[Cavendish]

Hi all, its been quite a while since I last posted, we took ownership of Freddie at the end of may, we would not give him back for the world. we absolutely cannot imagine life without him or the cat for that matter.
 
we have one little problem with him, maybe some of you have experience with this?
Freddie really hates car journies, I have read about several techniques to overcome this but I wanted to see what other people have tried prevously.
 
any suggestions welcome.

[Alistair]

One of ours gets very very stressed in the car, she has vomited a cople of times, we have recently tried one of those pheromone collars, don't bother in my opinion, add not the blindest bit of difference.

As far as I can see she's not got any better in 4 yrs so I guess it's inbuilt now, we've tried most things

Could see the vet and get diazipan, for the dog, not you, well maybe for you,mand whilst your at it I'll have some too

Seriously, it works on bonfire night for one of ours who just can't cope

Should have posted this idea on the stressed threads elsewhere? - that was said in the best possible humour, I feel for everyone so don't shoot me down... Please

[Cavendish]

thanks for the advice alistair, we have considered getting some prescribed sedatives from the vets especially when we do long car journeys with the dog, Kennels are not cheap near us and it would be good for him to come along too.
 
we though about driving him to the fields where we walk him every evening which is only a minute round the corner to see if by being in the car everyday for short period of time if he overcomes his fear especially if he associates getting in the car with fun things like walkies.
 
we would like to take him up to scotland for new years we ahev family that we are staying with (we live in Berkshire) but we fear he is no where near ready for such a long trip

[SallyintNorth]

we though about driving him to the fields where we walk him every evening which is only a minute round the corner to see if by being in the car everyday for short period of time if he overcomes his fear especially if he associates getting in the car with fun things like walkies.
 

Top idea     I would definitely try that.

[Alistair]

Tbh, we've tried that too, we go up to Scotland about 4 times each year with the dogs, circa 8hrs drive, we have now given up trying, we just don't feed them in the morning, let them drink as often as we stop, every 2hrs, make them comfortable, duvet in the back of the car, couple of towels just in case and go for it, two of them sleep all the way and one pants and pants and shivers all the way, but she LOVES it when we get there

[kumquat]

we are battling the same demon with our 17 week old border terrier...how old is Freddie? assuming he's a pup.
I've read that ginger nut biscuits seem to work as they settle a stomach (i'm told it works in humans too). If he's anxious then i've read about some good herbal stuff that calms them down a touch (Bachs rescue remedy - i haven't tried this yet).
We are just doing small journeys 10 mins as often as possible ending on a positive (as you are doing  ) and slowly building it up...it seems to be working (along side the ginger nuts....one for me and one for the dog ).
Our other border didn't suffer from it at all, i'm told the majority grow out of it....
Little and often seems to be the key...(if not class A drugs)
HTH
Jon

[Bionic]

I have the same problem with my dog. He doesn't seem to mind being in the car but is sick every time. To be honest his being sick seems to upset me more than the dog.
Now if I know we are going out in the car I don't feed him at all that day. Since doing that we have done journeys upto an hour and he hasn't been sick.
Mine was a year old this month and I am hoping that he will grow out of it.
Sally

[Beewyched]

We used to get the same problem with our 1st setter & we were showing him too    - he just had to sit in the car, no engine running & he would start drooling 
What we were advised to do by his breeder (it worked, so I guess it was ok - though Annie will correct me if it was the wrong thing to do) - not to give him breakfast & give him a 12 year-olds level of "Sea-Legs" (anti car-sick tablets for children) it actually worked 
Just a few times, without him throwing-up & he's been great for years (even allowed brekkie now    ).  Apparently it's to do with breaking the cycle of car = vomit.

[sabrina]

We had this with Rascal and nothing seem to work. Could not even go 2 miles down the road until OH took him out for a trip. He had his squeaky ball and every now and again gave it  squeeze. Rascal was in his pen in the back of the car. This seem to help keep his mind of being sick. We took the dogs to the Peak District for a week, did not feed him in the mornings and now he travels in the car fine.

[jaykay]

Ok, I had a Labrador cross like this.

