Is my road rage scaring Henry...?

[Spudlet]

Not that I drive about red in the face, shrieking at people and assaulting grannies with a steering wheel lock, but I can get a little areated when behind the wheel

Henry has been getting more and more reluctant to get into the car over the past week or so, I have had to lift him in on occasion. This is not just on the way home after walks but also on the way out, and whenever we get in the car we go to fun and exciting places so you would think it would have a positive association

He enjoys walks so he isn't getting stressed at the thought of going out.

Was chatting with mum about this, and she said maybe he was getting scared of me, and thought I was mad at him

Do you think this could be it...?

 

[FestiveSpirit]

I shout and swear (and apparently drive very fast

) and my dogs have always been fine hopping in the car with me

Interestingly once I have given a human someone a lift somewhere they never want to travel with me again though

Is Henry the sensitive sort? I suppose he might be reacting to you

 

[CorvusCorax]

Aggression (however mild, it's all in the vibes

) can filter through to dogs, so yes, it is a possibility.
Also strange smells, people, braking hard, severe tight cornering can also have an effect.

As you may or may not know I had this problem a few months back and it rears its' head sometimes still.

If you can I would try lifting him into the car for a while, if you can, to discount the possibility that he is sore and that might be putting him off, the jumping in.

 

[CorvusCorax]

Oh, and don't forget food bribery and feeding him in the car if need be

 

[Spudlet]

He is the sensitive-ish type... oh how shameful

I am very mild mannered generally but I am my father's daughter behind the wheel and I do like to move on briskly as well

Oh dear, I'd better curb the vibes! And possibly switch from Radio 1 and cds to Classic FM as I am not tempted to sing along loudly and badly to that

When I have the time I'll sit with him and get him in and out of the car a few times with the clicker - if that doesn't work I'll switch the location of breakfast and dinner too. He does seem fine with jumping into the front seat - maybe I am more chilled when he's there? Will see if he travels better there for a couple of days.

I remembered you had that issue too CC - thank you for the advice everyone!

 

[Blanche]

I was thinking of you earlier on when I walked into the village to buy a bottle of wine , there was a Cocker Spangle running around in the middle of the road with a woman screeching so loud only dogs coud hear her banging on a door . When door opened she continued screeching and I then realised the fricking dog belonged to her !! Me and black dog playing unlit village road dancing and she is doing f**k all!! Glad I had plans for the wine is all I can say .

Back to your post , he could be worried about your RR or as someone else said try lifting in incase of injury . As you have been doing lots of work on recall with a friendly chicken (!!!) perhaps he remembers your body language etc when he didn't recall and you reacted . I know you didn't beat him when he came back , we've all been there when we were saying " Good doggy " when they came back but secretly wanting to kill the little barstewards . I do hope some of this makes sense as I'm on my second glass of wine !!!

 

[Spudlet]

No, never would punish him for coming back - I'd never lose it with any animal, I might get a bit annoyed *ahem* behind the wheel but with animals and people who can't help it (8 hours trying to sort a filing system with a lady with dementia asking me the time every five minutes testifies to that) my patience is legend

However I did get mighty annoyed with the longline tangling itself on everything out there (trees, bushes, blades of grass, grains of sand) and I am sure he thought I was cross with him - hence why it has been ditched!

However I do think somone in his past may not have been so careful as he will be fine, fine, fine, then you'll get cross about something and he will be very worried.

So in summary - deep breath, happy thoughts, as the twit who has apparently never driven at more than 32mph and is not about to start now wends his happy way down the road in front of me!

I feel really guilty now

 

[Slinkyunicorn]

I think he wants to be in the passenger seat so he can look out the front window and give V signs to the other drivers!!!

I think sometimes we underestimate how different it feels sitting in the back of a car as opposed to the front. I was reminded over Christmas when I had to sit in the back of my dads car

. Sweep has always preferred to sit in the footwell of the passenger seat.

 

[Spudlet]

I hope that's it. I'd hate to think he was scared by me

Will let him ride shotgun for a bit and see, hopefully that will be it.

 

[Blanche]

H R , I do hope you didn't think I was insinuating that , I wasn't . Really . I was just trying to say our body language says so much more than our words and that is what thay pick up on .

 

[Spudlet]

No no, it's ok, I know - just wanted to make it clear as I can see how someone else reading this whole thread, perhaps who doesn't know what a soft get I am with him might think that I might have lost my rag with him at some point!

He does really read body language to a much greater degree than Barney did, and I have to be much more careful with him than we ever were with Barney, who was a little toughy. Henry's a more sensitive soul, yet at the same time much more likely to go boinging off into trouble as he gets over confident and over excited

 

[TarrSteps]

My OH is a much more aggressive driver than I am, not dangerously so but definitely quicker to get irritated and much more inclined to accelerate quickly and slow suddenly. (Also more inclined to have the music turned up, although I'm definitely the worst for that if the dogs aren't with me.

) I would have to admit the dogs are noticeably less settled with this than they are with me driving. (I often drive, um, somewhat more speedily than might be recommended but tend to drive everywhere like I'm towing a horse trailer/driving a lorry - I'm likely the person making you crazy at the lights.

) I'm not sure if it's the level of irritation or the less smooth trip. The dogs certainly do get noticeably stressed if I get wound up about something so I wouldn't rule out it's at least a bit of both.

Interestingly, the older dog never hesitates to get into "my" car but is more reluctant to get into the one my OH usually drives, although this could be because he spent his formative year or so in the back of my car and is emotionally attached to it.

I'm working on the premise it's easier to train the OH. I did once, near the beginning of our relationship, after a particularly temperamental moment, demand that we pull over and got out of the car.

I made my point. I've never done anything as dramatic since but I did comment a few times when the dogs were in the car that it certainly wasn't their fault someone on the road had done something stupid.

Sorry, not meaning to bash your driving but yes, I think aggressive driving could affect an anxious dog. The fact that he's better in the front could be just that he feels more wedged in there, it could be that he can "read" you and prepare himself for stops, starts etc, it could also be that you're a little more chilled when he's there next to you.