Not liking the car - how can I help

[Cash_Dolly]

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Looking for some advice please. Dolly and I are adjusting to life just being the two of us! One thing I have noticed is her fear of the car. She has never been particularly keen on the car but Cash loved it and would spring right in anytime ready to go. Dolly just kind of followed but never settled as well as Cash would in the car. I have noticed since he hasn't been here though she is really unwilling to get into the car. She will refuse to jump in and sometimes even shies away from it. Once in she is quite panty and drooly and I am looking for ways to help her. Encouraging with treats is no good as once she is unhappy about something she won't even look at them. And as the laziest and most laid back dog ever toys etc don't encourage her at all. I have been getting her into the car and just going very short journeys, letting her out for a nice fun walk and then home again to try and build up her confidence a bit. Last night there was a tasty chicken foot in there for her but she didn't touch it until we got back into the driveway. Every other dog I have had has loved the car and I have had no issues so this is quite new to me...please help!

 

[arealhuman]

Mine's not keen on the car, either. We currently have his crate in the boot space, and put his blankets in it, together with a couple of treats in the far corner so he walks in and we can shut the door behind him. He does sometimes shake a bit when in the car and it takes him ages to settle on long journeys when he'll eventually lie down. We also spray his blankets with Adaptil to help calm him before the journey. Before this, we tried him in the boot space with a guard so he couldn't get over the rear seat, but he could see traffic and would always bark, making driving next to impossible. And before that, we got a rear seat cover and a seatbelt clip that we could attach to his harness, but again as he could see oncoming and passing traffic, he would bark a lot so we tried the other things I've mentioned. The crate is the most successful thing for us.

You could try Adatpil spray/collar/etc to help calm Dolly, and/or possbily some blankets with a familair scent on them. Other than that, I don't know, but I'm sure more experienced owners will be along in a bit.

 

[Cash_Dolly]

Ah now I do have adaptil spray but have never used it in the car........silly me!

She goes in the boot with a guard. I tried a crate in the boot of the car (because her crate is her favourite place in the house!) but it made her worse. Boot with her duvet and the dog guard seem to be best for her.

 

[JoanneF]

I don't have much, other than the usual stuff - reward her for a step towards the car; sit with her in the back with the engine off and make it rain rewards, up that to doing the same with the engine on; alone (i.e. with you up front) with the engine off, then on; very, very short journeys to the end of the drive then extending it from there. If she isn't taking treats like the chicken foot, she is already too stressed to eat (it's part of the fight or flight response to want an empty stomach).

Definitely try the Adaptil, there is also this Product - Dorwest

Sorry that probably wasn't particularly helpful, and it is such a slow process.

 

[Cash_Dolly]

Thanks Joanne. I will try sitting with her in the car with the engine off and build up to it.

 

[JudyN]

I second what Joanne says - I've gone through it a couple of times with Jasper, and the key really is to take it slowly and go at Dolly's pace. It may be a pain if you don't even get out the drive for a week or two, but it will pay off. I don't think driving a short distance to somewhere 'fun' is that successful, because however fun the destination is, it doesn't stop the car drive being scary.

Jasper goes on the back seat so once we got out the drive I would pass treats back to him (when it was safe, obviously). Not only did it keep it positive for him, but if he didn't take the treat I'd know he wasn't ready for that stage yet. Not so easy when Dolly is in the boot though!

 

[Cash_Dolly]

I second what Joanne says - I've gone through it a couple of times with Jasper, and the key really is to take it slowly and go at Dolly's pace. It may be a pain if you don't even get out the drive for a week or two, but it will pay off. I don't think driving a short distance to somewhere 'fun' is that successful, because however fun the destination is, it doesn't stop the car drive being scary.

Jasper goes on the back seat so once we got out the drive I would pass treats back to him (when it was safe, obviously). Not only did it keep it positive for him, but if he didn't take the treat I'd know he wasn't ready for that stage yet. Not so easy when Dolly is in the boot though!

I can't put her in the back seats as she doesn't settle there so it is unsafe. In the boot she sits down this seems to be the least stressful place for her. Thank you for your help. I am happy to work at it as long as it takes.