Getting dog to settle in the car

Getting dog to settle in the car

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PositronicRay

Original Poster:

27,533 posts

190 months

Friday 18th March 2022
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We inherited a small 8yr old companion dog last yr, plenty of work, socialising with other dogs, pub training, house training all going well but the car thing is driving me spare.

She used to bark and create in the car, now were passed that. Just me and our original dog + new dog and all is fine and dandy hardly a peep. But add Mrs Ray into the mix and shes constantly alert and whining (new dog not mrs Ray) i think she wants to sit on her lap which just ain't happening.

Anything (short of drugs) that we can try to get her to settle like original dog?

PositronicRay

Original Poster:

27,533 posts

190 months

Thursday 24th March 2022
quotequote all
Well the answer is practice practice practice.

Going out every day, sometimes twice a day, no particular reason, sometimes a walk, sometimes accompany us running errands and sometimes just cause.

The last 2 trips she curled up and closed her eyes, albeit only a short time but settled nonetheless.

benm3evo

387 posts

188 months

Friday 25th March 2022
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PositronicRay said:
Well the answer is practice practice practice.

Going out every day, sometimes twice a day, no particular reason, sometimes a walk, sometimes accompany us running errands and sometimes just cause.

The last 2 trips she curled up and closed her eyes, albeit only a short time but settled nonetheless.
I'd like to try this tactic with mine but I wouldn't be able to afford the fuel!!

My daft hound refuses to even sit down, nevermind lie down in the car. He's full on alert the whole journey, even if it's an hour or 2 & is then completely knackered at the end of it!

PositronicRay

Original Poster:

27,533 posts

190 months

Friday 25th March 2022
quotequote all
benm3evo said:
PositronicRay said:
Well the answer is practice practice practice.

Going out every day, sometimes twice a day, no particular reason, sometimes a walk, sometimes accompany us running errands and sometimes just cause.

The last 2 trips she curled up and closed her eyes, albeit only a short time but settled nonetheless.
I'd like to try this tactic with mine but I wouldn't be able to afford the fuel!!

My daft hound refuses to even sit down, nevermind lie down in the car. He's full on alert the whole journey, even if it's an hour or 2 & is then completely knackered at the end of it!
We've only been doing short journeys, 10 mins each but many of them. Just trying to normalise car journeys rather than being an exciting thing.

benm3evo

387 posts

188 months

Friday 25th March 2022
quotequote all
PositronicRay said:
We've only been doing short journeys, 10 mins each but many of them. Just trying to normalise car journeys rather than being an exciting thing.
Mine seems more nervous than excited, he's nervous generally (complete opposite of my other Dog).

I've got to do some work in the garden at the weekend so was thinking of putting him in the car with his seatbelt on & leaving the car door open & seeing if he will settle down like that. We'll see!

PositronicRay

Original Poster:

27,533 posts

190 months

Friday 25th March 2022
quotequote all
benm3evo said:
PositronicRay said:
We've only been doing short journeys, 10 mins each but many of them. Just trying to normalise car journeys rather than being an exciting thing.
Mine seems more nervous than excited, he's nervous generally (complete opposite of my other Dog).

I've got to do some work in the garden at the weekend so was thinking of putting him in the car with his seatbelt on & leaving the car door open & seeing if he will settle down like that. We'll see!
The other thing I've heard is feeding them in the car, maybe worth trying a settle mat. (although that doesn't work with either of ours)

Challo

10,838 posts

162 months

Friday 25th March 2022
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benm3evo said:
PositronicRay said:
Well the answer is practice practice practice.

Going out every day, sometimes twice a day, no particular reason, sometimes a walk, sometimes accompany us running errands and sometimes just cause.

The last 2 trips she curled up and closed her eyes, albeit only a short time but settled nonetheless.
I'd like to try this tactic with mine but I wouldn't be able to afford the fuel!!

My daft hound refuses to even sit down, nevermind lie down in the car. He's full on alert the whole journey, even if it's an hour or 2 & is then completely knackered at the end of it!
Our springer is the same. Generally a nervous dog, but will sit up the whole car journey. We have an older Cockapoo who instantly settles and lies down in his bed once the car is moving. We thought the younger springer would learn from him but it hasnt really worked out.

fat80b

2,465 posts

228 months

Friday 25th March 2022
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Where are you putting it?

Ours had a travel bag - didn’t like it, then in the pass footwell - didn’t like it, then in the boot (estate car), didn’t like it.

But we recently got a harness with a seatbelt clip and now he sits between the kids in the back seat and loves it.
Safe and secure and can see forwards - seems to work for him.

benm3evo

387 posts

188 months

Friday 25th March 2022
quotequote all
fat80b said:
Where are you putting it?

Ours had a travel bag - didn’t like it, then in the pass footwell - didn’t like it, then in the boot (estate car), didn’t like it.

But we recently got a harness with a seatbelt clip and now he sits between the kids in the back seat and loves it.
Safe and secure and can see forwards - seems to work for him.
Mine sits on the back seat with his seatbelt on but he puts front paws on the centre arm rest so he can see out. Tried him in the front but no different. He seems to have to see where he's going. Have thought about building the backseat up a bit so he can lie down & still see out but I'm not sure that will work

megamaniac

1,060 posts

223 months

Friday 25th March 2022
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Our old dog used to whine a lot in the car. If we chatted she would shut up.

Electronicpants

2,791 posts

195 months

Friday 25th March 2022
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megamaniac said:
Our old dog used to whine a lot in the car. If we chatted she would shut up.
There's a Les Dawson mother in law joke in there somewhere. biggrin

Glassman

23,121 posts

222 months

Friday 25th March 2022
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Watch a couple of episodes of this fella.

PositronicRay

Original Poster:

27,533 posts

190 months

Saturday 26th March 2022
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Glassman said:


Watch a couple of episodes of this fella.
He's good isn't he, mostly common sense but you've gotta understand dog.

Glassman

23,121 posts

222 months

Saturday 26th March 2022
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PositronicRay said:
Glassman said:


Watch a couple of episodes of this fella.
He's good isn't he, mostly common sense but you've gotta understand dog.
Takes a while to get used to his posture, never mind his wardrobe.