Why Are Dogs Scared of Cars & Other Travel Questions!

Travelling with your dog can turn a mundane journey into an exciting adventure. Who doesn’t want to hit the road with their best friend from time to time? But for some dogs, car travel can trigger fear, anxiety, and other feelings of discomfort. So, what can we do?

Understanding and addressing your dog’s travel anxiety is a key skill that we humans can teach ourselves to make car rides more enjoyable for our furry companions. In today’s blog, we’ll be exploring a number of popularly asked questions around the theme of travelling with our dogs, covering everything from why some dogs are scared of car rides to tips for travelling in hot weather.

Why Is My Dog Scared of Car Rides?

Just as no two dogs are the same, there can be a number of potential reasons why a nervous dog may dislike the experience of car travel. These can include:

• Lack of previous experiences: A rehomed dog may not have travelled in cars with their previous humans.
• Negative associations: Your dog may only be used to travelling in the car to places where they’ve had bad experiences, such as the vet.
• Difficult sights, sounds, and movements: Quite simply, your dog may not like the actual feeling of being in a car! Cars tend to move unexpectedly, make odd noises, and the different sights outside the window may be unfamiliar and daunting.

If your dog is panting or shaking when riding in the car, these could be signs your dog has travel anxiety. However, they may also be panting because they’re too hot, so always ensure your car is well-ventilated and at a comfortable temperature.

How Can You Prevent Dog Travel Fears?

When it comes to helping a dog scared of car rides, preventing fears is often better than trying to cure them. For young dogs, it’s crucial to create positive car travel experiences early on. Start with playful activities near the car, gradually moving inside with the doors open, and rewarding calm behaviour throughout. Next, build up to short journeys, ensuring your dog is comfortable at each stage and always using positive reinforcement, such as treats. And remember, making trips to places your dog loves can also help associate car travel with fun and excitement!

How Do I Stop My Dog Barking in The Car?

As with the popular question “How to calm a nervous dog?”, there’s no quick answer to this question. After all, the solution is likely going to depend on why your dog is barking or scared of car travel in the first place. That said, there are several steps we can take to help calm a nervous dog when travelling.

• Visit the Vet: First up, you should check with your vet to see if your dog is experiencing motion sickness. This is more common in younger dogs than in adults, with most puppies outgrowing motion sickness roughly by the age of one. However, this isn’t always the case.
• Keep the Car Cool: This will help your dog to feel as comfortable as possible and will rule out any symptoms brought on by being too hot.
• ADAPTIL Transport: Spray your car with ADAPTIL Transport 15 minutes before your dog gets in the car. This contains appeasing pheromones that have been specially engineered to help dogs feel reassured during travel.

• Familiar Scents: Bring something into the car that smells familiar to your dog. For example, this could be their favourite blanket or a piece of your clothing.
• Limit Food: Ensuring your dog doesn’t have too much to eat for a few hours before starting your car journey can help limit any feelings of discomfort during travel.
• Soothing Music: Just as with us humans, soothing music can help to relax nervous dogs!
• Drive Smoothly: As much as possible, try to keep your driving smooth to limit any sudden or jerking movements.

More than anything though, you should work on helping your dog to learn that a car is not a scary place. See our answer above on preventing dog travel fears for more information, but be prepared that different steps will likely take longer for dogs with ingrained fears than for a dog who doesn’t yet have any negative associations with travel.

How Should I Secure My Dog in the Car?

Securing your dog during car rides is essential, both for their safety and ours. A loose dog can be a distraction to the driver and with that comes the risk of injury. In fact, in many countries, it’s legally required to ensure your dog is safe and secure before setting off.

Options on how you should go about securing your dog during travel will vary depending on their size. These options include:

• Dog Guards: These block access to the body of the car from the boot, protecting the people in the car, but don’t necessarily protect the dogs themselves.
• Dog Crates or Carriers: These need to be big enough for your dog to stand up, lie down, and turn around.
• Travel Harness: These attach to the car’s seatbelt, securing your dog in place. It’s important to ensure these harnesses are padded and comfortable to wear, and that they’re the right fit and size for your dog. There are plenty of crash-tested options available.
• Dog Booster Seat: These are available for smaller dogs, enabling them to travel a little higher, though they still need to be secured to a seat belt. 

How Long Can You Leave a Dog in a Car?

Leaving a dog in a car, even for a short time, can be dangerous. Cars can quickly heat up to fatal temperatures, even with a window slightly open. It’s always best to avoid leaving your dog in the car.

Can I Travel with My Dog in Hot Weather?

It’s certainly possible to take a dog travelling in hot weather, but there are a number of precautions you should be aware of. First of all, it’s best to aim to travel at cooler times of the day if possible, such as early morning or late evening. You should also plan your journey ahead to avoid being in the car too long. For instance, it’ll be better for you both if you can avoid getting stuck in traffic.

When travelling with a dog, you’ll also need to check the temperature and ventilation in the part of the car that your dog will be in. This can vary hugely in the front of the car compared to the back. Try to keep the car cool both before you get in and during the journey. Lastly, make sure you have plenty of water with you and offer your dog the option to drink regularly.

Are there any questions we haven’t covered on dog car travel or how you can help a nervous dog scared of car rides? Get in touch and let us know! We’d love to hear from you and help in any way we can. If you’d like more information on ADAPTIL Transport, or are interested in reading more tips and guides, you can also stay informed by signing up to our newsletter.