If you’re a car owner that’s also a dog owner, it’s your responsibility to train your pet to not only travel safely but also travel as happily as possible. At YesAuto, we’ve written about the legalities of transporting your dog in your car both in the UK and when driving abroad, but for a quick recap, the Highway Code stipulates that dogs are suitably restrained so even before travelling you’ll need to teach your dog to feel relaxed in a comfortably-sized seat-belt harness, pet carrier, dog cage or in the boot behind a dog-guard.
If you care about your pet pooch, then you’ll also go the extra mile to make sure they’re as comfortable and relaxed as possible while in the car.
Remember, some dogs take to car travel like puppies to squeaky toys, while others need a bit more work. We spoke to Dogs Trust to get the lowdown on what to do to make sure your four-legged friend is happy in the car.
Before the journey
The past year has seen an upswing in the number of dog owners as people find they have the time to take on a puppy. However, with annual mileage reduced during lockdown, it’s quite possible you won’t have had much of a chance to take your dog on trips in the car.
The requirement to stay local isn’t a barrier to getting your puppy used to the car. The first stage is simply to get your pet used to getting into and out of the car safely.
Dogs Trust suggests you start by using your dog’s favourite special treats to reward them for being calm whenever they’re near the car, even just walking around it to begin with. Reward your dog for sitting calmly before you’re ready to open the door and invite them inside.
If your dog has travelled before and enjoyed it, they might be very excited about jumping into the car and out of it when you arrive at the park – but this isn’t a good idea as can put them at risk of injury or accident. Ask them to sit while you slowly open the door and give them a few treats to keep them sitting as you do. If you do this every time you arrive at the car they’ll soon start to automatically sit and wait patiently before you guide them in safely and under your control. Once they’re in, simply spend a little time sitting inside with them; giving them a safe and long-lasting chew to enjoy can be a good way for them to learn the car is an enjoyable place to be.
Likewise, teach your dog to get out of the car calmly and quietly by slowly opening the door just a little way and waiting for your dog to sit or stay still before you invite them out. Always reward your dog for their patience with their favourite tasty treat, or two.
First drive
After you’ve got the calm entry and exit of the car trained into you pet, you can move to short journeys. Dogs Trust advises that for some dogs being in the confined space of a car while it’s moving might feel very unusual to begin with, especially if they’ve never been in a car before.
Your four-legged friend will need to get used to the sound and movement of the car slowly, because it’s a lot for their senses to take in. Giving your dog extra tasty treats whenever the car starts up and starts to move means they’ll begin to associate these changes with good things happening.
Start with short, slow and gentle, familiar journeys that will allow your dog to get used to car travel in a positive way.
Driving style
It may sound obvious but give some thought to the way you drive with your dog in the car. Try to keep everything as smooth as possible. Allow extra time for braking and don’t corner aggressively.
The final advice from Dogs Trust is to never force your pet to travel. This is only going to make them even more worried and they might feel trapped and panic. Either find someone to stay with them if you need to travel or avoid the journey/make alternative travel plans if possible. Avoid car journeys completely while you seek the guidance of an experienced behaviourist.
Keyword: How to train your dog to travel in the car