Training Your Dog to LOVE the Car

Hello everyone, and welcome back to a brand new episode of Dog Sense!

Let me ask you a quick question before we start. 

Is your dog afraid of the car? Does he get agitated every time you even think about taking him on a ride?

Okay, those are technically two questions, but anyway… If you've answered "yes" and "YES!" then you're in the right place, because your dog might have car phobia, and that is exactly what Sarah and I are discussing today. 

Dogs can sometimes struggle with feeling comfortable inside a car, so if your canine friend freaks out whenever you want to take him for a drive, make sure to tune in to this episode. In it, Sarah and I will be sharing our tips and tricks you can start using today to make your best friend feel more comfortable inside your car.

Ready?

Let's dive in! 

What Is Car Phobia?

If your dog is terrified of getting into a car, then he might be dealing with car phobia. Car phobia has many symptoms. Maybe your dog can’t get himself to jump into the car. Maybe he starts displaying fearful behaviors while in the car, such as barking, drooling, shaking, whimpering, etc… 

All in all, this  can make your - and his! -  life difficult, especially if you constantly rely on your car to take your dog places. 

Why Does My Dog Have Car Phobia?

Your dog could display car phobia behaviors for different reasons. However, most of the time, it stems from your dog having had a bad experience in the car. Maybe you were in a car accident while he was with you? Or maybe you took your vehicle to a car wash with him inside, and the experience was less than pleasant for him? Sometimes there’s a static shock a dog can get from jumping in a car. And sometimes they get carsick and don’t want to get in the thing that makes them feel nauseous!

It’s different for every dog, and that's why the first question we always ask our students when they come to us with this problem is: “Has your dog ever had a bad experience in the car?” 

Now that you know what might be causing your dog’s fear of cars, what can you do about it?

Sarah and I answer this question in great detail in the episode above, so make sure to give it a watch!