Traveling with a pet comes with its ups and downs. I often don’t want to travel with Lilly, my German shepherd, because she gets anxious.
While Lilly can literally bully everyone at home, she ends up a baby when we travel. No matter the distance, she will feel scared and anxious, making traveling with her challenging.
Why do dogs get travel anxiety? My pet parents have this challenge and seek ways to help their dogs stay calm.
I didn’t know what to do the first time Lilly had travel anxiety. Luckily, a vet was on our flight, and she helped calm Lilly.
Over the years, I have learned to take care of Lilly whenever we travel. The best way to treat your dog’s travel anxiety is to engage it in a series of exercises in the car to desensitize her.
It’s important to take your time and acclimatize your dog to the car gradually
Tips to Calm a Dog During a Travel
- Sit in the back seat or cargo area of the car with her. Pet her, praise her and treat her. Do this for only a few minutes, fewer still, or for mere seconds if she seems stressed, and then get out of the car.
- Repeat the exercise daily or every other day, for as long as a few weeks if necessary. (Use common sense: avoid extremely hot or cold days.)
- Gradually increase the duration of each exercise. Consider feeding her in the car while you sit with her and continue to offer praise and affection. Food is about the most positive thing she can associate with the car—this exercise establishes that association.
- Once she seems comfortable with the car, take your dog on short trips to fun destinations—to the park, on play dates with a doggy pal, or to the pet store, for example.
You can use the same fun destination each time, but vary the route and make it longer as you repeat the exercise. Your dog will grow to associate car rides with more than just visits to the vet.
Quick Tip:
Notice triggers for anxiety in your dog when you’re traveling, and address them. If your dog can’t bear going over rumble strips, for example, be prepared to treat her every time you drive over them.
How to keep my anxious dog calm in the car
These ways will be effective to reassure your dog and calm it down when you travel with the dog in your car.
Take your dog out for exercise about 20 minutes before your car trip. Activity stimulates endorphins (“feel-good” hormones) and will also tire her out; she might even settle down for a nap once you hit the road.
Remember to bring your dog’s favorite dog toy for the trip. She’ll especially enjoy the recognizable smell of her plush toys.
Pack a familiar blanket with her dog bed, or grab something out of the laundry that smells like you (don’t choose something she’s likely to destroy in the back seat).
- Make sure the car is comfortable for your dog. Regulate the temperature; crack the window or sunroof to allow some fresh air (don’t allow your dog to hang her head out the window).
- Soothing music can also reassure your dog. If you plan to put her inside a crate, ensure the crate is level and flat, not listing to one side; cover it with a towel if that seems to calm your dog.
- Talk to your vet about pheromones. These are chemicals animals release that affects other animals of the same species, usually through smell. A female dog releases a pheromone that calms and reassures her newborn puppies.
Its synthetic version is available in a spray or collar and has been shown to help anxious dogs during car travel.
- Experiment with homeopathic remedies. This efficacy is less documented, but some dog owners swear by them. Made from the essence of flowers and plants, they’re worth a try.
- Anti-anxiety pressure wraps have been shown to help anxious dogs in stressful situations.
- Use a dog restraint in the car; some dogs feel more secure if they’re crated or buckled in.
If these strategies do not work, talk to your vet about medications to help your dog with travel anxiety. Examples are antihistamines, anxiolytics, sedatives, or a neurokinin receptor blocker called Cerenia®, which stops the vomiting reflex in a dog.
But be advised that over-medicating an anxious dog can make her lethargic for days after you reach your travel destination; that’s no fun for anybody. Only a veterinarian is qualified to weigh in on which meds are right for your dog’s specific needs.
I don’t recommend pet parents to use medications to calm their dogs, except on a vet’s order. If you must administer such drugs, you should allow a professional to carry it out.
I have seen dogs that end up sick, injured, or brain damaged because their owners wrongly gave them medications.
While dogs can get travel anxiety, it does not mean you cannot train them to get used to traveling. If you can help them get through the process via encouragement and support, it becomes easier for the dog to travel with less crisis.
FAQs
How do you calm pets when traveling?
Use products that contain synthetic pheromones to calm anxious dogs. The dog may respond well to pheromone, which helps them feel safe and secure. An instance is Adaptil for dogs. Research has shown that some people and pets respond well to the smell of lavender
How do I stop my dog’s anxiety when traveling?
You can stop the anxiety by simply engaging your dog in a series of exercises in the car to desensitize her. It’s important to take your time and gradually acclimate your dog to the car: Sit in the back seat or cargo area of the car with her. Pet her, praise her and treat her.
Why do dogs get travel anxiety?
Numerous factors can lead to travel anxiety in dogs: Motion sickness or other bad experiences while traveling, causing a negative association with car trips. The pet may think a car ride means going somewhere unpleasant, such as the veterinarian’s office.