Does Your Dog Have Mixed Feelings In Your Vehicle?

 

Does Your Dog Have Mixed Feelings In Your Vehicle?

Link gets excited anticipating drives, as they often lead to his outdoor adventures. But Link also experiences anxiety while on the road. Many dogs struggle to remain comfortable in a moving vehicle. So what can we do to help them?

If your dog has pre-established negative feelings toward being in the vehicle and/or driving we must counter condition and desensitize from the ground up. Our first goal is to see where they are comfortable and where their insecurities/anxieties begin. First, is your dog comfortable walking around the vehicle while it's not running in the driveway? Are they comfortable getting into the vehicle while it's turned off and stationary? How about stationary but with the engine running? How do they feel when the doors close behind them? Do they get uncomfortable when it's in motion at low speeds? High speeds? At intersections? Only when seeing or hearing something? Our goal here is to find out what factors are at play. Start at the beginning and observe for signs of hesitancy. Taking a step back from there, this is your starting point.

WHAT ELSE CAN WE LOOK AT?

Vehicle - Does your dog have a comfortable spot to lie down? Blankets or toys with familiar scents may aid with their comfort. If you are using a harness system, have they been positively conditioned for being restrained already? Consider trying different combinations of opened and closed windows. It’s important to consider safety concerns at this time. If your dog is not restrained and may try to escape via the window, this is obviously not a good choice.

Environment - Does your dog have undesirable reactions to sights and sounds? Ideally, we’d be working on these “triggers” before the process of aiding them in the car. Visual window blockers or auditory blockers such as white noise, music, or the radio can be beneficial as well.

Stimulation - Ensure your dog is well-stimulated before the car drive. We don’t want an under-stimulated dog who is running at 100%, expecting them to relax in a small space. We also don’t want a dog who is overstimulated and less able to control their behaviors and emotions in the vehicle. Different areas of stimulation include social/skill work, nosework, and problem-solving activities.

Pharmaceutical and Non-Pharmaceutical Aids - There are a plethora of options on the internet to aid with anxiety. Please do your research and ask professionals for help if you are unsure. There are many calming supplements, like lavender oils and sprays, and products like the Thundershirt or cap.

Do more fun things in the vehicle! Can your dog eat their meal from a scattering or problem-solving toy? Could they eat a tasty bone in the driveway with the doors open? Can we make some easy games such as jumping in and out followed by some play they prefer? Anything that improves their association with the car will add up! By doing this, the vehicle becomes the precursor to fun!

If you and your dog are struggling after implementing some of these basic suggestions, reach out for some additional guidance. Living in this highly stimulating world is not only challenging for us but even more so for our dogs!