Cheri, I can agree fully. Also how different dogs can react in such situations. One of my Pits wasn't scared a tiny bit when entering a car. We let her first "examine" the standing car, then made a hand sign to make her jump into and so on. In between she jumps into the car as soon as a door is open. With her we had the "problem" to make her wait in a sit stay before allowing her to enter. She needed no food, praise or other reward. Being in the car is already a reward, even when we are on a very bumpy ride.

Contrary with the other three. We had to train this exactly the way you describe. They jump into it on command in between, but it took a lot of time until they were familiar enough with the vehicle. Of course also because I hadn't desensitized them enough against distractions in general. So I had to go some steps back. The only one who can't do it is Charlie, the brain-damaged one. We have to lift him into the car, but then he is calm. He is generally the easiest of our dogs what concerns management.
The link is great! Though for car rides I don't need it any more, but it is full of useful tips, which I can apply in other situations. Thanks!

I have a different take on this.

When in past years I had a dog that I would take in the car mostly just to fun places....the lake, the beach, the park....a place where the dog would get out and run.....I had lots of trouble with this, too.

You need to take your dog in the car a LOT. And not let it out. Just go back home, let the dog out.
Soon, the car will be like the tv on in the living room at night. The dog will just go to sleep.

There will still be trouble when you head to the fun place....the dog will know, and get amped up.

Basically, the dog needs to think the car is just a bore...he has no job here. With practice, this will work.

Well, you're certainly right. It depends on the dog.
With 3 of mine I did it like this. Lots of rides, beginning at home, just a lttle bit to and fro, then curves and rounds etc.
My car-specialist-Pit is also a runaway if she gets the opportunity. Now, we just have to search her by car and as soon as she hears the sound of it, she comes running. We open the door and in she is.
A bit of trouble, yes, we have when we get out of the car with them on fun places like the beach. Big pulling starts!!! But this happens, because we don't go often enough there, so the sudden increase of distractions is a too high. But fortunately they calm down rather quickly.

 Quote: Kirsten Miller

Does anyone know how to teach a dog car manners? More specifically putting an end to barking and clawing at windoas whenever we pass livestock. We live in a rural area, and pass a half dozen farms (sheep, goats, horses and cattle) on our way into town or a park for a hard run.

We've tried crating, he's almost getting aggressive over that now. I've tried seatbelts. He can still get to the windows.

He probably wants to be up front with me, he paces up there, in addition to the barking and clawing.

I take my dog's for stockdog training about 2 hours north of us... But he barked and clawed long before that. We have tried a kong to last long enough to get to a park.

Any thoughts? Questions? I'm not always the most clear of communicators.

Three words: No. Bark. Collar.

My female Dobie would be overly reactive to outside triggers while riding in the car (my male is much more mellow) -- So I have her wear a NO-BARK COLLAR during car rides ... It isn't even turned on, because she already knows Not to Bark or act out while wearing it Problem SOLVED on Day One !!! (My motto is: Work Smarter NOT Harder, LOL.)

 Quote: Candi Campbell

 Quote: Kirsten Miller

Does anyone know how to teach a dog car manners? More specifically putting an end to barking and clawing at windoas whenever we pass livestock. We live in a rural area, and pass a half dozen farms (sheep, goats, horses and cattle) on our way into town or a park for a hard run.

We've tried crating, he's almost getting aggressive over that now. I've tried seatbelts. He can still get to the windows.

He probably wants to be up front with me, he paces up there, in addition to the barking and clawing.

I take my dog's for stockdog training about 2 hours north of us... But he barked and clawed long before that. We have tried a kong to last long enough to get to a park.

Any thoughts? Questions? I'm not always the most clear of communicators.

Three words: No. Bark. Collar.

My female Dobie would be overly reactive to outside triggers while riding in the car (my male is much more mellow) -- So I have her wear a NO-BARK COLLAR during car rides ... It isn't even turned on, because she already knows Not to Bark or act out while wearing it Problem SOLVED on Day One !!! (My motto is: Work Smarter NOT Harder, LOL.)

Here's the type of collar I'm talking about:

http://leerburg.com/dogtrays300.htm

I have a different brand, also purchased here, but Leerburg doesn't seem to carry it now -- Anyway, because my dogs know NOT to BARK while wearing a No-Bark Collar, it is not even necessary to turn it on

Have you ever used a No-Bark Collar before? Most models have a sequence of stimulation levels, ranging all the way from "tone or vibrate only" on up to "non-nonsense zap" and it includes an "automatically increase one level at a time, if necessary, until intense enough to deter barking" selection -- These collars are NOT remote controlled by the handler, but are activated by the DOG if it barks ... No command from a handler is required, because the Dog SELF-Corrects instantly & they figure out the drill immediately that barking while wearing a No-Bark Collar is simply NOT FUN anymore!

This allows the dog to still LOVE going for a RIDE while understanding by itself Not to Bark, which is a total Win-Win result, IMHO

From me also lots of thanks, Candy. My dogs don't bark in the car, but that no bark collar, activated by the barking dog will be very useful for me in other situations.