If the dog is nervous in the car

Some dogs just love to travel by car. It seems that they sincerely rejoice at the headwind and the landscapes flying by. But for other pets, such a trip turns into a real nightmare, and time is completely powerless here: no matter how much you take the dog with you, it still whines plaintively and hides under the seats. What to do in such a situation and how to help your pet overcome the fear of cars?

To begin with, let’s decide what can cause such fears? Most likely, some negative experience associated with cars has been firmly imprinted in the memory of your pet, or perhaps shaking just has a bad effect on it. In the second case, everything is simple: simple pills for motion sickness will come to the rescue. In the first case, you have a difficult job. You need to convey to the dog that car rides will not harm him, show that they are connected with something pleasant, and make sure that when the engine is started, the dog does not begin to whine heartbreakingly, but wag his tail merrily in anticipation of a pleasant trip. How to achieve this?

Talk to your pet more often, praise him, scratch behind the ear – the voice and touch of the owner have a very calming effect.
In place of the dog in the car, you can put her bedding or rug. Do not forget that the world for our animals is full of various smells, and in a car alone, a dog catches a great variety of alien, unfamiliar shades, which can provoke severe stress. However, having felt the familiar smell of his own bedding, the pet will react to the unusual environment more calmly.
During the trip, make frequent stops and take your dog out of the car. Give her time to recover, play with her and give her treats (most importantly, do not overdo it in the amount of treats, otherwise it will provoke nausea).
At first, it is useful to travel with a dog for short distances. Our main task is to make sure that the dog associates travel with something pleasant. Take her to the nearest park, for a walk with her dog friends, where she can play and frolic. Very often dogs are afraid of cars. in their memory, they are associated with unpleasant visits to the veterinarian, and such associations must be replaced with truly happy moments for the pet.
In no case do not raise your voice to the dog and do not punish him, no matter how tired you are of his whining. It is also absurd to punish a pet if it vomited, because in this case, little depends on it, and even without punishment it is very scared.
The volume of your favorite music in the car is better to turn down a little!

Do not forget that before the departure of the pet, in no case should you feed it. Several hours should elapse between feeding and the start of the trip so that the food has time to digest and the dog does not feel sick.
Another prerequisite for preparing for the trip is walking. Make sure that the dog does all his business and runs properly, so it will be easier for him to endure the road.
Impressive pets may need a special sedative for dogs, which will be recommended by a veterinarian.

Remember that nothing is impossible. On the streets, you can often meet a biker dog, which, in the appropriate outfit, sits in the basket of a motorcycle and feels just fine. The main thing here is patience and a desire to help your pet enjoy travel.

Good luck on your journey and enjoy your holiday!