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Dog car anxiety can have a lot of different culprits. For some pups, it’s the movement that makes them nauseous. Other dogs don’t like the sound and and vibration of the engine. Still others have only negative associations with cars—for example, they only ride to go to the vet.
Whatever the reason, in most cases, a dog’s car anxiety can be overcome with patience and counterconditioning. In severe cases, medication or sessions with a behaviorist can help.
With the advice of expert trainer Shoshi Parks (CPDT-KA), we cover what dog car anxiety looks like and how to work toward creating more positive car travel experiences for your pup.
Symptoms of Dog Car Anxiety
Car anxiety can manifest in a number of different ways, depending on how severe a dog’s fear is.
Mild symptoms include typical signs of dog stress like yawning, lip licking, panting, or drooling.
Dogs with moderate symptoms might also lick their paws, fidget, or vocalize with barks, whining, or whimpering.
Dogs with severe car anxiety will often outright refuse to get into the car. Others might get in but clearly be looking for a way out. They might start trembling or shivering, vomit, urinate, or defecate in the vehicle.
Causes of Dog Car Anxiety
It’s a lot easier to help your dog with their car anxiety if you know exactly what about the car ride is triggering their fear. Here are the most common causes, plus how to know if that’s what’s behind your pup’s anxiety.
Motion sickness or nausea
Car anxiety is different from motion sickness, but dog motion sickness can cause the anxiety. Motion sickness is usually the result of an ear imbalance. Puppies often experience carsickness because their ears, which help them regulate balance, aren’t fully developed yet.
If your dog drools unusually, vomits, or is especially lethargic in the car, that’s a good sign that nausea might be at work.
General fear
Anxiety can be general—if your dog is fearful about a lot of things, the car might just happen to be one of them. It’s a small confining space, it makes strange noises (or traffic does), and it moves in ways that make them feel unstable. The distrust can be exacerbated if your dog is experiencing a fear period.
Previous trauma or negative associations
A dog may have trauma around riding in a car, or they may only have ever been in a car traveling to non-fun things like the vet. That can lead a dog to associate the car with the “bad” destination and become anxious anticipating it.
Claustrophobia
Some dogs don’t like small spaces or restraint. If you’ve noticed your dog has trouble in similarly enclosed spaces, like an elevator or crate, claustrophobia might be at the root of their car anxiety. For some pups, the solution is to swap a car crate for an open carrier with a dog seat belt instead—but other dogs need more help.
CBCK-Christine via iStock
Solutions for Dog Car Anxiety
The good news is that it’s possible to reduce a dog’s anxiety around car rides—they may even begin to enjoy them. A variety of tools, training techniques, and vet or behaviorist help can make all the difference.
Increase your dog’s exercise
Exercising your dog ahead of a car ride can be helpful in taking the edge off of anxiety, both by making them tired so they’re ready to nap in the car and by stimulating endorphins (the feel-good hormones).
Treat motion sickness, then train
If you think nausea is at the heart of your dog’s discomfort, your first stop is your vet, who can help you find a prescription or over-the-counter anti-nausea medication for your dog.
You can also try adjusting your dog’s position in the car. Many dogs are more comfortable facing the front of the car instead of looking out the side or back windows. Try moving them from the cargo area to the back seat, towards the middle where they can see forward. Experts don’t recommend seating your dog in the front, as it’s the least safe place for your dog in the car.
If your dog tends to slide around when the car is in motion, give them more solid footing with a dog bed or blanket, or a travel crate or car seat.
If your dog’s motion sickness is particularly bad and regularly induces vomiting, limit food before car trips.
Once your dog’s nausea is better, you’ll want to move on to desensitization training to build up positive associations with the car.
Desensitization training for dog car anxiety
No matter the reason for your dog’s anxiety, you can help them begin to form a positive reaction to the car before even starting the engine with desensitization.
This process, sometimes known as counterconditioning, links positive things (like a treat reward) with a thing your dog perceives negatively (the car) in order to replace anxious anticipation feelings with happier memories.
Parks, a certified professional dog trainer and certified separation anxiety trainer, breaks this down into several steps.
- Leash your dog and walk towards the car, rewarding your dog with a small, high-value treat for approaching. Repeat until your dog is happy to approach the car.
- Approach the car, open the door and reward. Walk away. Repeat several times. When your dog is able to stand comfortably next to the car with the door open, you can move on to the next step.
- Encourage your dog to investigate the car on their own. Place a high-value treat inside and speak happily to them while they search. Start with the treats near the door and, as your dog becomes bolder, encourage them to put more of their body inside to find the reward.
- Encourage your dog to enter the car and close the door for one second, then open the door and reward your dog, allowing them to exit if they wish. Repeat until you can close the door for 30 seconds to one minute without your dog becoming concerned.
- Encourage your dog to enter the car, then close the door and get in the front seat, rewarding your dog for calm behavior once you’re fully seated. When they’re able to stay calm, try starting the car, rewarding your pup, then turning off the car and allowing your dog to exit.
- Drive very brief distances (e.g., a block) before stopping the car, rewarding your dog, and allowing them to exit. Gradually increase the distances if your dog is relaxed.
- Take your dog for frequent short rides to fun destinations, like a dog park, a coffee shop with dog treats, or their favorite spot for a decompression walk.
AndreyPopov via iStock
Other Tools for Dog Car Anxiety
For severe cases of car anxiety, desensitization training is usually the primary solution. But for milder cases, tools like toys and calming items can make a big difference.
Toys and distractions
For anxious dogs who aren’t suffering from motion sickness, snack-filled puzzle toys are a great way to keep them distracted and foster positive associations with the car. Freezing the toy before your journey will make it last longer. There are even treats with calming ingredients that you can incorporate into a puzzle toy or feed separately.
Long-lasting chews and lick mats are also popular solutions for anxious dogs who need distracting toys.
Dog calming gear
Physically calming items can be helpful for some anxious dogs during car rides as well. The pressure created by a ThunderShirt may help decrease your dog’s anxiety, as can calming pheromones. Or try a heartbeat toy—an especially popular pick for puppies and young dogs.
Environmental tools
Upgrading your dog’s travel arrangements with a bed-style car carrier or cozier spot with better footing may also work to help your dog feel more secure in the car.
Some pet parents report that soft music is helpful for soothing their pups. Try these mini Bluetooth speakers pre-loaded with music just for your dog.
Anxiety medication
Even if your dog doesn’t experience motion sickness, medical intervention can help in severe cases. Your vet might recommend anti-anxiety medications that you can offer before car trips to make them more manageable.
How Long Will It Take to Reduce Dog Car Anxiety?
There’s no set rule for how long reducing dog car anxiety will take. It depends on how nervous your dog is to start with and what the root causes are. The most important thing is to be patient and don’t be discouraged if things don’t progress as quickly as you might assume.
Younger dogs will likely learn more quickly than older dogs—but most pups are capable of getting comfortable in the car with patience and effort.
If you’re getting stuck, an experienced trainer or behaviorist is a great resource to help you meet your specific dog’s needs.
