car rides

[neko12_48767]

Neko has very bad Anxiety in car rides. I think its because the only time he goes in the car is to the vet, and he don't like the vet. No he dose not. I mean he will not sit down in the car for more then too seconds. I try to take him to petsmart, but when we gose places we go all over, and not just petsmart. So we can never take him. He gets in the car all right. You opens the door and hes in. what do you think.

[filarotten]

I would suggest short litte car rides. Gradually increase the distance with each ride.

[Brattina88]

^^ agree
Start with rides around the block that end up back at home. If there's a park nearby a drive to there would be a fun experiance for him. Positive reinforcement and gradual longer distances should work for you. You might have to pick a day to go to pets mart only :)

[Fran27]

I agree, definitely pick a day a week for just a good ride with your dog. Go to petsmart, to the park, whatever, but it will show him that the car isn't that bad.

[Doberluv]

My dogs all love going in the car and I think the reason is that since they've been babies, we go just about every day for a hike which starts a couple miles away from home. So, we drive for a short time, they get out and wooooo hooooo!!!! Fun times!! So, if you find a place which is fun for your dog to go which is not too far and go often, he'll get so he's fine. I also suggest using a crate in your car which will help make him feel more secure than loose in the car and more safe. If he's fussing or uneasy, don't make a big thing out of it...just keep on going without talking to him....sometimes maybe the radio will help shut out the outside noises of traffic, which he may be nervous about. Once he's better with going in the car, I recommend a trip once a week to the vet for a treat, a social call with the gals behind the desk and maybe get him weighed....5 minutes and he's outta there. This will help make him feel more at ease when he has to go to the vet for a real check up or something.

[RedyreRottweilers]

DOberluv, I call those happy visits. They make a huge difference for a dog with veterinarian anxiety.

I even REQUIRE this in my contract on my puppies. :D

[Doberluv]

Yup....it's part of my socializing "homework" lessons. LOL.

But yeah....take the dog somewhere stupendous every day for a really fun walk... if you can, and he'll start looking forward to going in the car.

[neko12_48767]

thank you all for your help, but with his leg the way it is. I don't won't to overdue it.

[Doberluv]

You don't have to over do it. If you make it fun, even a short play session, little walk, new & interesting place with new smells, some treats, happy voice, it will all make looking at a car ride as a good thing. He'll make friends with the car because he'll come to know that when he goes in a car, he's going somewhere fun. LOL.

[BlackDog]

The first thing we did with Lilly when we got her was take her all over the place with us. Now she loves car rides. We took her to petsmart ALOT! We let her go to the bone lane, where the racks on bones are low to the ground so she could pick out her own bone. Same thing with toys. We also took her with us to K.Y. when she was 6 months old. She went to the kentucky horse park, because they allow dogs. She met the horses, people, and other dogs. By the time we left she was eating grass with the horses. She must have thought she was a mini-horse. lol! Just do fun stuff with him.