Start little and often
When my collie cross was scared of the car we started taking him in the car multiple times a day for small trips. If your dog will not behave in the car, start with putting him in while the engine is off, wait for him to calm down and relax then take him out. This will give you the time to correct his behaviour without driving. You can then start to do small trips with another person who can also calm him down.
For Hugo, travelling in the car means it's nap time! This is what you are looking for by the end. You can then turn the car on and wait again for him to relax. You will continue this by driving a very short distance then stopping until you can build it up to a normal drive.
Other tips
- If possible, start when your dog is sleepy, carry him out to the car and put him in. This will start him in a much calmer mood. I see a lot of friends dogs who jump in and out of the car themselves which causes too much energy.
- Use a harness with a seat belt attachment to avoid your dog jumping around inside the car as you drive.
- Take a calm dog in the car with the badly behaved dog.
Aggression
When you first take your dog home, you need to work with socialising him in the car. I like to go to a car park so he can watch everyone walking about. If he gets overly excited I will tell him to lie down to calm down and then let him sit up again. I also like to let my friends reach into the car to talk to my puppy.
I am not any type of animal expert but instead only an animal lover who wants to share her tips. Please consult relevant animal specialists and do not only take my advice.
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