Suddenly scared of the car?

[Devin and Indy]

Indy has always loved car rides and he usually rides up front with me while strapped in to his seatbelt. He jumps right in the car and sticks his head out the window! I think he loves ending up at the dog park more than the actual ride, but we've never had any problems!

 

In the past 2 weeks, he has started running FROM the car. He will not get in and shakes the whole time he's in the car. I can't figure out what triggered this! I searched for past topics, but they mostly revolved around carsickness which Indy has never had. 

 

I bought some calming tablets from Petco and have been trying to slowly reintroduce him to the car. Just now, we went and sat in the car for 10 minutes with it running. He shook the whole time, wouldn't take treats and just wanted to be in my lap. He seems equal levels of stressed whether in his crate, in the front seat, or (slightly less stressed) in his booster seat.

 

We drive around a lot together. We go to the dog park, down to the lake trail to run together and to my parents house all the time! I'm moving to Nashville to start grad school at the end of July and it's a 14-hour drive. What can I do to help him? I don't want him to spend 14 hours shaking and freaking out!

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

This seems really odd if you can think of nothing that scared him while he was in the car.  He is close in age to one of the fear stages that dogs go through though. Here is a link with some info:

 

http://www.diamondsintheruff.com/developmentalstages.html

 

Also there is an Anxiety/Mental Health group here on DK where you might find some answers and more info:

http://www.doodlekisses.com/group/mentalhealth

 

I'm sorry to hear about Indy's sudden change in behavior and hope it passes just as quickly as it started. Keep us posted!

 

 

[Devin and Indy]

Thanks! I'll check out that first website and just joined the mental health group. I took him back out to sit in the car for a few minutes and he took a treat after 10 minutes this time. That's encouraging at least. He pulls away from me the second he hears the car doors unlock and won't jump in to the car.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Did you ask him what he is afraid of?  Sorry,  just a joke.   I have a very fearful dog  and know how frustrating it becomes for you and the dog.   I was thinking of recent changes:

• Spring is here and the windows were rolled up all winter
• Air conditioner running in the car.
• The Fear Stage which Ricki and Tara gave you a link to read.
• You suddenly changed the station to Hip Hop Music and he can't take it. <--- don't laugh, I've changed the station before just thinking it might make the dog calmer!  See how far we go to rack our brain trying to figure out what they are so afraid of.

Glad to see you joined the Anxiety Group.  It is less than a year old so please feel free to keep a running tab on the things you are trying.  We we want to hear different things people are trying.

Working with positive reinforcement is a great way to slowly reintroduce the car!   Glad to see you are doing it and DONT GIVE UP. it takes a lot of love and patience

In the mean time here is what one DK member wrote about her Fearful Dog.   Because  I tend to get frustrated and like I said it takes a LOT OF LOVE AND PATIENCE in some of these situations,  I have bookmarked this blog and promise to return to it as needed.  It truly is medicine for those of us dealing with stressed dogs.  

http://www.doodlekisses.com/profiles/blogs/vern-and-the-man-in-the-...

 

Best Wishes in Grad School.

[Jennifer Tramell]

I've never dealt with this kind of fear in dogs but I've done a little fear training in horses.  The trick with horses is to introduce the trigger and remove it just when they start THINKING "I'm afraid".  The fear trigger could be in sight for only 5-10 seconds before the horse flicks an ear or widens his eyes and then it's removed.  You don't want the horse to think that their response to the fear has caused the removal of the item.

Using this technique, I would very matter-of-factly put Indy in the car and immediately take him out. Do a couple sit/stay, whatever obedience or tricks to get his mind off the car and on you.  Put him in the car and immediately take him out.  Repeat until he can stay in for 5 seconds, 10 seconds, 30 seconds, etc.  Call him out before he shows fear.  Does he have a favorite toy?  Maybe you could play fetch and after a couple tosses, toss the toy in the car.  Maybe you could even use the car as an agility obstacle and lead him into one door and right out the other.  Poor Indy needs to know that there is nothing to worry about - getting into the car doesn't mean he's stuck.

It's been my experience that if you spend too much time coaxing and reassuring, a dog/horse/child will think that there IS something to be afraid of and it will reinforce rather than reassure.   I had a shepherd mix who had fear issues and the more I tried to reassure her, the more fearful she got.  A kind yet matter-or-fact approach to the fear item shows that there is nothing to be afraid of.

Good luck & keep us posted - I hope to hear that Indy is back to his old car-loving self soon!

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

All very good comments here.  The only thing I might add would be to make sure you aren't showing stress signs when you are coaxing him or he will pick up on your energy.  Just be very casual and matter of fact.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Yep Yep Yep.  Make no eye contact, show no stress, and make it a fun day.

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

Poor Indy-could be something as random as hearing a strange loud noise he didn't like? I hope he comes around fast!

[Tina, Clover, Plus 5 More]

Earlier today I was ordering a Thundershirt for Mae.  On the website it talks about how it can help with travel anxiety.  Not sure if anyone has had success using it for travel anxiety but it does help during storms for some dogs.  Here is a link to the site

http://www.thundershirt.com/HowItWorks/Travel.aspx

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Just throwing another idea out there...is it possible he got stung by something in the car? Was the last trip in the car before he got so scared to someplace he did not like...the vet, etc. for shots? Just grasping at straws and yes, I guess it doesn't really matter because no matter what the reason, something scared him. I would take something extra yummy for him that he only gets in the car and be positive and upbeat and ignore the behavior. Do not tell him it is ok as that only reinforces the behavior. I know that is hard. Good luck!!

[Devin and Indy]

I've been trying a lot of positive reinforcement and he's been a bit better today. He even stuck his head out for a little which was encouraging. He's still freaking out about getting in the car and exhibiting nervous behaviors during the car ride. Hopefully it was just a minor setback? 

 

Thanks for all the advice, yall! I appreciate this community so much.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

The funny thing is I was thinking about this discussion and our Vern. We have a fenced in backyard. You can open our back door and they have to go across our deck, down steps and out into the yard. Vern has been doing this for a year. All of a sudden, he won't go down there by himself. Last night, in the middle of the night, I had to pull him down there to go potty. It was too late at night for me to use my positive training voice...LOL. Who knows why he is scared to go down there now? Sometimes these doodles are hard to figure out.

[Jennifer Tramell]

Has Vern been talking to Charlotte?  She suddenly decided that she doesn't want to go on the grass in our backyard.  She does everything she can to stay on the rocks and gravel and OFF the grass?!??!  She will run on the grass to fetch but takes the LONG route back climbing on rocks to avoid the grass.  Did she get a pedicure and doesn't want to get it dirty?  Good grief!