Traveling by Car
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Traveling with your puppy can be a fun adventureor a nightmare if you're not prepared. Not all puppies take to car rides. Some are afraid or even become carsick. Others get so excited in the car that you think they'll explode. And what if you want to fly with your puppy? If you ever want to take your puppy places, you'll need to teach her how to be a good traveler. If your puppy ever travels by car, she must be secured in a crate or wearing a canine seatbelt. Dogs should never be allowed to be loose in a car. They can get tangled up with you and cause an accident. Or if you're ever cut off in traffic and have to hit the brakes, they could be hurled about inside the vehicle or even thrown through the windshield. Just as you wear a seatbelt, your puppy should be kept safe and secure, too. If you have a car that's small but you have a growing puppy or if your puppy's crate is too awkward to move in and out of your vehicle, you still can keep her safe with a canine seatbelt. This is a harness that fits
snugly onto your puppy, with a loop that secures to your car's seatbelt or to a bolt on your vehicle's floor. Get a seatbelt that has padding for comfort and that can withstand enough force in relation to your puppy's size. Practice putting it on and off her in the house, using treats as rewards, so that both of you can get used to how it fits. Don't let her play with it or chew on it. If you find that your puppy wants to chew on her seatbelt, use a chew deterrent spray on it to discourage her. You can find canine seat belts at your local or online pet store retailer. You'll also find other products to keep your puppy safely confined in the car. Always secure her in a backseat. If you have passenger-side airbags, they can kill your puppy if deployed. It's important that you don't use the car only to take your puppy to the veterinarian's office. Hopefully, you've started training her to recognize the veterinarian's office as a wonderful place. It can still be scary for your puppy, though, so you don't want her to associate car rides with shots or other scary instances. This exercise will help your puppy learn that car rides are fun. It can be especially useful for puppies who get carsick. Step 1: a) Have treats handy. Put your puppy in the car and secure her in her crate or seatbelt. Mark "Yes!" and give her a treat. b) If your puppy is happy and enjoying this, go on to Step 2. c) If she seems unsure or fearful, take her out of the car casually. Do not make a fuss over her. Put her back in the car and confine her in her crate or seatbelt. Mark "Yes," give her a treat, and praise her. Repeat a couple times, then take a break. Stay with this until she is more comfortable in the car. Step 2: a) Take your puppy for a short drive around the block. If she is quiet and behaving, mark "Yes" and praise her. b) If your puppy is happy and enjoying this, go on to Step 3. c) If your puppy is unsure or seems fearful, take smaller steps. Instead of going all the way around the block, just go down your driveway. You may feel silly, but you'll be doing a great service to your puppy by helping her become used to car rides that she'll need for a lifetime. When she is more comfortable, go on to Step 3. Step 3: a) Go for longer rides. Make sure that they are all positive experiences. For example, take her for a short ride to visit a friend and his dog so that your puppy can enjoy a safe play date. b) If you find that your puppy gets carsick, take shorter rides and try to build up to longer ones. If she still gets carsick, talk with your veterinarian about possible medications that can help.
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