Puppy scared of the car

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Bright_Spark

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Another long ramble from me. It had to happen really. My grandad and his partner fell in love with their friends pomerainian and now have the litter sister.

Honey as she is called is about 14 weeks now and has had all her injections. When my grandad took her to have her second ones she was very unsettled in the car.

They took her out last week to meet the trainer of the puppy classes they are soon to be attending and the poor little girl was very scared and was sick.

So I was just wondering what they could do to make her more settled in the car?

I suggested encouraging her to sit in the car with them for a minute or two and give her a treat/ lots of praise, then build it up to sitting for longer, having the engine running, then driving a short distance. Would this be the best thing to do?

They really are like parents with a newborn baby and were so guilty they made Honey ill in the car.

Also what would be the best way to travel her in the car?

Thanks in advance
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Try feeding her in the car?

Also, you say they feel guilty, ask them to try not to over-fuss the dog (cuddles, noises etc) when she is anxious or sick, this often makes the dog worse, by association.
 
My rottie bitch didn't like the car and was sick on one occasion. I have 2 other dogs and she hated to be left behind. I took her on short trips and kept the car on straight roads where possible. Eventually she improved and now she is fine to travel.
 
Otto used to hate going in the car, he would whine, and usually vomit (even if he hadn't had anything to eat for hours).

The best thing we did was to get a Lintran Dog Box for the car (A small crate would be ideal for a Pom I should think). It keeps him secure, he doesn't move around with the car and a big plus, It keeps all his dirt contained!
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It also means he can be left in the car without any worry of him chewing anything.

Now he jumps in the boot into his box, and settles down and sleeps. He also travels happily out of the box now, and everyone who has been in the car with him comments on how quite and well behaved he is in the car.
 
all above advice is good. Could also be that she is car sick - think there are travel sick things you can get for dogs.. trying to remember what..

Building up journey time slowly as you suggest would be good - but they mustn't make a fuss of her if she is scared as that makes it worse (they assume they are right to be scared) - only a fuss when she is calm and happy
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Would try and take her out as regularly as possible too rather than avoid it and only do it when necessary as it makes a bigger issue out of it. When I got Sweep as a 8 week old puppy he went in the car that day and everyday possible after that - he loves the car and is happy anywhere in it. I think its like all things - familiarity and regular trips will help also as others have said a crate/cage so she has her own space and can lie down or sit up etc. Would agree that cuddles and excess fuss could lead to more trouble in the long run!!
 
All the advice given so far is good. Also try to make the journeys end in happy places.

My dog was really scared of the car. He would hide if he saw me pick up my car keys, and would not take food in the car. So instead of walking him to the park I would take him in the car (even though it was just a 2 min drive if that!). Doing this daily soon made him think the car was a good thing!
 
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