Almost Perfect
One of the prerequisites for re-homing Lilly last year was that she had to be good whilst being a passenger in cars, for obvious reasons. The problem is she isn’t great at it, mainly, we think, because she didn't go in a car regularly with her former parents. She is a bit whingy, and at the start you could tell she was a bit anxious, probably thinking she was being taken away again.
However, there were too many positives about her, she hardly barks, doesn’t chew the house, house trained - basically, she’s a well trained hound, except for her recall when she sniffs a squirrels!
So, how do we overcome this car riding obstacle?
Well, MINI UK and partner Dogs Trust, the UK's largest dog welfare charity, put out a post a few months back on this very topic.
First we ordered a rear seat hammock from Over The Top (reviewed in issue #32), who specialise in dog seat covers. This was because it’s generally frowned open to let dirty dogs in press cars, and it also limits her from squeezing through the two front seats.
GET YOUR CAR AND CANINE ACQUAINTED.
It’s a good idea to introduce car travel gently and as early on as possible. Dogs having choice around a new or scary thing improves their confidence long-term.
We started by simply acquainting Lilly with the car itself, encouraging her to have a good sniff and get familiar with her own scent on the seat hammock. Open up the doors and boot, allowing them to hop in and out at their leisure. A tasty reward for their nose work will help build positive associations with the car.
IT’S ALL IN THE BODY LANGUAGE.
Signs of distress can be shaking, panting and pulling away from the car. There are so many reasons a dog might feel anxious about car journeys – so introduce your dog to the car slowly and try to take some trips purely for fun to the beach or park. That way you’ll begin to build positive associations. Watch out for signs of over-stimulation and stress and take a break and a few steps back to the point your dog was comfortable.
KEEP YOUR HOUND SAFE AND SOUND.
Consider where your dog will travel and protect your pooch by securing them in place with a harness, guard or crate. That way they’ll be restrained if you have to make a sudden stop. It’ll also help to keep them out of the driver’s way, and avoid distractions while you’re on the move.
THREE POINT TURN.
Can your dog do a ‘three-point turn’ in the back of the car?
Your dog should be able to stand up, turn around comfortably and lie down in their space in the car.
IN CAR SNACKS.
Everyone enjoys an in-car treat, including your doggie pals. Bring your pooches’ favourite treats on trips to reward them for being a great travel companion. You could prepare them a long-lasting chew for the journey or a passenger could drop them a little reward every now and then.
Basically it’s all about making it fun for Lilly, and although I try and take her out daily for a short ride, like all good plans it isn’t working out that way, but we’ll get there, eventually.