It’s National Train Your Dog Month, and it couldn’t have come at a better time! With so many people adopting dogs during the pandemic, and getting puppies over the holidays, we love that there’s a month-long event to help our furry friends be their best self. Today, we’re going to share some tips to help you on your journey to a road ready pup!
Distracted driving due to roaming pets is a deadly road hazard! Keep the lives of you, your passengers, your pets, and other drivers safe by ensuring your pup is belted/buckled just as you would fellow humans.
Make sure that your dog feels comfortable, safe, and secure!
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Introduce your pup to safety restraints, crates, and other car ride harnesses while indoors, and always while reinforcing positive experiences such as treats, praise, playing with their favorite toys, and physical affection (if your dog appreciates that!) Associate these restraints with a happy experience ahead of time, and they’ll be calm when you’re ready to travel.
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Crack the windows no more than a few inches, making sure your pup cannot get any paws, their nose, or any other body part out the window.
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Use a crate, grate between the front and back seat or cargo areas, or a pet-friendly seatbelt, car seat, or click their harness into a seatbelt attachment to keep them from wandering about the vehicle.
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Have familiar human with sit in the back seat with them to help them remain calm and seated or lying down.
Does your doggy get car sick? We’ve got pointers for that, too!
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Get them a special elevated doggy car seat so they’re positioned up higher with a view of the outside that can help them see outside and acclimate their equilibrium a bit better.
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Open the window just a pinch to circulate some fresh air and help them breathe more evenly.
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If they get car sick despite your best efforts, or perhaps a little too anxious even with acclimation and practice, you can speak to your vet about anti-nausea or anxiety medication.
Does your doggy get anxious at the idea of car travel? Here are some tips that can help alleviate their stress, and help them be more comfortable with traveling:
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Keep early desensitization training sessions short so as not to overwhelm your pup, and provide a safe and comfortable experience in the car, use positive reinforcement and never leave them unattended in the vehicle.
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Do not force your dog into the vehicle; be patient, work with your dog’s comfort level, and gradually build up their tolerance and provide positive methods to peak their curiosity and excitement.
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Let your dog explore the environment before you embark on your journey! Facilitate a positive experience of the in the cargo area or backseat of your vehicle with a scavenger hunt for treats, and by placing their favorite toy and/or familiar bed/blanket inside while you sit in the front seat and chaperone.
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Once your pup is comfortable inside the vehicle, turn on the engine and give them a treat and some more positive verbal reinforcement and praise. Turn on the radio and the air vents to get them used to the sounds and smells of the car.
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When you and your dog are comfortable with the above basics, you can start slowly backing out of the parking space or driveway for a trip down the block and back. Slowly increase the duration of your trips, and start off with a fun destination like a local park, a local beach, or a drive through with a pup-cup!
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If your methods above are not working, consult a professional behaviorist and trainer to assist you with interventions and comforting training techniques.
