How to Solve Your Dog's Fear of Car Rides
Negative Experiences
Some dogs associate the car with negative experiences، which can easily develop into a fear. For instance، the only time many dogs set their paws in a car is for a trip to the veterinarian. If your dog has negative feelings about going to the vet، those feelings may transfer to car rides.
If you adopted a shelter dog، the likelihood of its having had traumatic experiences that you don't know about increases. It's possible that the dog's only encounters with car rides were the trip to the shelter (or to a spot where it was abandoned) and the car ride to a new home. These frightening experiences could also account for a car phobia.
Similarly، a dog that's been involved in a car accident or hit by a car may have long-lasting fears about cars in general.
Next Steps
If your dog's fear of the car is related to car sickness، there's a fairly easy fix as dogs are able to take some over-the-counter medications to ease motion sickness. Talk to your veterinarian about the proper brand and dosage and whether this is a good option for your dog. It may also help to avoid car rides soon after your dog has had a meal.
If your dog's fear of car rides stems from more than motion sickness، chances are you'll have to put a bit more time and effort into getting rid of its phobia. By slowly introducing your dog to the car and creating a positive association with the experience، you can help your dog enjoy car rides.
- Begin by enticing your dog to the car rather than forcing it to approach. Many dogs with this fear start putting on the brakes as soon as the car comes into view. Instead of dragging your dog to the car، slowly lure it closer using lots of treats and praise. For a mild car phobia، you may be able to get your dog to walk up to the car in a few short training sessions. For more severe phobias، it may require several sessions. To make it worth your dog's while، use valuable، delicious treats or its favorite toys.
