There are many reasons a dog might be afraid to ride in the car. It could be something as simple as a lack of experience. I've met several rescue dogs who likely never rode in a vehicle until they were picked up and put in the shelter or sent to a rescue group. Another very common reason rests in how cars make dogs feel. Some dogs get nauseous with the movement, the lurching, the stop and go of traffic. Dogs who get car sick start to work themselves up even before they get into the car, anticipating that icky feeling. Many dogs get anxious about the car because the only time they ever go anywhere is when they are on their way to the vet or the groomer, and those situations can (for obvious reasons) be anxiety-provoking. Then, the less common but still observed reason that some dogs are afraid of car rides is that they were in the car during a car accident. I've treated more than one poor dog who survived a car accident with their owner. Regardless of why a dog is afraid to get in the car, treatment is the same: Slow desensitization, high value rewards, and frequent, very short sessions. It's a tedious process but well-worth the effort if you yourself live with a dog who avoids car rides like the plague.
What follows will be a basic outline on the desensitization process for car rides. It is important to note that every dog is different; some may take longer to have success on a given step than others. Don't get frustrated and don't push too quickly! You want your dog to be completely comfortable, no signs of anxiety, before moving on to the next step in the process. Don't skip any steps! You may think, "Oh my dog is okay with that, so I'll just move to the next challenge," but resist the urge to do that. Each step, in and of itself, is important to the bigger picture of a dog who rides comfortably in the car. If your dog is successful immediately at one of the steps, great. Repeat the step once more, and then move on. We refer to this as proofing. In terms of equipment, all you need are a decent quantity of very small, but very high value treats, and your dog on the leash and collar (or harness) you use for walks.
Here are the steps:
1. Walk your dog out to your garage (keep the garage door down) or to your driveway if that is where you park your car. Walk around your car, asking your dog in an upbeat tone of voice for behaviors they know well: Sit, touch, shake, etc. They may resist a bit at first because they are thinking you are going to try to put them in the car OR because this seems like an odd thing to do. Persevere! This is an important step. You are teaching your dog that just because the car is nearby doesn't mean it's going to move or that the dog needs to get into it.
2. Once your dog comfortably moves around the outside of your car with the doors closed, open all of the car doors (and the hatch back if you have one), as well as the garage door (if you are parked in the garage) and repeat the above step. This teaches your dog that just because the doors are open, that doesn't mean that they have to get in the car or that the car will be going anywhere.
3. Once your dog isn't anxious moving around the car with doors closed or open, get into the driver's seat and have your dog do those same easy behaviors for you while they are outside of the car and you are in it. Repeat this exercise while sitting in the passenger seat and the back seat, on both sides of the car. Again, they may resist this step as they are assuming they will have to get in the car too, but not yet!
4. If and only if they've had success with those first three steps will you move to getting them into the car. You can lift them in, use a ramp, or put them in their car seat, but don't secure them in the car, simply sit with them, holding the leash. Offer treats for sitting or laying down on the seat. Reward them if they appear calm (no yawning, no panting, no shaking, no trying to escape). If they are visibly anxious, don't tell them that it's okay. We don't want to reinforce the anxiety! Instead, take a few deep breaths yourself, sing, hum, or talk to them about what's going on around them. This is redirection and helps to reduce anxiety. It may take you several sessions to get to the point where your dog is sitting quietly and calmly in the car.
5. Once they can sit quietly and calmly in the car, it's time to secure them. Use a car harness, dog car seat, or crate to secure your dog in place. Sit next to them while they are secured! Repeat this several times so that they become comfortable with the process of being secured and seated in the parked car. Once you've got that, time to move you to the front seat!
6. With you in the front seat and your driver's door open, do "driving stuff." Look in your rear view mirrors, play with the radio, etc. Get them used to NOT being the center of your attention in the car. Reward them periodically as long as they remain calm. If they can do this, shut your door and repeat the pretend driving behaviors.
7. Only now are you ready to turn the car on! If you are in your garage, be sure the garage door is up before starting your car! Remain in your parked car, idling, again doing driving behaviors. Adjust the temperature, the radio, the mirrors, etc. and reward your dog for being calm. If they are anxious with the car's ignition on, talk them through it again to redirect them, but don't tell them that it's okay.
8. Once you can start your car it's time to roll out of the garage or just down the driveway and back. Repeat this several times until your dog basically looks at you like you've lost your mind. This teaches them not to anticipate that a ride is any given length of time or that they are going to a specific destination.
9. Now you are finally ready for a trip around the block. Each time you do this step, you'll go a block further, watching for signs of anxiety. You may need to enlist the help of another human at this step so that they can reward and redirect your dog while you focus on your driving.
10. When you are finally ready for a destination, pick something fun! A trip to the park, a hike, or a friend's house. Definitely not the groomer or the vet, please. After several fun destinations, you can start throwing in some of the less fun destinations. Just remember: You have to routinely take your dog for car rides to fun places in order for them not to resume being anxious. They have to frequently stretch that muscle, so to speak!
If your dog gets nauseous in a moving car, you will need to address that piece of the puzzle before step 8 above. Talk to your vet about a prescription for an anti-nausea medication or you can even try a few Nabisco Brand Ginger Snaps Cookies (the ones in the orange and brown box). I've always been able to get my collies past the nausea stage with a couple of ginger snaps.
If you get stuck for a long time somewhere between steps 4 and 7 ( or maybe even sooner than that!), it may be time to speak with your veterinarian about an anti-anxiety medication to take a bit of the edge off for these more provocative steps. You might also be able to try CBD oil to calm them, but check with your vet first for any contraindications for your own dog.
After 35 years of helping dogs and their people, I've found that the hardest dogs to help get over their anxiety with car rides are those who were in actual car accidents. Their fear of cars is well-founded! These dogs often do need anti-anxiety medication in order to become mostly, or fully, desensitized to car rides. Only time will tell for sure. I had one client buy a new car, change how she secured her dog in the car, and try having other people drive her dog around before finally deciding he was too traumatized by the car accident that they were in together. She began using a mobile vet and mobile groomer so that her dog didn't need to ride in a car ever again.
As always, if you have questions about your pet's behavior, you know where to find me.
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