Handling Your Dog’s Car Anxiety
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Why so Anxious?
If you’ve stumbled upon this article, there’s a good chance that you think your dog may have anxiety while in the car. Anxiety is typically defined as the disproportionate feelings of fear, dread, or uneasiness than what’s needed for the current situation, and has medical and non-medical treatments for our dogs.
Anxiety has the potential to cause a myriad of symptoms and concerns in your canine friend. If being in the car is something new to your dog, they are especially predisposed to having a stressful time during and after the trip.
Above everything: Dogs tend to be afraid of the unknown. The new smells, loud noises, others honking, the car’s speed and bumpiness along the ride, as well as the safety belts and seats we put them in, can confuse your pup if they’re not used to it.
However, anxiety - though varying in severity with each dog - doesn’t have to stop your adventures! There are many ways that we as owners can prevent and treat car anxiety in our pups. It is important that we learn to manage car anxiety because it is more likely than not that they will need to go for a car ride; whether that is to the vet, to the park, or perhaps to grandma’s house for a stay.
Symptoms
Heads up! This is not a complete list of symptoms, and should not be used for a medical diagnosis. You know your dog better than anyone, and if they’re exhibiting a symptom that isn’t on this list, don’t assume it’s another issue. As always, consult your vet for a professional diagnosis.
Panting
Scratching at doors
Shaking/trembling
Looking for a way out of the car
Hiding under seats
Licking lips/paws
Barking, whining, and whimpering
Potty accidents or vomit
General increased vigilance
Preventative measures
It’s easier to prevent a condition from forming than it is to unlearn it once it’s formed. Aside from that, your dog will be thankful for taking gradual steps to new situations. The most important factor in preventative measures is exposure- make the car a fun, safe place that your dog enjoys!
Start Now: The sooner you start introducing your pup to the car and the younger they are when you do it, the more likely that they will not only tolerate the ride, but even enjoy it.
Having them in the car as puppies isn’t always an option with adult-adopted dogs, however these positive associations should be made as soon and as frequently as possible. Whether that’s a trip to the park, the coffee shop to get a “pup cup,” to their besties house, on a hike, or anywhere they would enjoy - start now!
Baby Steps: Work in baby steps to get them desensitized to the motion of the car. Start taking them to trips to the park through the car as young as possible (with all car safety features, of course). If getting to the park is too overwhelming for the first time in the car, start with getting your dog in the car while it’s parked, and slowly ramp up to longer and longer car rides.
Incentivize: If your dog is showing an aversion to the car, this process could take longer and involve heavy positive reinforcement.
The reward you choose as an incentive depends on your dog’s personal preferences. Many dogs are food/treat motivated, so their favorite snack could do the trick. Others are more incentivized by love, attention, and play; learn what your dog would like the most and use that to your (and their) advantage!
Car ride means fun times ahead: An important step is taking your dog somewhere they love the first couple times they travel in the car. This could be the park, their doggy-best-friend’s house, or even to that random spot they love to smell down the street! This will teach them that not only is getting into the car a good idea, but will teach them the more important part- that the wait and sensory experience of the car ride is worth it!
Car Ride Aversion: Many dogs have car aversion because they remember that going in the car means that they are going to the vet, the groomer, or somewhere that brings them stress. In order to combat this aversion, it’s important to replace those memories with positive ones. The more positive associations they have with car rides, the less stressed they will be about them in the long run!
Safety first!
Letting your dog be “loose” in the car without any safety measures can create more anxiety, especially in high speed circumstances such as the freeway. Not to mention, if an accident happened, your pet could be severely injured and/or hold onto the traumatic experience. There are a multitude of options for this dependent on the size of your pup, your specific car, and what is most tolerable for them.
Doggy Seat Belts: On the market are “seat belts” that you can hook up to your dog’s harness, that either lock into the safety buckle in your car, or are held around the head rest. It’s important to attach them to the harness, not your dog’s collar, since this is safest in the event of an accident.
Doggy “Booster” Seats: There are also car seats, varying in size, that hold your dog almost like a child’s booster seat, which have a strap to attach your dog to while in the seat. There are also “seat hammocks,” especially good for larger breeds, that encapsulate and a create barrier in your back seat; your pup wouldn’t be able to jump to different areas of the car but will also have a bit more freedom than other set ups.
Soft Carriers: Another possibility could be a soft carrier that you can strap in to the seat belt; it is possible that the enclosure could help some pup’s anxiety by limiting certain sensations that could lead to stress and anxiety. Overall, you must know and understand your pups behaviors, triggers, and needs to decide which safety measure would work best for your particular pup.
Calming measures
When your pup is too far down the road for preventative measures (aka, isn’t a puppy anymore or has already developed car anxiety), consider pursuing one of these calming measures.
Having a loved one in the backseat. Having someone familiar and friendly physically close to your dog (who’s not in the drivers seat) while in the car can help calm them down. Not only is another person a distraction to them and could take their mind off of the uncomfortable sensation of being nauseous, it will start to build an association between the beloved person and being in the car.
Bring along a familiar toy, blanket, or other comfort object for the ride. This is the same principle as bringing in a loved one, but can be easier to plan and more consistent, as planning with another person isn’t involved.
Compression vests for dogs. Similar to how a weighted blanket is reduces the fight-or-flight response in people, a compression vest provides can be soothing for dogs when they’re stressed.
For very long car rides: anti-anxiety medications. If no other methods are working and your road trip/long car ride is coming up, consider talking to your vet about a temporary anti-anxiety medication. Medications vary in strength and duration of effect, so your dog will still be able to enjoy your destination as their normal selves.
A Reminder: These lists are non-exhaustive! If these recommendations do not encapsulate the type of care that your dog needs, it can still lead you in the right direction. Although not medical professionals, dog behaviorists can also provide vital insight into situations with doggy anxiety and lead you and your dog to success. If all else fails, consult the opinion of your vet!
Product Recommendations
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Soft carrier: https://amzn.to/3S6zXs3
Compression Vest: https://amzn.to/3VXXgGE
conclusion
To summarize, there are many factors that go into the anxiety and stress your pup may feel during a car ride. Even the calmest dogs tend to be stressed out by car rides, especially long ones.
If and when possible, early exposure is key! As soon as you possibly can, start to take your pup out on little rides around town, to the park, to get a treat, to their friends and family’s houses. These positive associations with the car ride will overtime help your dog become more understanding of car rides, and realize that they ultimately bring them fun times. In the cases of adopting an adult dog, early exposure isn’t always an option, but there are still ways to help your adult pup relax while on a ride.
For quick trips the comfort of a loved one, familiar toys and scents, safety belts and seats, as well as compression vests can work wonders. For longer trips, you can always consult your vet to see if your pup could be a good candidate for anti-anxiety medications. These medications will soothe your pup immensely and will likely help them sleep most of the ride.
Above everything else, repeated exposure is an excellent form of therapy for people and dogs. The more your dog experiences being in the car, the more relaxed they will be about it in the long run.
Also as a reminder, do not beat yourself up (or be upset with your dog) for having a hard time handling car rides; car rides can be stressful even for people, and our pups aren’t able to communicate how they’re feeling with us through words. Be patient and kind with yourself and your pup!