Comments on: Why Do Dogs Love Car Rides? http://naturaldogtraining.com/blog/why-do-dogs-love-car-rides/ Official Natural Dog Training Website Thu, 29 Jul 2010 17:54:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: christine randolph http://naturaldogtraining.com/blog/why-do-dogs-love-car-rides/comment-page-1/#comment-1687 christine randolph Wed, 10 Feb 2010 15:58:20 +0000 http://wordpress-news.loc/?p=57#comment-1687 yeah strange how some dogs are scared of cars. my friend has a bernese who never got rid of her car riding anxiety. i hope you will be able to make your dogs love the car Kimberley ! (she also has 3 other bernese who love the car) I love to go places with my dogs in the car because all they totally love it. all three of them ! i can totally see how they are into prey mode in the car, especially when i slow down and or turn on the indicator. when i am fast on the freeway, they sleep. They do need to be able to look out the windows otherwise they are not happy which makes it difficult to stuff them in a crate which is in the windowless part of the vehicle. i recommend building them a perch so they can lie down comfortably and look out the window whenever they feel like it or fall asleep when they have had enough of that. my little dog travels on the driver's lap whoever that is. recently i travelled with my girl friend who thought that was too dangerous so we built a perch between us with a cooler and a thick blanket and made it interesting for her to lie there (treats) so she stayed there the entire time (a total of approx. 16 hours driving) i also had my young male who is large, he was in the crate. (my friend's wishes) he was whining when we slowed down so I think he wanted to look out for prey at that time, but could not, so got frustrated. he ate a bit of the pillow he was lying on...another indication of nervous frustration I am sure. But, mostly he was OK with it. considering that i usually travel with him free in the car, when he likes to squeeze himself between me and the back of the seat...(grounding?) I am glad all this is not mandated by law, because I remember in Australia they had a law about having dogs in harnesses when in the car.... however, I hope I will never have some kind of collision that will hurt my dogs... My young male and small female are both sometimes a bit hesitant to get in the car through the front door when the engine is running. ...like some threshold anxiety... i think they do not like the noise of that and need to build their courage up to jump in. if this happens i reward them generously as soon as they have made the jump. maybe this is a factor for your dogs Kimberley ? something in the car that scares them a bit. a box or something they could interpret as a booger bear ? yeah strange how some dogs are scared of cars.

my friend has a bernese who never got rid of her car riding anxiety. i hope you will be able to make your dogs love the car Kimberley ! (she also has 3 other bernese who love the car)

I love to go places with my dogs in the car because all they totally love it.

all three of them ! i can totally see how they are into prey mode in the car, especially when i slow down and or turn on the indicator.

when i am fast on the freeway, they sleep. They do need to be able to look out the windows otherwise they are not happy which makes it difficult to stuff them in a crate which is in the windowless part of the vehicle.

i recommend building them a perch so they can lie down comfortably and look out the window whenever they feel like it or fall asleep when they have had enough of that.

my little dog travels on the driver’s lap whoever that is. recently i travelled with my girl friend who thought that was too dangerous so we built a perch between us with a cooler and a thick blanket and made it interesting for her to lie there (treats) so she stayed there the entire time (a total of approx. 16 hours driving)

i also had my young male who is large, he was in the crate. (my friend’s wishes) he was whining when we slowed down so I think he wanted to look out for prey at that time, but could not, so got frustrated. he ate a bit of the pillow he was lying on…another indication of nervous frustration I am sure.

But, mostly he was OK with it. considering that i usually travel with him free in the car, when he likes to squeeze himself between me and the back of the seat…(grounding?)

I am glad all this is not mandated by law, because I remember in Australia they had a law about having dogs in harnesses when in the car….

however, I hope I will never have some kind of collision that will hurt my dogs…

My young male and small female are both sometimes a bit hesitant to get in the car through the front door when the engine is running.

…like some threshold anxiety…

i think they do not like the noise of that and need to build their courage up to jump in. if this happens i reward them generously as soon as they have made the jump.

maybe this is a factor for your dogs Kimberley ? something in the car that scares them a bit. a box or something they could interpret as a booger bear ?

]]> By: kbehan http://naturaldogtraining.com/blog/why-do-dogs-love-car-rides/comment-page-1/#comment-1683 kbehan Tue, 09 Feb 2010 23:09:59 +0000 http://wordpress-news.loc/?p=57#comment-1683 Most dogs grow into it even if they start out afraid, which is not unusual. The main thing is not invest in you getting him into truck. If he's got to get in, just get it done as quickly as possible with no talking. There's a couple tricks, like up on a box that's halfway to cab, and then from there into the cab. But once he associates car ride with prey-making, that will ground him and he'll love the car. Don't take him too much, but when you do, go on short outings to a wide open field. Go for a short walk and see if you can get him to play fetch and tug after he gains his bearings. Next, carry tug toy back to car. If he doesn't get car sick, take short hop, walk him around then give him small bowl of his food. Again, see if you can get him to play tug. The more active you can get his prey drive when you get out of the car, the sooner he'll link the car to the hunt. And then again, don't ask him, cajole him, sweet talk or look at him in order to get in the truck, otherwise he'll perceive what's happening as pressure. Just arrange for him to get into truck. Good luck and believe me, it's just a matter of time. Most dogs grow into it even if they start out afraid, which is not unusual. The main thing is not invest in you getting him into truck. If he’s got to get in, just get it done as quickly as possible with no talking. There’s a couple tricks, like up on a box that’s halfway to cab, and then from there into the cab. But once he associates car ride with prey-making, that will ground him and he’ll love the car. Don’t take him too much, but when you do, go on short outings to a wide open field. Go for a short walk and see if you can get him to play fetch and tug after he gains his bearings. Next, carry tug toy back to car. If he doesn’t get car sick, take short hop, walk him around then give him small bowl of his food. Again, see if you can get him to play tug. The more active you can get his prey drive when you get out of the car, the sooner he’ll link the car to the hunt. And then again, don’t ask him, cajole him, sweet talk or look at him in order to get in the truck, otherwise he’ll perceive what’s happening as pressure. Just arrange for him to get into truck. Good luck and believe me, it’s just a matter of time.

]]> By: Kimberly http://naturaldogtraining.com/blog/why-do-dogs-love-car-rides/comment-page-1/#comment-1682 Kimberly Tue, 09 Feb 2010 22:30:15 +0000 http://wordpress-news.loc/?p=57#comment-1682 I read your article and I have the opposite problem my 8 almost 9 month old lab hates truck rides. I can't get him in the truck and alittle problem getting out. I have no idea what to do. I wish he would get in so I can take him out on hikes and other fun things plus the getting to the vet is handy as well. Got any advice for me?????? I read your article and I have the opposite problem my 8 almost 9 month old lab hates truck rides. I can’t get him in the truck and alittle problem getting out. I have no idea what to do. I wish he would get in so I can take him out on hikes and other fun things plus the getting to the vet is handy as well. Got any advice for me??????

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