A few weeks ago I adopted a neut 10mo GSD/X from a relative who rescued him from a shelter as small pup but doesn't have time/money to meet his needs. He is such a sweet dog, not at all aggressive in any way, loves people/dogs/kids. After two weeks he is walking politely on leash, sitting for food and will start basic dog obedience class this Sunday. When I first got him owner said he doesn't like traveling in the car and hardly ever went in one. For a week I took him on a short 5-10min drive to local parkland for nice walks thinking he would get used to car plus have something to look forward to that would overcome his fear/car sickness. I noticed he started eating grass as soon as he saw the car and altho never threw up he looked carsick (drooling). Anyway after a week he refused to get in car and due to his weight (55lbs) and my bad back no way I can lift him in. I am very disappointed because so much I want to do involves my dog going in a car plus if he ever needed to go to vet. So past 3 days I have taken a piece of raw liver and put the bowl on back seat of car and tried coaxing him in (even sat in back seat myself and tried to get him to come in). What works so far is choke chain altho I certainly don't have to get rough with him but I have to apply some firm pressure to get him to jump in and it takes awhile. Then I just sit there for a few minutes with him, turn on radio etc and then we get out and go for a nice walk. On Sunday I have to take him to class to I hope this idea continues to work and I can actually take the drive with him. Any ideas are welcome. Of all the problems I expected this was not one of them but I already love him and he is such a good boy in every other way but I need to be able to take him out in the car <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> Thanks for any help, I will appreciate it so much.
anne

Hi, Ann,

This thread addressed it:
http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/showf...rue#Post4179210

Also, may I add that carsickness is usually something that's outgrown. Can you take him for rides just around the block at first (after doing the acclimating described in the thread, and as you have been doing)?

Dogs can take carsickness meds (ask your vet) for longer trips, but, as I mentioned, I've found that it's not usually a long-term problem. Good luck! He sounds like a nice dog.

JMO, and I'm sure others here have had experience with this too.

Sounds like he is obviously uncomfortable in the car so you'll have take some time to teach him the car is a positive and rewarding place. The choke chain sounds like it's working because he is in a situation where he either gets choked or gets in the car. By forcing him to pick the "lesser evil" of getting into the car, he is relating one more bad experience he has to encounter near the car. Put the car trips on hold and practice training him to enjoy the car.

Use a flat collar and lots of motivating food for your dog. Keep the sessions short and end on a positive behavior. Don't verbally try to calm your dog with "it's okay, the car's not gonna get you..." because this will nurture his fears. Act aloof, nuetral, and confident around the car. Don't pressure him too much. Also, only reward when he is calm or makes progress.
These steps may be accomplished some on the same day, or divided up over several training sessions- it all depends on your dog's personality and how he sets the pace.

First, accustom your dog to the car's exterior before trying to get him inside by taking these baby steps, when he's comfortable with one, move to the next:

Take your dog out near the car and walk around it and near it, rewarding your dog when he is calm with treats.

When he is comfortable walking around the car..maybe a few days later... then open all the doors and let him get used to that.

When he's ready again (maybe after a day or two), start the car and open the doors and practice again outside the car. Give him a jackpot of treats if he sniffs or makes a large step of progress. Let him watch you move the seats and the seatbelts, turn the radio on and off, pat the floor, open and close the doors- so he can get socialized to all the sounds and sights a car might make.

When he is comfortable outside the car coax him with a nuetral tone of voice near the car door openings. Do this with the car off first then try it with the car on when he's ready.

With the car off, try to get him to sniff and jump into the car to eat the jackpot of treats on the seat or floor. Jackpot for stepping one foot into the car. He may decide to make a leap of faith and try something daring but then backout afterwards and act fearful again- that's ok and normal just reward for the good progress and don't push him too hard.

