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Car rides

tkcro

Member
does anyone have any tips on how to make my CC more comfortable in the car? He walks back and forth and can’t seem to get comfortable for very long. Any tips are appreciated!

Also- we drive all big cars (SUV, pickup truck and Jeep)
 

Zeela

Well-Known Member
It sounds as if she is nervous and or excited. How about putting a comfortable fuzzy blanket down that is what I do for Zeela and I tell her a firm "Down". I think it is just a matter of them getting use to it.
The more they can go out in a vehicle, the better. I take Zeela out almost every day even if I have to run in to the store. Plus, I take her to places she likes - the pet store, park, friend's house, etc...so she looks forward to a ride in the car. Of course she does get up and look out the window, that's what dogs do! lol...
 

DennasMom

Well-Known Member
Why is he pacing is the question....

Does he feel unsecured? adding some pillows or blankets or a tie-down might help in that case. Denna was definitely more comfortable in the back seat of our F350 (with high-backed chairs) than in the open cargo space in my Subaru. In our motorhome (which replaced the F350), Denna has one of the dog beds with bumpers on two edges... she curls up on that behind/between our front seats (well behind the windshield), and in most cases is asleep before we hit the freeway.

Does he feel claustrophobic? opening a window and letting in fresh air will help with that. I find opening a window - even just a nose-crack-width, can really help settle a dog.

I have zero luck with giving treats in the car - even when it's not moving. But, if you can find treats of high-enough value (i.e. a hamburger) - that are only ever available IN the car - that can make the car a more fun place, too.
 

Jarena

Well-Known Member
My girl likes car rides, but it took until she was about 4 months old. She also won’t take even high value treats in the car. Cracking the window does help, it gives her a spot to focus on. Also we noticed that she prefers not to have too much space. She enjoys my little Hyundai Elantra better than the back of my boyfriends SUV.
 

Bailey's Mom

Super Moderator
Super Moderator
If I say "car car", Bailey is at the door. Cars go to the dog park...sometimes. And cars go to the mill pond...sometimes. And cars go to pet stores, and Auntie's house and to Molly's house to play. And best of all, cars go through the Wendy's drive through where a very nice lady always gives me a frosty. Yep..."car car" is a very happy idea.
And that's the idea... If the car only went to the Vet's or the Dog Wash...we wouldn't like it. And, no, Bailey won't take a treat in the car. She just drops it, but will grab it on the way out. She likes the seats up (husband folds them down often) and she likes parking her butt on one of the seats and then holds herself in place with her front legs.
When she was a small puppy, we had a tie down strap that connected to a seatbelt clip. And we looked at all the other safety harnesses available at that time, but they had all failed consumer testing, so, eventually we let her choose whether to sit in a seat or stand behind us. Generally she prefers looking out the front window.
We take her everywhere we can and her ease with the car is a reflection of that. Additionally...and think about it...humans get car sick if they are looking out side windows. If your dog can look forward through the front window, it's a lot easier on their stomachs. Most dogs won't lie down, and don't like open cargo bays. It feels better being up front near their humans, and looking forward. And ours won't sleep...she won't lie down. And if she can't look out the front window she stares at the floor.
If it wasn't for the pay off at the end of the ride, I'm sure she'd stay home....but, there's always the chance that she'll see the friendly Frosty lady at Wendy's...at least she can hope.
 

Steven C

Well-Known Member
Just time and usually they adjust. I take my CC in the car almost everywhere unless its too hot and I need to go in somewhere she cannot. Rather then letting people touch the dog or other dogs sniffing up on your dog at a park, riding in the car provides amazing socialization as she/he see's people, kids and other dogs during the rides, also noises and movements. It has helped me tremendously in socializing and loud noise work. The car wash helped also as mastiffs can be super sensitive to loud noises and go into flight.
 

Mollys dad

Well-Known Member
Frosty lady at Wendy's!!!

We've had Molly in the car since she was a little puppy. She loves riding. We hike a bunch so she goes with us there. We camp a bunch so she rides to the campsite. She goes to Lowes, Tractor Supply, Ace Hardware, the car wash, the quick oil change place, fast food joint drive-thru's, trash drop-offs, and even Macy's when we are in Atlanta.

She loves riding in our old Jeep - rear feet in the rear seat and front feet on the console/cup holder thing between the front seats. In our suburban, she runs around from window to window in the back. If the seats are down and the 3rd row seat removed, she runs around like a maniac when the car is not moving.

She's just been acclimated for so long that it hasn't been an issue. We do have a little car blanket that goes in whatever car we are in that she lays on - she'll bunch it up under her head like a pillow and sleep on it during long rides.
 

trg

Well-Known Member
So
Why is he pacing is the question....

Does he feel unsecured? adding some pillows or blankets or a tie-down might help in that case. Denna was definitely more comfortable in the back seat of our F350 (with high-backed chairs) than in the open cargo space in my Subaru. In our motorhome (which replaced the F350), Denna has one of the dog beds with bumpers on two edges... she curls up on that behind/between our front seats (well behind the windshield), and in most cases is asleep before we hit the freeway.

Does he feel claustrophobic? opening a window and letting in fresh air will help with that. I find opening a window - even just a nose-crack-width, can really help settle a dog.

I have zero luck with giving treats in the car - even when it's not moving. But, if you can find treats of high-enough value (i.e. a hamburger) - that are only ever available IN the car - that can make the car a more fun place, too.
I have a slightly lifted F250 I have been trying to figure out how to get my EM in the cab once he gets bigger. I thought about a ramp. Any suggestions welcomed.
 

Mollys dad

Well-Known Member
So

I have a slightly lifted F250 I have been trying to figure out how to get my EM in the cab once he gets bigger. I thought about a ramp. Any suggestions welcomed.

