Dear God, the noise

Some say to block out the windows with blankets, I'm assuming it is because of 'exciting stuff' going on outside. You could also try giving her a chew to pre-occupy her?
My friend had a dalmation that used to do this, she used a spray bottle of water - it helped loads!

Adding to this, does she travel in a bed, on a blanket, lose in the boot, in a crate??
 
Chew. Shuts Brig up! He licks the windows, whines, finally barks, which nearly made me crash into the central reservation one time. He's never changed in 11 years. On our last long journey, I stopped, walked him, fed him remnants of McDonald's breakfast :redface3: and he stopped. Bliss!

I echo the crate/cover it.
 
I would start by putting the crate in the car and popping her in it for a treat, then out again. Then shutting the door etc., etc., if she has never been crate trained you need to get her used to it slowly.
Ours used to be car sick until we covered up the sides of the crate, now she is fine and justl oose in the boot/
 
I would suggest you need to understand firstly WHY your pup is crying/whining/barking or whatever. Is it due to excitement (going for a walk) or is it due to nerves and fear?

Those that are vocal due to excitement tend to do it on the outward journey only and not on the return post exercise. Also, the way they approach the car to get in is often a giveaway.

If the pup is scared then it is likely to be noisy on all journeys.

My way of tackling this would depend on the cause. If you can identify which is the cause then happy to give you my thoughts but being too lazy (pressed for time) to type out both solutions at the present time. Sorry.
 
As above, I'd get her used to the crate at home before using it for travelling. We have one set up permanently in the sitting room with a comfy bed in it. The JRT (he's currently an only dog) has the choice of three beds he can use (spoilt devil), and the crate is his favourite. He's rarely shut in it in the house, except for when we are expecting a Sainsburys delivery, and then he puts himself in it, salivating, in expectation of his pig's ear!

I wish I'd discovered earlier that covering the crate helped with car sickness. He suffered badly for years, and it wasn't til we covered the crate on a hot sunny day that we found that it stopped his sickness completely.

I think that crates are a cosy, safe way of travelling dogs.

Good luck.
 
Gunnergundog, she's happy enough to get in the car, will hop in of her own accord. If she's sitting on someone's lap she's fine. It's when she's in her harness she fusses. So I don't think she's frightened. She also goes in the car every day. She is never sick.

Thanks for the advice on how to get her used to the crate.
 
I am guessing that it is either excitement then OR protest at the restrictive feel of the harness if she travels okay on someone's lap....though there again that could be due to the reassurance that person gives, so cause could still be anxiety!

I would ditch the harness and try her in a crate or loose; black the crate out as suggested above.

However, if excitement is the prime driver then I would also make the car a boring place for her.........repeatedly put her in it and take her out whilst parked on the drive and going nowhere. Take her with you in the car when you go to the shops and leave her in there for the duration. Try and exercise her for a bit without going anywhere in the car....ie just walking from your front door.

Years ago someone told me when I had a barker that I should stop the car as soon as he started and wait until he was settled before moving on again! :) Not really practical when on the M1 but worked for this person as they had access to a very large estate.
 
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I used a cage for my terrier in the end. She was 3 by the time I tried it and it completely settled her, she travelled in it for about a year and from then on was completely relaxed in the car. She is now 15 and stills loves the car!
It definitely made her feel safer, to start with we covered it with a blanket and then steadily peeled it back until she didn't need it at all. If the cage comes out now she always gets in it so she obviously loved it.
 
I share your pain AM - my Dobie starts whining the second she gets in the car! I use a crate which has helped a bit, but she is not interested in chews or other distractions, so I just have to drive smoothly to try not to make her feel sick and turn my music up!
Good Luck!
 
When was the last time the pollen/cabin filter was changed in your car? It's a standard service item but most garages don't bother doing it as (depending on the car) they can be difficult to change and relatively expensive to buy.
We had similar problems with our JRTxDasch and changing the pollen filters in all our cars stopped it straight away - she was like a different dog.

When she starts playing up again it's a good indication that it's time to do the filters and she always goes back to enjoying the car after it's been done.
 
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