Nervous in the car?

[Chelsea Sifers]

Does anyone else have a doodle that seems nervous when riding in the car? My girl always acts really excited to get in the car but then once we are on the road she doesn't seem like she is enjoying it at all. If my husband is driving I usually hold her in my lap and she always buries her head in my arm and is very rigid if I try to move her to a different position. If she is riding in the seat by herself not in someone's lap she usually leans again the back of the seat and looks unhappy. She has never gotten sick in the car but we haven't gone farther than 45 min or so and by then she usually whines every once in a while but not excessively. I'm just confused because she gets very excited when we mention getting in the car but then she hates it... I would love to take her on little weekend trips with us but I'm afraid she won't be able to handle a few hours in the car. I also want to get her a safety harness for the car and put her in the back seat because I know that is much safer but I think she will freak out since she hates the car and also likes to be near me.

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

If she's not getting sick, maybe she doesn't feel secure when the car is moving.  Leather seats can be slippery. I got a large Dog Gone Smart fleece pad to lay cross the back seat and my dog loves it. Buckling him into a harness (a Kurgo) that lets him sit or lay down helped too.  I thought switching him from front to back would be hard but he seemed to like it better (as long as he could see me) because he had more room.  He would not be happy in the cargo back of an SUV.  I've also used relaxing classical music from the time Finn was a pup, and with rescue pups in training.  Sounds silly but it helps them relax.  If you can make her comfortable and feel secure, It think you'll have a good traveler.

Pups that I've worked with that don't like riding in the car, don't get excited.  They don't want to go near it.    

[Chelsea Sifers]

Hi Cheryl - thanks for the advice! I actually don't have leather seats but I just ordered a Kurgo harness because I saw that it had been crash tested. I think you are probably right about not feeling secure so we will see how it goes! I will try to find some classical music too :) 

[Lonnie & Libby Lu]

Libby is three years old and she still does not like riding in the car.  She is better than she used to be, but I always feel so bad for her because you can tell she nervous and scared.  If we go for a longer ride, the very minute we stop the car she throws up.  One thing that did help a little was to crack the window open a little for fresh air.  I like Cheryl's suggestion of a fleece pad for the seat.  It is very slippery and I know she is uncomfortable.

[Chelsea Sifers]

Poor Libby :( That's no fun! I know what you mean - I feel terrible when Maisy looks so nervous.

[Barbara B., Sasha & Oliver]

My Oliver gets nervous and he will be 4 at the end of the month.  He never sits, always stands (I have a SUV) and pants.  He too gets very excited when he knows he is going for a ride but just never seems to relax.

[Lori, Quincy & Frankie]

This reminded me that I used to ride in the back seat with Quincy when we traveled the 1/2 our to puppy classes. He eventually got used to being in the car with his harness attached to the seat belt - and now he is a model traveler.  I hope it works that way for you! 

[Chelsea Sifers]

Thanks! I just ordered a Kurgo harness - crossing my fingers that she adjusts well and it helps her feel secure.

[Stephanie Neufeld]

Yep, my pup, Sadie, has never liked car rides.  She cries almost the entire time (which can get very annoying), unless we have her on one of our laps.  I'm thinking about investing in car harness for her to help her feel more secure.  Does anyone have any suggestions?

[Suzanne & Jack]

Good question. When we picked up Moose he rode in the car for 12 hours and was such a good boy. Now when we go anywhere in the car his anxiety is on overload. He jumps right in, but licks the window incessantly. I have had to use a paint scraper to get the drool film off the window. The upholstery on the door is so covered that I can never get it off. Yuk