I have used a ramp (with sandpaper like traction surface) for my very lifted old Jeep, but folding steps work better (aren't steep). My bully only weighs 125# so I still pick her up sometimes and place her in the truck and pick her up and place her on the ground - no jumping down allowed!
 

Boxergirl

Well-Known Member
trg, Pastor Dave has a recent thread asking about this. There's a link to a ramp and some links to steps.
 
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Bailey's Mom

Super Moderator
Super Moderator
So

I have a slightly lifted F250 I have been trying to figure out how to get my EM in the cab once he gets bigger. I thought about a ramp. Any suggestions welcomed.

Wayfair has a lot of them on their site. Prices are pretty good. They even have one that hooks into the trailer hitch with two steps that fold up.
 

Mollys dad

Well-Known Member
Molly loves to sleep in the car - sometimes even sitting up. Here she is in the back seat of our little jeep:
upload_2018-5-9_12-11-14.jpeg

I can't get the whole rotation thing down - sorry for the sideways pic.
 

April Nicole

Well-Known Member
Logan does well riding in the truck. But he pukes. :( It's happened a couple of times. The longer the trip the more likely he is to puke... I guess he gets car sick.
Any tips?
 

Zeela

Well-Known Member
Logan does well riding in the truck. But he pukes. :( It's happened a couple of times. The longer the trip the more likely he is to puke... I guess he gets car sick.
Any tips?
Awh, it's just cause he's a puppy, he has to get use to it. Zeela puked in the beginning as well. Now, she doesn't. Just keep taking him and keep a blanket down in case and don't feed him right before a ride.
They just have to get use to it. It's like when we go on a boat and haven't been for a long time, ya know ya feel a little queasy and then ya pop open a beer and then it's all good.
He will get use to it and no longer puke as he gets a little older. Now, Zeela loves to go for a ride and stick her head out the windows. :p
 

April Nicole

Well-Known Member
Awh, it's just cause he's a puppy, he has to get use to it. Zeela puked in the beginning as well. Now, she doesn't. Just keep taking him and keep a blanket down in case and don't feed him right before a ride.
They just have to get use to it. It's like when we go on a boat and haven't been for a long time, ya know ya feel a little queasy and then ya pop open a beer and then it's all good.
He will get use to it and no longer puke as he gets a little older. Now, Zeela loves to go for a ride and stick her head out the windows. :p

Thanks Zeela. I'm sure your right. I feel so bad for him. He seems to enjoy the ride, but he can't handle it. And he doesn't puke everytime. I noticed its longer distances, and also when he sits instead of lying down. Glad to know it gets better. :)
 

Boxergirl

Well-Known Member
Logan does well riding in the truck. But he pukes. :( It's happened a couple of times. The longer the trip the more likely he is to puke... I guess he gets car sick.
Any tips?

Ask your vet, but you can give dramamine. I'm just not sure about giving it to a pup. Roy also gets car sick and it developed into a behavioral issue because he associated the car with getting sick. It may be that Logan's just a pup and will outgrow it. Roy never did. Full disclosure though - Roy has Megaesophagus and gastroparesis , so he regurgitated/vomited often before we figured out what was happening. He also developed an aversion to food dishes because he would be sick right after he ate. He has a thing about throwing up and we maybe didn't do things just right for him before we took him on a ride. I just wish we'd have treated the car sickness early on so he would enjoy his car rides more now that we have everything under control.

Zeela is right about the windows. Sometimes opening the windows and getting some air flowing makes a difference. I'm a freak and very careful about them hanging their heads out though. Foreign objects in the eye, ya know. Lol. And I also had a dog get whiplash from having his head out the moonroof of my T-bird. I never thought that would be a problem. Leave it to us to find out though. We seem to have all the luck!
 

April Nicole

Well-Known Member
Ask your vet, but you can give dramamine. I'm just not sure about giving it to a pup. Roy also gets car sick and it developed into a behavioral issue because he associated the car with getting sick. It may be that Logan's just a pup and will outgrow it. Roy never did. Full disclosure though - Roy has Megaesophagus and gastroparesis , so he regurgitated/vomited often before we figured out what was happening. He also developed an aversion to food dishes because he would be sick right after he ate. He has a thing about throwing up and we maybe didn't do things just right for him before we took him on a ride. I just wish we'd have treated the car sickness early on so he would enjoy his car rides more now that we have everything under control.

Zeela is right about the windows. Sometimes opening the windows and getting some air flowing makes a difference. I'm a freak and very careful about them hanging their heads out though. Foreign objects in the eye, ya know. Lol. And I also had a dog get whiplash from having his head out the moonroof of my T-bird. I never thought that would be a problem. Leave it to us to find out though. We seem to have all the luck!

Poor Al. I hope he can overcome his anxieties. If anyone can help him, it's you. He definitely ended up with the right momma :)

I will look into the Dramamine. Avriel used to get car sick. Still does every once in a while, so I have some on hand.

I can't believe the dog got whiplash. I wouldn't have thought it could happen either, but when you stop and think about it, it is a lot of force being applied to the neck. I better stop letting Sophie stick her head out the window...

It's funny how all dogs love to stick there heads out of the window. No matter the breed, Big or small, young or old. There are some things in life that all dogs love...
 

Zeela

Well-Known Member
Now if I could just get her to sit in a side cart on my MC. lol...just kidding. she would pull it too much to one side with her weight. :p
 

April Nicole

Well-Known Member
Now if I could just get her to sit in a side cart on my MC. lol...just kidding. she would pull it too much to one side with her weight. :p

Now that would be a cool sight, specially if you could get her to wear a leather helmet and some goggles