Cars n dogs

[Craphouserat]

Guys

We're nearing the end of Archie's two week trial and his car problems are a real worry. He is a great dog in virtually every way apart from the car and some aggression to dogs out and about.....working on his.

In the car he barks continually - very loudly...and will not stop. Tried in the boot on own...back seat on own...back seat with wife. Have Apdaptile collar and thunder shirt and Zyklene tablets....no combination works.

Does this even when we're sitting in the drive with the engine off - continually. Treats don't shut him up - reassurance does not shut him up We need a dog that can travel well....we don't want to give him back but this is so important to us...we reach our destination pretty stressed.


Any ideas?

[bexVN]

Have you tried covered up crate, with Adaptil spray and Kalmaid. Zylkene takes a few days to kick in and not sure it's quite good enough for this behaviour (though you can safely use all together) under guidance of a vet (and poss behaviourist) valium could work. Valium is a memory blocker but dose has to be practised to avoid hyper excitement with it!

I would hope the valium be a short term treatment course.

Edited by bexVN on Saturday 8th November 12:14

[lifesabeach]

My boy hated the car at the beginning, would whimper and shake like the end of the world was coming, and he's fine now. Takes a bit more than a couple of weeks, I did a bit of desensitization with him every day just sitting in the parked car which helped a bit but mostly I think keeping journeys short to start with worked, didn't take long for him to realise nothing bad was going to happen. So I would say hang on in there, it's definitely fixable.

[Jasandjules]

We used essential oils and it cured our dog of car sickness. Not sure how but it worked.

[bexVN]

It should be fixable but it's going to be quite a bit of work. This is quite an extreme and exaggerated response to being in a car. I am sure it is probably anxiety related but I am thinking someone with behavioural knowledge would be good to work with.

[Craphouserat]

We're trying to make it a game...today all doors open in one side treat out the other and continue. Still barks continually - no engine running just the O/H going in one side and out the other with Archie following...still barks.

We used the spray in the car - he had the thunder shirt on. We've spent a small fortune so far but will keep trying.

[bexVN]

Will a game not encourage a barking reaction? Dies he bark in play? Making it fun is certainly a good approach as long as that doesn't up the barking response!

[Jasandjules]

Have you also tried feeding in the car?

[egor110]

Do you know why he ended up being rehomed?

Maybe he was mistreated/beaten in a car?

[Craphouserat]

egor110 said:

Do you know why he ended up being rehomed?

Maybe he was mistreated/beaten in a car?

Last owner told the rehoming place he " wasn't great " in the car....not a nightmare. He's not scared to go in - no problem there.

Might try the feeding in the car.

[Morningside]

I had a Bassethound like that. We used to have a water spray bottle handy.

Out CKCS used to scrab and chew the car. We used a remote vibrate collar (NOT electric shock!) just a buzz. That worked after two weeks.

[egor110]

Craphouserat said:

egor110 said:

Do you know why he ended up being rehomed?

Maybe he was mistreated/beaten in a car?

Last owner told the rehoming place he " wasn't great " in the car....not a nightmare. He's not scared to go in - no problem there.

Might try the feeding in the car.

Does he park as soon as he gets in, as soon as the engine starts or as soon as it moves?

What does he do if he's strapped into the back seat rather than in the boot?

Feeding him in car's a good idea , i think you might have to go back to just feeding him in the boot then gradually expanding it to feeding him with engine ticking over, then maybe the shortest drive possible to somewhere you can walk him as he may link the car to going to the vets.

[moorx]

Does the rescue you got him from have any access to behavioural advice? It may be worth contacting them.