Does the thought of getting out on the road and exploring different places make your heart sing? Travelling can be so much fun, but not everyone necessarily shares that view. Whereas you may love travelling in the car, your dog may be very anxious about travelling and exhibit dog anxiety. If this sounds familiar and you find that your dog is a very nervous traveller, we’ve got some tips to reduce dog anxiety so that everyone can enjoy the journey.
What causes dog anxiety when travelling?
There are so many things about cars that can cause a dog to be anxious ranging from the smell, the noises, vibrations and just the movement itself. It is better to get a dog familiar with riding in a vehicle from a very early age. If your dog has previously had a bad experience in a car, such as a car accident or visiting the vet’s surgery for an unpleasant procedure, being in a car can trigger some difficult memories for the dog and lead to greater anxiety.
How can you recognise dog anxiety?
A dog that has its tail between his legs, is shaking, whining, panting heavily, yawning frequently, licking the lips frequently and drooling a lot is the sign of an anxious dog. The dog may lick or bite part of its own body. An anxious dog may make some kind of noise ranging from whimpering to barking or growling. Some dogs may even urinate or defecate unexpectedly in addition to these other symptoms. Signs of out-and-out panic are a dog trying to escape from a situation.
What can you do to reduce dog anxiety when travelling?
It’s important to ensure that the dog has a comfortable place in the car. Let’s face it, when you are uncomfortable you are more likely to be anxious on a car ride and desperate for the journey to be over. Adding a vehicle-specific dog guard such as a Travall Guard allows for a special space for the dog to be created at the back of the car. If you are likely to be transporting items like suitcases too, the addition of a boot divider gives separation from bags and cases that could slip and slide on the bends. The addition of a Travall Liner ensures that and drooling or other spills from your dog are easily cleaned.
Get your dog used to being in the car. Coax him to jump in voluntarily and reward with lots of attention or even a treat when he does. At first you don’t need to go on a drive. Just make sure that he is very familiar with the car. Once you’ve succeeded with this, start going on very short car journeys. Even a 10-minute journey can help your dog get familiar with the car experience. Short, but frequent journeys can reassure a dog that being in the car is nothing to be anxious about. This is especially true if the destination is somewhere he will enjoy such as a park to play ball.
If none of the above suggestions work, it may be helpful to talk to your veterinarian about other options. Your vet may prescribe a sedative or medication appropriate for your particular dog’s needs and in line with your dog’s medical history.
Information given in this article is not a substitute for advice from a qualified medical professional. Please consult a vet for advice specific to your dog.
