Help my dog is scared of getting in the car

brianregan09

So yeah I have collie lab cross and he won't get in the car for me is there anything I can do to help get him in , He's quite big so I don't exactly want to force him or lift him.

Last time my fiance try pulling him in but he did his houdini trick of even getting out of his harness we're at our wits end at this stage we want to bring him to the nearby lake and things for walks we've even tried blackmailing him with chicken fillets and similar things

aonb

how old is the dog? how long have you got him? has he always been afraid of the car or is this a new behaviour?

If hes so scared, you are going to have to be VERY patient and be prepared to take things very slowly. Lots of dogs are scared of the car. Collies can be quiet nervy dogs anyway. It will take time to get him used to it, if you take it slowly

Open the back door of the car and put a nice thick blanket/bed in there. Gently lift the dog in, talking talking talking, praise him to the heights, sit in there with him, keep his leash on, give him lots of treats, then out of the car. Thats it. Next day do the same, and maybe work up to twice/day, but no more than just sitting in the car and treats and patience. Until he gets into the car without too much stress and anxiety. After that, you could drive for a few minutes, out of the car, lots of praising, a treat, then off for a quick walk. if hes not stressing when the car is being driven, I would say short drives, with a walk at the end. He will soon associate the car with walks. Hopefully! One of my dogs doesnt really like the car - he can get car sick on long trips - but he knows it means a walk so gets in quite willingly.

Fakediamond

Was he taken to the vet in the car recently?

brianregan09

No the time we got him , the place we got him was like an hour away so im thinking maybe it was that intial car journey , He's 4 years old and we have had him 3 years and have always walked him around the locality

But we're going on hols next year so we want to get him used to going in the car now

Fakediamond

Is there a particular toy/ball/treat that he loves? My dog hates water but is so obsessed with his ball that I reckon he'd jump into a raging river to retrieve it! A similar approach might work with the car.

Ms Doubtfire1

just keep at it. Gently, lift him in, he will soon enough link the car to pleasant things, like walkies. Stick to a routine, go the same time everyday until he knows. My lurcher was the same, petrified of the car the first month..now he nearly dances into it...>hang in there<

Bells21

aonb wrote:

how old is the dog? how long have you got him? has he always been afraid of the car or is this a new behaviour?

aonb wrote:

If hes so scared, you are going to have to be VERY patient and be prepared to take things very slowly. Lots of dogs are scared of the car. Collies can be quiet nervy dogs anyway. It will take time to get him used to it, if you take it slowly

aonb wrote:

Open the back door of the car and put a nice thick blanket/bed in there. Gently lift the dog in, talking talking talking, praise him to the heights, sit in there with him, keep his leash on, give him lots of treats, then out of the car. Thats it. Next day do the same, and maybe work up to twice/day, but no more than just sitting in the car and treats and patience. Until he gets into the car without too much stress and anxiety. After that, you could drive for a few minutes, out of the car, lots of praising, a treat, then off for a quick walk. if hes not stressing when the car is being driven, I would say short drives, with a walk at the end. He will soon associate the car with walks. Hopefully! One of my dogs doesnt really like the car - he can get car sick on long trips - but he knows it means a walk so gets in quite willingly.

I would second this advice, if he's extremely scared of the car then a slow measured approach is the only way to make him feel totally at ease.

Choc Chip

I wouldn't lift him in if he's big enough to get in easily himself. I'd worry it would stress him more being picked up if he feels he's being forced.

Mine used to be scared of the car (to be fair, she used to get terribly travel sick so I don't exactly blame her). I found feeding her in view of the car, then closer, then beside the open door... moving a bit closer every day... not rushing... eventually when the dog wasn't scared of being outside the car we had food in the car. You might not even want to start with a full dinner -maybe just a quick treat then outside for food and 2 treats the next day, working up from there.

When we could have food in the car, then we turned it on and ate. Then we drove a meter... then a couple of metres. I'm actually bored writing this, but eventually she was too. She'll hop up in the car now not a bother - it's cured her car sickness 'cos she's not scared and stressed, and she'll just go to sleep once she's in there. She's traveled the country and over to the UK now without any hassle - it is doable, but you'll need some time and a bucket of patience (and an ability to ignore how crazy your neighbours think you are)!

kathleen37

I'd put him in a dog carrier and put him in the car in that. I think it's dangerous to have an animal loose in the car if they're not happy being there.

By using the crate - you can give him the assurance that he's safe. And then work up having the door open and if he wants to come out he will.

I'll never forget years and years ago, one of my besties handed her cat to her Dad to take it to the vet. During the journey the cat went absolutely loopy. She nearly crashed the car...

Choc Chip

kathleen37 wrote: »

I'd put him in a dog carrier and put him in the car in that. I think it's dangerous to have an animal loose in the car if they're not happy being there.

By using the crate - you can give him the assurance that he's safe. And then work up having the door open and if he wants to come out he will.

I'll never forget years and years ago, one of my besties handed her cat to her Dad to take it to the vet. During the journey the cat went absolutely loopy. She nearly crashed the car...

I have a seatbelt:
1. I'd never fit a big dog crate in my car.
2. If the OP has a large dog then good luck lifting a crate into the car with the dog in it (though maybe he's a lot stronger than I am!).
3. If the dog is scared then putting the crate in first and forcing the dog in could run the risk of the dog becoming scared of the crate.

I agree though - a scared animal loose in a car is just dangerous. I have a feeling that legally you have to have an animal restrained in a car. I'll have a look for a link later.

deadlybuzzman

kathleen37 wrote: »

I'd put him in a dog carrier and put him in the car in that. I think it's dangerous to have an animal loose in the car if they're not happy being there.

By using the crate - you can give him the assurance that he's safe. And then work up having the door open and if he wants to come out he will.

I'll never forget years and years ago, one of my besties handed her cat to her Dad to take it to the vet. During the journey the cat went absolutely loopy. She nearly crashed the car...

Isnt it a legal requirement anyway to not have your dog loose in the car anyway? It's safer for the dog and no chance of distraction for the driver.
That said putting a caged dog in a car could go pear shaped. Nothing to say it wouldn't terrify the dog. Slowly building up to is is a much more stress free option all around

kathleen37

I've had two dogs that hated the car, but they liked their travel crates. I used to put a towel over the top of the crates, so it was dark inside and they both used to sleep (two crates, just fit on the back seat) Had to get them to the vet somehow...

Having said that, my last two dogs LOVED the car. More trouble getting them out. They were secured via travel straps that linked to the rear seat belts on their harnesses.

SmartinMartin

You must be a terrible driver.

Walter2016

deadlybuzzman wrote: »

Isnt it a legal requirement anyway to not have your dog loose in the car anyway? It's safer for the dog and no chance of distraction for the driver.
That said putting a caged dog in a car could go pear shaped. Nothing to say it wouldn't terrify the dog. Slowly building up to is is a much more stress free option all around

No specific law, but if a garda thinks there's an issue they can cite some other offence. the simple seatbelts that clip into the seatbelt clip and then to the harness/lead is easiest and best.

For OP, as others have said, its simply a matter of making the car a place that leads to an enjoyable experience, so when each part of the journey is over, give the dog a treat. Make sure the journey is always for a walk or ball game.
Our dog travels from Dublin to the arse of Kerry frequently, and everywhere else we go, but we did start her travelling very young.