F.A.Q Puppies & Dogs

Can you give me some tips on how to get my new dog used to travelling in the car?

If possible 'travel training' should begin at a very early age to make sure that a new puppy will adjust to travelling. This is best from about eight weeks old, if possible, before they develop a fear response. Remember to protect them from contact with other dogs if they have not yet been vaccinated.

Open the car doors when the car is in the garage or on your driveway and let the pet scamper around inside the car, always ensuring they are not exposed to any danger, such as a road accident or running away. You can feed a pet there, or put a toy in the car to play with. After the pet is acclimatised, take them on their first car journey. Make sure they are held very securely in a basket or within a 'pet seat belt', so they are not affected too much by the car movement. You can cover the basket with a light cloth, so they can't see out of the car and make sure your car seats are protected against any 'accidents'. Take your pet out for this car ride before they are fed, and make sure they get a reward, such as a nice walk, afterwards.

If this is unsuccessful, it might be because a pet is slightly older, and an older pet needs a bit more time. For example, it may be that you don't know the past history of the animal, if you didn't get him as a young pet, and it may be that he has come to associate car journeys with unpleasant experiences. First of all, make sure that your pet isn't using motion sickness to gain attention or to get comfort from you. This can be the case if the pet was neglected in its previous home.

Start with very short journeys, try and ignore sickness where possible, and be lavish in your praise when he is not sick. Try distracting with a favourite chewy toy. Don't feed your pet before the journey, and dog owners should break off for a short walk on the lead half - way through. Make sure dogs are restrained well, and use a doggy seat belt for larger dogs. Make sure a dog cannot see through the window, as the flashing trees or lampposts can make the situation worse, as he will tend to follow them with his eyes. Don't let dogs stick their head out of the window as they can get injuries and eye problems from this.

If your pet is still sick after all this, make an appointment to take your pet to see the vet. There are medicines that can help, but vets need to check to make sure that they would be suited to your pet's needs and health status.