun doggie places. But over the years she seems to have got worse, not better.

We go to nice places in the car - the woods, country parks, the beach. Places she enjoys but she still doesn't associate the car with good activities.

I've tried the Adaptil travel spray and various doggie "Kalms" but these don't work. She is not naturally nervous or anxious in other areas of life - it's just the car.

It's coming up to holiday season again. Last year we had a cottage 250 miles away and she basically sat in my lap (DP driving, me in the back) trembling, panting and shedding fur while I held her and crooned soothingly at her for the whole journey. This year we're sticking closer to home and only travelling about 60 miles (COVID restrictions permitting of course) but I'd like to find a way of making the journey less awful for her.

Usually she is in the boot, we have a dog guard and dog partition but I thought having her strapped on the back seat with me would be better for a long journey. I was wrong! When she's in the boot she won't keep sitting/lying down. She stands up and hangs her head into the corner while panting and shaking.

Any suggestions as to how I can help her deal with her car anxiety please? TIA.

Perhaps she is travel sick? I assume you can get medication for them? We have a 5 month old lab who doesn’t seem that keen on the car and I think she may feel sick, we don’t tend to do long journeys though.

I did wonder about travel sickness Tulipvase but she doesn't seem unwell; just stressed. When we take longer journeys we make lots of stops so that she can get out and stretch her legs and she never vomits, or retches. Just trembles!

It's got to the point now where I only have to pick up my car keys and she starts trembling.

I think I'll have to speak to the vet and see if she can suggest treatments.

Maybe worth trying cerenia. In my opinion it is a wonder drug. It is for car sickness but it seems (I am no medic so excuse the dogdy explanation!) to turn off the bit of the brain that causes the anxiety and sickness for ever.

So at least if you tried it and your dog was still trembling drooling etc then you know you need to get in behaviourist help.

If it is the motion that upsets your dog a couple of trips with cerenia may help. It is not the cheapest drug but I would speak to your vet about it.

If it is car sickness have you tried "queezi bics?" They are like a treat but settle their tummy.

Is the car on a driveway? Can you potter about and leave the doors open? You go sit in, have. a cuppa, read a book. Doors open. Speak in the ddoggy daft voice all nice to ddog!!
Stroke ddog while you are in, ddog out. Practice.
Then feed treats from inside to ddog outside..
Then maybe encourage ddog to sit with you on the back seat. Doors open.
Practice.
Start engine. Doors open. Work towards a drive round the block. Ignoring ddog is best during the journey as you practice as sat cuddling is praising the negative behaviour..

We did all sorts of this when we had a stray years ago.
We did lots of similar with our dpuppies over the past years to prevent any nightmare journeys!

Thanks for your comments. I'll speak to the vet about cerenia and I'll try some queezy bics too.

I have thought about a behaviourist as her car anxiety does seem to be getting more extreme.

I like the idea of normalising the car. I have tried sitting on the tail gate with the boot open and throwing the ball for her from there. I've also tried treats in the boot but she won't eat when she's in, or even near, the car so that hasn't worked. I've tried sitting in the boot with her with the car stationary and the tailgate open talking to her and stroking her. She will jump into the car but just tremble.

Thanks again. I'll give the vet a call and see what suggests too.