Why Your Dog Won’t Sit Still In The Car

Every dog has a unique personality. As a result, each dog’s reaction to a car ride is unique. Nonetheless, more than 70% of dogs exhibit anxiety symptoms, which are frequently associated with automobiles. What can pet owners do to make their animals feel safer and more at ease while driving? The following advice is for dog owners who want to help their fearful pets.

To begin, there are several reasons why a dog might experience travel anxiety. Motion sickness is a significant contributor. In a car, dogs, like humans, can get motion sickness. This has a particular impact on the development of puppies’ ears and sense of balance. Even if the puppy’s motion sickness goes away, there may be a connection between driving and poor health.

Other factors, such as overstimulation or a recent car accident, may also play a role in the dog’s fear. A sensory overload can result from a variety of factors, including moving cars or loud, foreign noises that strain the ears. Such negative emotions have the potential to spiral out of control, resulting in stress and anxiety. Not to mention that the dog may associate long car rides with taxing doctor visits.

What signs or symptoms should dog owners be aware of before traveling with their dogs? Illness symptoms can be as varied as people’s personalities. Stress manifests itself in dogs through increased panting, gnawing, licking, drooling, whimpering, or shivering. Premature urination or feces, nausea, diarrhea, or even a reaction may occur in more severe cases. If a dog reacts violently to a fear of cars, owners should seek professional help as soon as possible. Otherwise, the dog may endanger both itself and others.

What else can pet owners do to calm a fearful dog? Given the severity of the situation, there are a number of treatments available, including prescription medications, calming pheromone items, anti-anxiety compression jackets and collars, and over-the-counter calming medications designed specifically for dogs. These are frequently short-term fixes with no long-term implications. The vast majority of experts agree that training and behavior modification are the most effective long-term methods of ensuring your dog’s success while traveling.

Although it is best to train a pet to be comfortable in a car when it is young, owners can teach an older dog new skills and keep them calm in a moving car using a variety of techniques. The infographic below contains more information on calming a canine travel companion.