Lhasa Apso and Car Journeys - PART TWO

If a dog is scared of either travelling in a car or frightened of even entering it... DO NOT FORCE YOUR PET, OR GET ANNOYED WITH THEM.
That is the most important thing to remember.

Now for how to solve the problem!

First you must realise that this process will take time.

How long it takes will depend upon the reason for the fear in the first place. Is it a long-standing problem, maybe you've just got a rescue dog, or is it your new pup who has suddenly taken an instant dislike to cars or car travel?

What you must try to do is to de-sensitize your pet. He or she must begin to have positive feelings towards your car.

To achieve this aim... first park your car in a convenient place, if you have a driveway that is brilliant, then walk them past the car ignoring it - if a treat is needed to achieve this, use one. Once they can ignore the car, and don't need a treat to do so, progress to walking them past the car with the car doors open.

Next get them to stop by the open car door. When that is achieved try putting a treat just inside the car - it may need something extra special and some coaxing too!

Then try feeding them inside the car... go in with them. Next try closing the car door when they are inside and eating. You can then progress to both of you sitting in the car with the doors closed for a period of time either before or after they have eaten... it may take treats too!

For the next step you need someone to actually sit in the front seat to start the car. Progress to getting them to drive a few yards. A longer journey can then be attempted whilst you are holding and making a fuss of your pet in the back of the car.

Keep progressing in this way, a little step forward at a time, until they are OK with travelling in the back by themselves... and actually enjoying it.

Obviously it will depend upon how ingrained the fear is, to how quickly or slowly progress is made, and how many of the above steps have to be taken. You may be able to miss some steps out if the fear isn't too bad.

If anything goes wrong, just go back to the step where your dog was happy and try from there onwards again... taking it more slowly and adding in more enjoyable treats.