Dog barking and whining in the car
- Thread starter pistolpete
- Start date
Christmascinnamoncookie
Fais pas chier!
Nope. Big dog was an utter trauma in the car. Memorably, we had 5 hours en route up north of barking, salivating. Another time, feeding him after an hour worked well and shut him up. He ruined my OH’s CD player and the heated windscreen stopped working. He ate lightbulbs in my dad’s boot and caused over £300 worth of damage.
If it’s a short journey, I can tolerate it. Any longer and I’d be talking to the vet re meds.
If it’s a short journey, I can tolerate it. Any longer and I’d be talking to the vet re meds.
CorvusCorax
'It's only a laugh, no harm done'
Enclosed crate/box/carrier.
Is it expectation or stress?
You could do many repetitions of putting in the car/out again/driving across the yard or down the road and returning/going short distances and not getting out. So it's no big deal.
My Mum's dog does this and to be frank it drives me bananas. Mixture of expectation and anxiety. A human created problem over many months but doesn't want to put in the many months more of work it will take to fix it. Not aimed at you OP!!
Is it expectation or stress?
You could do many repetitions of putting in the car/out again/driving across the yard or down the road and returning/going short distances and not getting out. So it's no big deal.
My Mum's dog does this and to be frank it drives me bananas. Mixture of expectation and anxiety. A human created problem over many months but doesn't want to put in the many months more of work it will take to fix it. Not aimed at you OP!!
PurBee
Well-Known Member
If shes excited to go for walks and really loves walks, and only goes in the car for walks, i wouldnt expect a dog to behave any differently than you describe. They’d associate car with walks and excitement.
Desensitisation is worth a try, as CC says, do journeys that are short, not walks, no getting out, - get back home, usual home routine. Then she’ll not know what the purpose of getting in the car is for, so wont know how to react…and hopefully should stay alert and curious, rather than manic!
My GSD initially found car drives stressful…due to the weird movement of the vehicle. She’d pant, and stare stressed out. Then if i got out and she stayed in the vehicle, she’d bark. I always parked in a quiet area to not disturb anyone, and be watching from a distance. I’d return to the car within minutes. She’d over-react to my return but i didnt praise the behaviour - just get in say ‘good girl’ and drive.
The next time she barked again when left in the car, but then stopped and just looked out the window at the unusual sights. We went to the vets/shopping, and it was surprising how fast she got used to it , to the point whenever the car door is open, she jumps in wanting to go out! She really didnt like it initially, but quickly grew to like the different activities/scenes from being in the car. She’s normally a home farm/rural dog so we dont travel with them often.
From her initial couple of trips out youd think this was a dog who’d never behave or get used to car journeys, but that soon changed once she got more used to it with various outings.
Desensitisation is worth a try, as CC says, do journeys that are short, not walks, no getting out, - get back home, usual home routine. Then she’ll not know what the purpose of getting in the car is for, so wont know how to react…and hopefully should stay alert and curious, rather than manic!
My GSD initially found car drives stressful…due to the weird movement of the vehicle. She’d pant, and stare stressed out. Then if i got out and she stayed in the vehicle, she’d bark. I always parked in a quiet area to not disturb anyone, and be watching from a distance. I’d return to the car within minutes. She’d over-react to my return but i didnt praise the behaviour - just get in say ‘good girl’ and drive.
The next time she barked again when left in the car, but then stopped and just looked out the window at the unusual sights. We went to the vets/shopping, and it was surprising how fast she got used to it , to the point whenever the car door is open, she jumps in wanting to go out! She really didnt like it initially, but quickly grew to like the different activities/scenes from being in the car. She’s normally a home farm/rural dog so we dont travel with them often.
From her initial couple of trips out youd think this was a dog who’d never behave or get used to car journeys, but that soon changed once she got more used to it with various outings.
My spaniel is the same, She only goes in the car for walks but whinges and circles.
I found when I took her away for a few days if I put the crate behind my drivers seat instead of in the back
she was fine. She just wants to be as close as possible to me.
I found when I took her away for a few days if I put the crate behind my drivers seat instead of in the back
she was fine. She just wants to be as close as possible to me.