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  1. #1
    Puppy Kelly's Avatar
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    Puppy and Car Travel - Anxiety Barking

    Our 13 week old lab is not having fun in the car. I'm not used to this as all of my other dogs have LOVED car rides. He wasn't like this the first week we got him but is now to the point where he is barking (very high pitched) and whining the entire car ride. He started out when he was smaller, sitting in my daughter's lap in the front seat and he was fine the first few rides but then started barking and whining. We then tried having him ride in the back but he kept wanting to go back and forth between the front seat and the backseat.

    He now rides in a crate in the back seat. We have tried soothing him, ignoring him (after checking to make sure he wasn't hurt,) short car rides with treats, short car rides with his favorite bones and toys etc. but it only seems to be getting worse. It is a constant high pitched barking the ENTIRE TRIP. He's only really been in the car going to fun locations aside from one trip to the vet that he didn't much care for but he played with other dogs there so I'm sure it wasn't too traumatic.

    Any ideas on what else we can try?

  2. #2
    Senior Dog POPTOP's Avatar
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    Not sure if this is happening, but could he be a little car sick; it's not unusual.

    Start out slowly, like putting him in the crate with the car in the driveway, not even running. Work in slow increments to car running, going down the driveway, around the block. Treat and praise for quiet behavior. You can also try covering the crate with a sheet but be sure to keep windows open for good air flow.
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    Kelly (07-29-2015)

  4. #3
    Real Retriever Moby and Barley's Mom's Avatar
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    Barley was like this at first as well. We waited it out -but he could wait out anybody! I wanted him crated for safety reasons - and I stuck to my guns. We endured lots of time spent listening to a barking puppy. It took quite some time but eventually he realized that being in the car meant going some place fun! You may just have to endure it for a bit - and take him on only short rides - where the end result is play time... Good luck! Ear plugs?
    Forever in my heart - Sweet gentle Moby - lover of belly rubs, bacon, and Barbara 9-10-2001 to 11-2-2015

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  6. #4
    Puppy theiss's Avatar
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    Hello,

    I have a 12wks old black lab that started to whine when we got her from the breeder.
    The whine gets louder and almost to a bark.
    She then started refusing coming to the rear of the car and/or to the garage.

    I picked her up and put her in the back of the car (we got a Nissan Rogue), and rode in the back with her while my wife drove.
    We drove around the neighbourhood (up and down the hill where we lived), and intentionally hitting every bumps on the road.
    I stayed in the back with plenty of treats/food to keep her busy and at times keeping her lying down in the half-crate.
    We did this for about 45min to the puzzled eyes of the neighbours.

    She's now find riding in the back of the car.

    I think she hated the bumps and the sway she's feeling in the back, and she kept getting up and losing her balance.
    Once she learnt to lie down and enjoy the ride, she was fine with it.
    She never got car sick - so I figure getting in the back with her to teach her to lie down in the car was a good move.


    Your mileage may vary.

    Hope that helps!

    Regards,
    T.

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    Kelly (07-29-2015)

  8. #5
    Puppy Kelly's Avatar
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    [QUOTE= We waited it out -but he could wait out anybody! ... Good luck! Ear plugs?[/QUOTE]
    This made me laugh... I think ours could wait out anybody too!

  9. #6
    Puppy Kelly's Avatar
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    Thanks, theiss. We've done that to some extent but haven't gotten in the back with him. I think that's a good idea, we'll try it. "Mileage may vary" LOL!

  10. #7
    Puppy Kelly's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by POPTOP View Post
    Not sure if this is happening, but could he be a little car sick; it's not unusual.

    Start out slowly, like putting him in the crate with the car in the driveway, not even running. Work in slow increments to car running, going down the driveway, around the block. Treat and praise for quiet behavior. You can also try covering the crate with a sheet but be sure to keep windows open for good air flow.
    He doesn't seem to be car sick, it's more anxious than anything. I think the slow increments is a good idea, though...Except we will definitely need to have the car running. It's over 100 degrees here. Ugh. Thank you for the suggestions!

  11. #8
    Senior Dog POPTOP's Avatar
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    You have gotten some excellent ideas. And yes, do have the car running with it that hot. I like the idea of riding in the back and treating for quiet behavior.
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  13. #9
    Senior Dog voodoo's Avatar
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    my dog trainer uses an air horn that she says works very well to shift attentions. i never tried it but am throwing it out there.
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    Kelly (07-30-2015)

 



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