May 18, 2011
My 41/2 month old puppy drools when I walk him near the car or take him on a drive. We travel a lot and would like to take the puppy with us. Any ideas?
Full Question:
Ed, I have read your Q&A section but can't seem to find anything related to my situation. I have a 4 1/2 mo GSD puppy (German lined!) who is having a hard time with traveling in the car. He begins drooling heavily before he even gets into the car. We have been trying to take things slow with him by letting him sit beside the car (drool, drool), letting him sit in the seat without the car running (drool, drool), having him in his crate in the car (drool, drool) and even placing bits of hot dogs on the floor of the car. Nothing has helped so far. As I said before, he will begin drooling before he even gets near it. He was shipped to us when he was 10 weeks old and we have been trying to get him used to the car since we got him. Any advice would be greatly appreciated as we travel a lot and would like to take him with us. If you have already answered this question somewhere on your site, let me know where it is so I can read it! The pup does not seem to have weak nerves - in fact he is very calm and stable so I don't think nerves could be the problem.Thanks again for your help and I look forward to your response.
Tony
Ed's Answer:
I would change the name of the dog to DROOL DROOL. It is obviously stress from the car – not just driving in the car.
So I would start feeding the dog next to the vehicle. But feed it really good stuff so it really wants to eat (like hamburger or raw chicken from the ALL NATURAL DIET that it should be eating anyway - you can read about this on my site). After a few days of feeding next to the car, try feeding him in the car in a dog crate. If he doesn’t eat for a few days it is not going to kill him, (I fast my dogs once a week – it’s good for them). If your car is big enough for a dog crate – then welcome him to his new home. This is where he eats, sleeps and lives.
He will get over it. Once he is used to eating in the car – only feed him after he has driven around the block. But make sure he is hungry and the food is something he really likes. I will guarantee you, that if you feed normal crap dog food (Purina, Science Diet, etc. etc.) your dog is not going to give a rip if you put food out or not.
So I would start feeding the dog next to the vehicle. But feed it really good stuff so it really wants to eat (like hamburger or raw chicken from the ALL NATURAL DIET that it should be eating anyway - you can read about this on my site). After a few days of feeding next to the car, try feeding him in the car in a dog crate. If he doesn’t eat for a few days it is not going to kill him, (I fast my dogs once a week – it’s good for them). If your car is big enough for a dog crate – then welcome him to his new home. This is where he eats, sleeps and lives.
He will get over it. Once he is used to eating in the car – only feed him after he has driven around the block. But make sure he is hungry and the food is something he really likes. I will guarantee you, that if you feed normal crap dog food (Purina, Science Diet, etc. etc.) your dog is not going to give a rip if you put food out or not.
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