Dogs; they are our best friends! What would we do without them? Many of us wouldn’t be able to get through a day without the love and affection our dogs give us each and every day. With that being said, it can be hard to see your dog turn into an anxiety-filled furball when the words, “Wanna go for a ride?” are spoken. Although they may seem excited to get out of the house and see what the world has to offer, many dogs don’t realize that when they enter a car for the ride of a lifetime atop their comfortable dog seat cover, they’ll be dealing with much more than just a warm breeze flowing through their furry, Golden locks. Instead, many pups face anxiety in which they aren’t sure how to cope. That’s where today’s blog can help. Here are some ways you can help relieve and prevent travel anxiety in your dog:
Familiarize Your Dog With the Car
Whether your dog takes random trips to the park via a car or a trip to the vet is the main reason they’re graced with a car ride, you should familiarize your dog with the car. Why? Getting in a car can be scary and if your dog is not associated with the car, you may notice a change in their behavior, such as panting, pacing and whining.
Get in the Car With Your Dog
It’s time to get in the backseat with your dog. If you have a hatchback, open the hatch, load your dog up and get into the car with them (if not, just hop in the backseat with your pooch). Once in the car, give them a treat or two, praise them and let them know how much you love them. We recommend you do this for a few minutes the first time, depending on their stress level when they enter the car. To make sure your dog gets to know your car prior to going for a car ride, it’s important to do this each day until their first car ride. You’ll increase the amount of time you spend in the car with them until you take your them on an epic first ride. When your dog experiences fun and loving activities within the car, they’ll relate that to positivity and good vibes!
Take Short Trips Down the Block
When your dog is comfortable with getting in the car and spending a few minutes at a time in the back seat on their comfortable dog seat cover, it’s time for the next step: A quick drive. A short trip down the block to the park, pet store, a friend’s house or whatever else you think would be fun to do with your dog, do! Just make sure wherever you go isn’t too far away. We don’t want you to put your dog in the car for too long which may cause their anxiety to spike. Instead, keep the car ride short and sweet. In fact, if you don’t have many fun places to go, you can keep going back to the same place as you did before, just take a different route if possible.
Keep Your Dog Comfortable
Make sure you teach your dog that it’s ok to take a fun and enjoyable car rides with you! Doing so can be hard at first, but with our comfortable and durable dog seat covers, your impressive training and the love and patience you have for your dog will allow you to train your pup correctly so they can enjoy a life without anxiety. Shop for a dog seat cover online today with yours truly, 4Knines, and contact us if you have any questions or concerns.
