Rescue Dog and the Car

[JaneSeymourTheOnlyOneHeTrulyLoved]

Have had dog for two months now and at first he was a great traveller but recently he drips from his mouth so much I have to cover the boot with towels.
It’s not drool as such, more just constant drips and he’s not sick, doesn’t whine, lays down and seems otherwise ok.
I don’t know if it’s excitement, nerves or what.

Vet suggested it could be car sickness but he’s not sick and never used to do it!

Anyone had anything similar and found a solution?!

Mine was the same, but he's stopped after a few weeks. I think it's just anxiety. It was awful at the time but lots of reassurance and short trips to nice places has done the trick.

My rescue dog was terrible in the car for a good while. Now we think she was worried she was going back to the rescue. On reflection the first few journeys she went on were not fun ones. Vets, groomers.

She loves going in the car now because it means a lovely walk somewhere fun.

Have you ever done any positive association training with the dog and the car?

Sounds like anxiety, there are calming supplements you could try alongside some training/encouragement.

We had a dog like this. Terrible anxiety. He never did grow out of it. There are things the vet can give you to help. Poor lad.

@lifebeginsaftercoffee I’m normally taking the dogs out somewhere nice, always usually a walk or dog park. He’s only been to the vet once since I’ve had him to have his neutering stitches out so I don’t think he’d be worried about going anywhere he doesn’t enjoy.

I’ve tried different combinations of one of my other dogs with him, on his own, on the back seats instead and he’s still the same.

He runs out to the car too if he hears the boot opening and is keen to get in.

I can try some treats when he gets in and hopefully create a positive environment if he is feeling stressed.

Ah sorry if I wasn't clear @JaneSeymourTheOnlyOneHeTrulyLoved (great name btw) that's not quite what I meant when I said positive association.

I meant more just sitting in the car with him and making it a nice place for him to be and helping him learn that it's safe. Lots of reassurance and treats and visits to the car without necessarily moving. Then as he gets more confident, you get the engine going and start doing little drives with him.

How old is your dog? Mine did this as a pup but is ok now, not sure if he just grew out of it, but think our change of car helped too.
We also made sure there were lots of positive associations with getting in the car, so it could be any combinations of all theses factors that helped.

Ah ok! @lifebeginsaftercoffee I’ll try that!

He’ll be 2 in the summer, so still young in mind and just not used to general life and I’ve only had him since after Christmas so maybe it’s something that will get better with time.

Yesterday though, as I was driving to the dog park, I had a bit of a revelation as he was up, down, lays down, walks around so I wonder if he has too much room and can’t settle so I may try a crate for the car and see if makes him feel more secure as he would only have ever been transported in cages before in his earlier years (failed potential racing greyhound)