Car Anxiety?

[Lauren and Kona]

Kona absolutely HATES to ride in the car. She cries, whines and barks constantly. She even tries to climb over my shoulder! It's getting to the point it's just not safe to drive with her anymore. I purchased a safety harness for the car but it didn't work out well at all. She doesn't sit still for one second!

I've been trying to bring Kona with me everywhere to socialize her but it's difficult since she hates the car so much.

Any advice on how to help calm her? Riding in the car is something we'll be doing a lot so I want to get her used to it.

Thanks, everyone!!

[Deb's Yarrow and Schatzi]

The answer is more car rides.  Short ones.  Yarrow freaked out for the first few car rides and she's just gotten to the point of being quiet and even falling asleep.  Awesome.  She's six months tomorrow.  It's all part of the learning curve for puppy.  Once the weather gets too warm, she won't be able to go along on little errands, unless there's someone to wait with her outside the car.  So, get in as many little car rides as you can while the weather is still cool.  Also, bring along a favorite chew toy.  Teething doesn't take breaks and you don't want her to chew the inside of the car while you go buy milk and bread. 

Another tip, I find if I throw her bed into the back of the car she curls up in it.  It lets her know where she should be.

[kelly orlando]

I wish I had answers for you, but instead I am interested in the responses!  Lilly has car anxiety too.  But, she doesn't get crazy-- she gets lethargic and then throws up all over the car.  Every. Single. Time.  I think the anxiety is nausea-related.  Does your baby get sick too??  Lilly starts to drool like crazy even getting anywhere near a car and then does the same thing in the car.  She is very social and so fun to take places-- but the getting there part is so hard.  I'm hoping the car sickness is something she will grow out of, but I'll keep apprised of the responses to this (and let you know if I find any big secrets to help make car riding easier)!

[Deb's Yarrow and Schatzi]

Poor Lilly.  I've had a dog (and a daughter) who suffered car sickness.  They do outgrow it but it takes quite some time.  I wonder if there is a homeopathic remedy for this.  Another thing I might try would be one of those Thundershirts for anxiety.

[Gem's Jewel]

A few things I have done in the past to keep car rides going in the summer is to plan a trip to the park at least 3 times a week for a walk, taking dogs along when dropping off or picking up my kids,/kid, drives to the post office to mail stuff (never mail from home now) visits to friends or family when appropriate, etc. My dogs love car rides now & the only downside is if we are outside with them and anyone pulls up and leaves their door open...they have a car full of dogs that think they are going somewhere :) Really threw the pizza delivery kid for a loop, especially when I jokingly said they wouldn't get out unless he took them around the block! LOL

[Cathy, Fozzie & Shaggy]

For me, a crate was the only way to go.  My older lab Gus never did settle down in the car and he became a danger barking in my ear, trying to climb on me, and jumping from seat to seat front to back.  In a crate he actually settled down. Fozzie threw up his the whole first summer every time I took him to class, somethimes 3 times a week. The good thing was I wouldn't feed him before training so usually there was not much of a mess.  By keeping him in a crate though I only had to clean up the pad or blanket in the bottom (I learned to keep spares crate pads or blankets with me along with paper towels and wipes).  He did out grow it eventually!