What I eventually realised (I'm a bit slow at times  ) was that I only ever put her in the car for long journeys (ie bored and seasick for hours) or to the vet!

So I made a point of playing with her in the car with her tugger while it was stationery, doors open (gate shut!). Then putting her in the car to the park down the road. Normally we walked there. But the short journeys, associated with the fun of the park, seemed to do the trick. Or maybe she just grew out of it.

Whatever, puking and drooling in the car stopped.

[HelenVF]

Our border terrier used to be sick in the car. I started taking him on the school run and he did get used to it and is fine now.

When you say hate - is he stressing, or being sick? Great idea about taking him in the car to get to the field.

I've had allsorts of problems but they have always grown out of it.  I've had screamers - english setter who screamed the whole journey, i've had overexcitement - gwp who used to sit up the whole journey and pant and whine with excitement and I've had various dogs with sickness!

Helen

[Mammyshaz]

I had a rescue dog who had two front broken legs after a road accident. She vomited just getting in the car ( she had apparently been originally thrown out of a van when the car behind hit her  )
It took months but by the end we travelled all over the country camping with her and our Luther dogs without any vomit 

As some people suggest, we placed her in the car for very short journeys ( 2-3 minutes ) to the field for fun and walks. In the early stages somebody always stayed with her to reassure and give little treats.
This was done twice daily for her walks.

The journey time was gradually extended. It was slow but it worked. For 13 years we travelled without a problem although she always lay flat on the back seat, not being comfortable moving around.

I think nowadays a movable crate used int he house as the dogs bed and then placed in the car is more relaxing for the dog being in it's own space. Then there is DAP in spray or collar for which relaxes the dog. And  a product called zylkene from your vet. It is not a drug but mimics the relaxation feeling when a pup has suckled from the mum ( but works for adult dogs really well ) it is used lots in behaviour issues now.

Hope some of this helps. Good luck. He will get there. 

[Mrs Snoodles]

Sickness is cars is not necessarily stress related, it could be motion orientated and you need to work out which it is. If you have your dog in an area where he can't look out, it may help that it can, so there is something to focus on.  Have a play around or even see if you can travel with a passenger who will sit your dog in their lap (bin bags at the ready!).
if it is stress related you could try the Dap pheromone which has been mentioned. It is great for all sorts of situations and has a calming effect, your dog may go sleepy but do not worry.  We have tried Diazepam for a dog we had to get to France. It worked a treat, made him the most sloppiest lickiest Labrador ever - but cannot be used on a regular basis.
Behaviour wise. You start on the driveway.play in the car, don't go anywhere. Try for a week. Then drive with him down the road. Let him have a play/rewards etc back in. Gradually extend the journeys. Slowly slowly is the approach. It may take long time,but you have him forever

[Cavendish]

thanks for all of your replies, great advice.
 
Freddie is 15 months old, he's predominately lab with a few others thrown in, were not sure which?... most people comment that he might be a bit collie, german shepherd, or mastiv? . no idea but whatever he is he's great!.
 
when we walk him up to the car boot he instantly ignores it, even if I hold a nice big treat out for him over the boot area he tries to walk away. when I lift him into the boot he sits down very quiet, once the car boot door is shut is pants and starts a very thick drooling. I once drove him to somerset. he was not sick for about an hour as there were no turns, as soon as we turned off at chippenham and the roundabouts start and he vomited all over the boot.
 
Luckily we have a vomited drill down to a T now, so there are lot of layers to soak it up for it get to the upholstery.
 
It seems to be to be a bit of both, nervousness of being in the car, and motion sickness.
 
I have heard that feeding him in the boot at the usual feeding times for about 3 weeks can cure car sickness, has anyone tried that approach?

[SallyintNorth]

The other thing to consider is exhaust fumes.  Some boots are full of them.  I switched my collie pup to the front seat, next to me, and she drooled and panted but didn't throw up.  Eventually, after short journeys culminating in sheep , she forgot to be drooly, and now she travels in the rear of the pickup ok - she'll even jump in when she sees the flap down and my crook in my hand.

Oh, and yes, no food before car travel.