Let him tell you when he's ready, be patient, reward with treats, hold the verbal coaxing, and soon he'll be in the car and you can start closing the doors with him inside, then starting the car with him inside, then driving the car with him inside all while rewarding him when calm. Break it down into small steps and you'll see results.
Hope this helps!
Alison Voore

thank you both for your swift responses. I might add that normally I don't use a choke, he walks very nicely with a flat collar (I started with an Easy Walk Harness) but frankly there doesn't seem to be any way to get him into car, he is not food motivated when he is near it and I must tell you that I don't use force, seems like he responds to it easily altho I understand what you are saying and will stop using it. Once I get him in then he is eating the special fresh liver treat but otherwise it will not lure him in. I will do as the archived post suggests plus the other good suggestions you have made. I hope I get lure him in on Sunday for the class, its paid for and confirmed so cannot afford not to attend <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

I have a two yr old German Shepherd that has the same problem. She has been to training to Will Rambeau. He advised me about this issue with her, but nothing seems to work. She also in not food motivated. I have put the crate in the SUV and even with that she is so frightened and she either drools or vomits. If she sees me pick up my purse and car keys, she ducks and runs..she is so pitiful. I have been working on this problem for months. Nothing I do seems to help. I have tried it all..and I hate seeing her be so fearful. When I simply must take her somewhere, I just put her in the crate and sometimes on long trips, I give her meds that I got from the vet. Even though that helps, I hate having to drug her.
I hope you can find the answer for your dog, and if you do..let me know..
Carolyn

Sometimes the dog may not be food motivated because her stress level is too high. If the dog begin her "car stress" right after you go into the garage, or right when you routinely do something that predicts the car, then that's where you have to start training ger to be calm. Relieve a little bit of that stress if she is still unresponsive. Maybe practice some obedience or play with some toys, if the dog will. Break yuor routine so she will be unable to predict the car ride she hates until she begins to enjoy it. Go out the garage to take her potty. Or start feeding her near the car for her meals. Gradually take baby steps without too much stress overload or it will be counterproductive.
Also, teach her a "settle"command or calming command. There are several ways to calm your dog, like rubbing her ears, soft massage and petting, and brushing while reapeating a command softly. We did this in an obedience classs with puppies and half the dogs went to sleep within minutes if their owners praticed at home. You must teach this away from the stressor and then when the dog knows the calming command (is conditioned to the calming rountine) then try it when the dog is under stress. Don't use it ONLY for stressful situations of it will actually be an association to the stress, so practice in different scenarios.
Hope this helps,
Alison Voore

thanks everyone for advice. I did just about everything recommended especially rewarding him for getting in car and not even going anywhere or just sitting there with engine running, did it every day since I posted and thought it was working until he flat out refused to get in car to return home for vet last week. I put my back out trying to coax him in (treating/clicking while putting his front feet up to help get him in). Since then my husband has to physically lift him up and put him in or he will not budge. Now he refuses all treats and even refused a meal when I waited to feed him until we tried getting him in car. Today I sat in back with him while hubby drove as I had to take him to obedience class (doing well) but when he left he knew he had to go in car and he refused to walk out of the place, literally had to drag him and force him to walk(sorry but nothing else worked). I am so disheartened as there is so much I like to do with my dog and this rules everything out but I don't want to give up on him, I love him already, very sweet boy.

If your dog is toy/ball driven, perhaps you could use that too, throwing the ball around the car, then in a later session have doors open, then later, Whhoopps! The ball landed right smack on the floor of the car! Worth a shot?

I agree with what has been said previously, this issue will take time to correct...time and mucho patience.

Good luck working on it.

Wow, my GSD has the total opposite reaction to cars - he loves them...once he got out of the yard and hopped into a converible with a total stranger! The driver said my Prinz was happy as could be to sit in the front passenger seat of that BMW and cruise around! Luckily the guy looked at his tags and got our number and brought him home -after an hour of cruisin!

 Quote: susan collins

Wow, my GSD has the total opposite reaction to cars - he loves them...once he got out of the yard and hopped into a converible with a total stranger!

haha - that's cute! disobedient, but cute.

my dog's the same way. i can't clean out the car without being joined by her at least a couple of times. if i'm standing inside and ask if she wants to go "bubbye dog" she flips out.