Each dog has a distinct personality. As a result, every dog’s response to riding in a car is different. Despite this, more than 70% of dogs show signs of anxiety, and this unease typically centers around cars. How can owners help their pets feel more comfortable while riding about town in a car? Following are some suggestions for owners who want to assist their dogs that have automobile anxiety.
To begin with, a dog may display signs of travel anxiety for a variety of reasons. One of the main causes is motion sickness. Car sickness can affect dogs just like it does humans. Puppies in particular, whose ears and sense of balance are still growing, suffer from this. The motion sickness in the puppy might go away, but there may still be a correlation between sickness and driving.
Other factors, such overstimulation or a recent vehicle accident, could be to blame for the dog’s fear. A sensory overload can be caused by a variety of things, including other cars racing by or loud, unfamiliar noises overloading delicate hearing. Such uneasy emotions could become out of control and lead to tension and anxiety. Not to mention, the dog may associate stressful vet visits with long car drives.
When traveling, what signs or symptoms should dog owners be aware of? Similar to how personalities vary, so do the indicators of a problem. An increase in panting, chewing, licking, drooling, whining, or shivering is a common sign of stress in dogs. In more severe cases, premature urination or feces, nausea, diarrhea, or even a response might occur. If a dog develops an aggressive response to car fear, the owners must immediately seek professional training. If not, the dog might pose a threat to both itself and other humans.
What else can owners do to help a dog who is fearful? As a result of the problem’s widespread nature, a variety of solutions are offered, including prescription drugs, calming pheromone products, anti-anxiety compression jackets and collars, as well as over-the-counter calming products made especially for dogs. These are frequently short-term fixes that have no lasting effects. Experts agree that the best long-term strategies for ensuring your dog’s success on the road are training and behavior modification
Although it’s preferable to accustom a pet to the car when it’s young, owners can train an older dog to pick up new abilities and remain calm in a moving vehicle using a variety of techniques. For more advice on lowering a canine travel companion’s anxiety, please see the following guide.
