If your dog tends to be anxious in vehicles, try installing some noise-cancelling headphones and playing relaxing music on your smartphone or MP3 player. One option is to bring along some calming treats, like Kongs or stuffed toys. When it comes to taking a car ride with your dog, there are plenty of things you can do to help them relax. What can I give my dog to relax in a car ride? If possible, try to take your pup for a short walk beforehand to help them get used to being in the car and relax. If your dog is travelling in the car with you, it’s also important to make sure they have plenty of room to move around and plenty of fresh air. You can pack treats or bits of fresh food, a Kong toy for bouncy play, and a water dish. If you’re taking your dog on a long car ride, there are a few things you can give them to keep them occupied. Be sure those destinations are few and far between and when they are necessary, always take toys or treats to sweeten the deal.What can you give dogs for long car rides? Trips to the vet or groomer may be stressful. Of course, after you teach your dog to ride in the car, not all your destinations will be pleasant. In no time, your dog should look forward to car trips because the drive itself is enjoyable and the destinations are fun. Get out and let your dog play and explore before returning home. For example, drive to the park a few blocks away or the woods outside of your neighborhood. When you start venturing away from home, choose destinations you know your dog will enjoy. If you can enlist a helper to ride beside your dog and give positive rewards as you travel, even better. Praise your dog while you drive and use encouraging cheerful banter. Just as you did before, make every trip as pleasant as possible. Continue to build the time spent driving by short increments. Start with incredibly short distances, like the end of the driveway and back. Now that your dog looks forward to getting in the car, you can add motion to the mix. Teach Your Dog to Enjoy Riding in the Car Don’t go anywhere yet, just let your dog associate the sound of the engine with food, fun, and games. To teach your dog to ride in the car, your final step should be turning the car on and off. Remember, dogs should be safely secured in a moving car, so incorporate a crate or car harness attached to a seat belt into your dog training routine. Toss treats in the back seat or play tug-of-war together. Again, pair each step with something wonderful. For example, sitting in the driver’s seat, closing the doors, or making the remote locks beep. Now it’s time to add the other elements that precede a drive. *Dog friendly rental filter applied to results You might be inside the car in minutes, or it might take weeks. Simply take a step or two backward until your dog relaxes then start again. If your dog stops eating or playing, you’ve moved too fast. Only move closer when your dog is completely relaxed at the current stage. Anything goes if it helps your dog link the car with food and fun. You can even play games together or have a trick training session. At each stage of the process, give your dog something beloved like a special toy, delicious treats, or a meal. The trick is to find the point where your dog is comfortable and relaxed then slowly move closer and closer. Or maybe you can start with your dog on the back seat. Counter-conditioning changes your dog’s emotional response from negative to positive by having great stuff happen near and inside the car.ĭepending on how severely your dog reacts, you might have to teach your dog to ride in the car starting ten feet away while the car is parked in the driveway. Desensitization is a step-by-step method of gradually introducing your dog to the car. Teach Your Dog to Love the CarĪlthough it’s easiest to prevent car problems in new puppies, any dog can be taught to associate the car with wonderful things using desensitization and counter-conditioning. Teach your dog to ride in the car calmly and comfortably so your travel companion becomes a first-rate passenger. If your dog isn’t happy in the car, it can make everybody else miserable too. A dog can even be put off car trips if the usual destination is somewhere unpleasant like the vet. This can be due to motion sickness, a previous bad event in the car like an accident, or anxiety about being trapped inside a giant, moving machine. Although many dogs look forward to riding in the car, other dogs dread the experience and whine, drool, or even vomit. When you love your dog, you want to take your pet with you wherever you go.
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