sorry if this is in the wrong section. i couldn't seem to find an appropriate forum so i'm trying it here.

my dog cries with excitement when we go for rides in the car. it's pretty much only when we're headed out to the national forest for a hike, he doesn't do it just driving around town. as soon as we're heading up into the forest, he starts to cry. we think he's just very excited about getting to go for a hike, but it is very annoying, especially if the drive is a long one.

we've tried commanding him to be "quiet!" and then praising him and touching him whenever he is quiet, but he immediately takes up the crying again, no matter how many times we get him to stop. he's usually looking out the window when he does this, and to me his expression looks like one of anticipation and excitement.

any suggestions?

Can you crate him during the ride so he can't see where he's going?

no, not possible. he rides on the back seat so we have a place to put our stuff in the very back, and a crate that would fit him would not fit in that space. (he's a mastiff).

we don't want a pickup truck. and we are not in the market for a new vehicle.

c'mon, there is all this training talent here, and nobody has a training solution?

I personally would try a bark collar.

Another thing I would try is not praising or petting him when he does get quite. Just leave him alone. Sometimes giving any attention cranks things back up again.

Good luck,
Debbie

What if you covered the windows with something to keep him from looking out?

I don't think a bark collar would work for whining

Hi Alice,
I would have the dog hold a down position while you're driving around. Having him on leash and looping the leash under the front seats can help with control/enforcement of the command.

 Quote:

c'mon, there is all this training talent here, and nobody has a training solution?

Alice,
My 12 year old Chow mix whines and barks in the car every time I come to a stop. Why? Well, it's reinforced *every* time. I stop, she whines, and eventually the car starts moving again. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Since I am not willing to make the rest of the world pay for my training problems (by remaining stopped in my car until a pause in the moaning), she only rides in the car when absolutely necessary. It's just not enough of a problem for me to dedicate energy to solving it.

My two younger dogs are quiet as church mice in the car, as I conditioned better behavior from the very beginning. Darned if I was going to put up with 12-14 MORE years of that, times two! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Since they are riding in the car with me a lot, it was much more important to me.

As for solving the problem, have you tried positively reinforcing periods of quiet? I haven't read the entire thread. Since she is loose in the car with you, this shouldn't be too tough.

T

if we covered the windows we couldn't see to drive. he can see out while he is lying down. he cries while he is lying down.

why wouldn't a bark collar work for whining? (i don't know how they work).

my husband asked me if a shock collar would work, but i tend to think this would not be a good application for one. opinions?