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FOUR
WHEEL PHOBIA
Does your dog dread
a spin in the car so much that he refuses to get in? Or, is he a poor traveler
that braves the torments of the road? We can help
make
your hound a happier passenger.
Some dogs just do not want to get into a car at all. This
can be for a number of reasons. Fear of traveling is one of the obvious ones.
This is not normally the result of an incident, like a road accident, but more
commonly because of a negative association with car travel, like being sick. If
a puppy learns this association on one of its first journeys, it may stay with
it. This may cause apprehension about getting in a car again, in anticipation of
being sick, even in adulthood.
Sometimes
the fear does not result from a learned association, but from a simple lack of
experience. Owners are often advised to keep their puppy at home until its
vaccinations are complete, which can lead to all sorts of problems. One such
problem being that the owners do not bother to take their puppy in the car
because they do not intend to take him out at the destination.
Consequently,
the puppy's first experience of the car, (apart from the initial journey home
from the breeder's, which can be a traumatic experience anyway), comes quite
late in the development of its ability to cope with the world in general.
Suddenly it's put in a small room that not only moves, but also accelerates and
stops without warning, throwing its contents from side to side.
Of
course, some people have little reason to put their dog in the car because they
exercise it close to home. As a result, the associations the dog develops can be
negative ones, such as trips to the The Animal Hospital where he/she might be
due for injections.
To
overcome a dog's fear of getting into the car, try to make the process into a
game which your pet will enjoy, even if it takes a little bit of persuasion. You
need to be determined not to give up! Start
by opening the two rear passenger doors so that, to the dog, the car looks like
a tunnel. With your pet on a lead, climb in and do not look back. There may come
a point at which the lead tightens because it refuses to move, but keep the
tension on the lead by pulling gently, ( not so hard as to drag your dog), and
remain absolutely silent.
As
a result of your efforts to get out of the car on the other side, your dog will
eventually have to get in. When he/she does, continue to look the way you are
going, but lavish your good dog with lots of praise! When you climb out your dog
will follow you. Run around to the side you first got in and repeat the process
over and over again! Who needs the Jane Fonda workout?
Your
pet will gradually become so excited about this new game that it will start to
jump in before you. At this point you can begin to take longer breaks, sitting
on the back seat and giving lots of fuss! If you have a hatch back or Van, put
the back seat down and open the rear door. Change the game to where you get in
the side of the car and out the back, or vice versa. Rest periods are now taken
in the luggage compartment!
EN
ROUTE DISTRESS
By
the time you have worked off a few pounds, your dog will be happier getting in
the car. This can be reinforced by feeding all his/her meals in the car for the
next few weeks. Initially, with the engine off and ultimately with it running,
(though do not attempt to drive if your dog has recently eaten, as it may cause
it to be sick!)
So,
now we have a dog that's happy about getting in the car, but how can we get it
to enjoy traveling?
The
majority of dogs who are anxious about car travel never get to a point where
they refuse to get in one. They will, however, pant anxiously throughout the
journey and even salivate copiously, which is a physiological response to
anxiety, as is vomiting.
What
if the vomiting is a physical response to the movement of the car, in the same
manner as sea sickness is induced by the movement of a boat? In this case, the
nausea is triggered by the movement of fluids in the inner ear. If this is the
problem, medication may be required. If you suspect that travel sickness, rather
than anxiety, is the difficulty, we will discuss what solutions are available,
call us. Once a successful treatment has been found, taking several long
journeys in quick succession often works.
If
your dog's distress is caused by anxiety, a different approach is needed. If the
condition is severe, you may need our help. Either for anxiety reducing drug
support combined with the program of counter conditioning and/or, by referring
you to a behavior counselor.
If
the condition is not severe, you can try and help your pet overcome his/her
problem on your own. The objective is to develop a pleasant association with car
travel. Aim for short outward journeys that end somewhere your dog enjoys, the
park or countryside for example. Homeward journeys can end to a portion of its
daily food. It is crucial that the journeys increase in length slowly. This may
mean driving your car part of the way and walking the rest on the outward
journey, and vice versa on the way home.
In
time, distances can be increased and, obviously, the more time and effort put
in, the quicker the results will be.
Happy
driving! By David Appleby MAPBC
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