Do dogs love car rides? Are car rides good for dogs? My first dog HATED car rides and would shiver, shake and cry the entire time inside the vehicle. That’s probably because he got car sick during his first-ever ride, and then later he began to associate the ride with vet visits and being left behind at a boarding kennel. No wonder he turned into a basket case! That was more than 40 years ago, and I’ve learned a LOT since then.
We did things different with Magical-Dawg (in the picture above) and now our current Shadow-Pup. And as a result, Shadow loves car rides. He would drive the car if I let him. In fact, he demands (bark-bark-BARK!) a ride each morning, if only around the driveway.
Even if your dog is a reluctant rider, you can transform his hangdog attitude into a fun-loving car ride fanatic. Basically, you use desensitization to help the dog associate cars with fun, happy experiences instead of scary memories of vet visits. Once your furry friend realizes a car ride means wonderful things he’ll look forward to trips–and he might even want to buy his own car!
NOTE: These tips can work well for cats, too, although kitty usually should ride inside a carrier for safety.
Dog Car Rides & 8 Training Tips
Make mealtime car time. For very frightened dogs just set the bowl next to the car. If he’ll hop into the back seat, feed him there and make the car his go-to-dinner spot for a week. In between times, throw treats in the open car door for the dog to find, and play fun games near the car. He should learn that only these good things in life happen when you’re near the car.
Take the Wheel. For the next step, when your dog is having fun pigging out int he back seat or gnawing that puzzle toy, get in the front seat behind the steering wheel. Just sit there for a while, no big deal, then get out, so the pet understands nothing scary happens when you’re in the car with him. Do this for one day.
Start Your Engines. The next day, when you’re behind the wheel and your puppy’s munching treats in the back seat, start the car. Then turn off the motor and get out without going anywhere. Do this three or four times during the day until the pet takes it as a matter of course.
Drive the Driveway. Finally, after you start the car, back the car to the end of the driveway and stop—do this two or three times in a row, always letting the pooch out after you return. If he whines or paces or shows stress, you may be moving too fast for him. The process takes forever! but it works.
Reward Bravery. Don’t commiserate with whiny dogs–if you say “poor baby” and whine back, he’ll think he’s right to be concerned! Cheer him along, with jolly phrases, “Isn’t this FUN? Car ride to the park to play ball!” and use words he likes (play, ball, treat) to change his car attitude.
Increase Duration. Increasing car-time by increments—a trip around the block and home, a trip to the park and home, a trip to a drive-through restaurant, and home. Go somewhere you know your dog will enjoy—get him French fries at the nearest fast food restaurant, a pup-cup of whipped cream from the coffee shop, or a doggy treat from the tellers at the bank. Make every car trip upbeat and positive so the experience makes the dog look forward to the next trip.
Ride Safe. Be sure your pet stays in the back seat rather than riding on your lap. Just as kids can be injured by airbags, your pets can be crushed even inside a carrier. Even though dogs WANT to drive, they can become furry projectiles in accidents or get in the way of safe drivers when in your lap or under the pedals. Read about safety harnesses here.
Do your dogs love cars? How have you persuaded reluctant passengers to go the extra mile? Please share!
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Our son had a Black Lab, who kept jumping his fence and his wife (now ex), wouldn’t bother to go look for her (she was always just a few doors away), so she kept getting picked up by the dogie cops, and I would go to the puppy jail and bail her out, so after a couple of times doing that, we just ‘adopted’ her and kept her with us. She was jumping/climbing over their 4 foot fence in their back yard, but she couldn’t get over our 6 foot fence, however she occasionally found ways to escape, and we discovered that she did so not so much to just get out, but because she liked to get ‘picked up’ to ride in the car (in our case, our van).. Se we decided to just take her for a ride around the block at least once a week, and that solved her ‘escapes’, and she was happy with her rides around the block, and it didn’t matter how far or how long the ride was, as long as she was taken for a ride. She just loved being out and about in a vehicle.
We had a cocker spaniel who also loved to go for rides, anytime, anywhere.
Wow, what a great story and solution. Thank you for sharing.
Hi Amy! This is awesome timing that you sent this out today. Our new GSD Beverly, that we rehomed from the son of a friend, has motion sickness or at least that’s what we were told, but we haven’t seen even a speck of that. But what we are seeing is she likes car rides ( runs to the garage like she’s the one making the payments), except when you slow down or stop, like a stop sign or stop and park or stop and Jeff gets out. We’re pretty sure she had separation anxiety issues with her previous family, and anxiety in general, pacing nonstop in the house, etc. she gets so upset when you stop she warbles. Would these suggestions work or is there something more specific that would work better?
Hard to say, but I’d try with treats or something she likes each time you come to a stop and see how that works. My Shadow starts warbling in excitement when he recognizes Starbucks aka pup cup time.