June 17, 2021

My puppy is nervous about car rides after getting car sick when I picked him up at 8 weeks old. How can I fix this?

Full Question:
Good Evening,

I have a 10-week-old GSD that is a bit nervy with car rides. He has exhibited very solid nerves with most other things, so I am thinking it is because he experienced a traumatic experience when he got severely car sick on the two hour ride home (crated) from when I picked him up at 8-weeks.

He will get in the car but it is with slight hesitation and he only starts to relax when he is laying on my someone's lap. I have not tried using a crate again as I felt it would makes matters worse. How can I fix this?
Cindy
Cindy Cindy's Answer:
I would use a crate but I would start out by putting a crate in the car and simply putting him in it. Don't go anywhere until he no longer seems apprehensive about getting in. I feed my puppies in crates in the car and simply let them hang out in there every day.

There does seem to be a certain kind of dog that simply experiences car sickness and if handled right they usually outgrow it. Unless you plan on letting him ride on someone's lap long-term it is best to start working on the crate in the vehicle as a positive thing now while he's small.

Ginger and/or slippery elm are supplements that can help with nausea associated with motion sickness, once you do get to the point of actually taking him for more car rides. Start with very short rides when you do go back to actual trips in the car and make sure the puppy doesn’t have a full stomach when you travel. I usually give a very small snack an hour or two before the trip and then give the ginger or slippery elm 15 minutes or so before I put the puppy in the crate.

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Expert Dog Trainer Cindy Rhodes
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