How to Get Your Dog to Not Be Scared of Riding in a Car

Many dogs love the adventure of riding in a car and the excitement of seeing passing cars and people. But some dogs actually have a fear of riding in a car, and this fear may stem from having motion sickness or loud noises coming from large trucks or motorcycles. However, there are a few methods for alleviating a dog's fear of riding in cars.

Things You'll Need

  • Dog food
  • Dog treats
  • Dog bed
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Instructions

    • 1

      Feed the dog in the car while the car is in the driveway or garage. Keep the car engine running so the dog gets used to the sound. It may even start associating the vehicle with positive things, such as food.

    • 2

      Feed the dog treats while in a parked car.

    • 3

      Put the dog in the car, and drive in and out of the driveway. This short trip gets the dog used to being in a car. Repeat this process once or twice a day for three to four days.

    • 4

      Take the dog for a short ride around the block. Do this once or twice a day for three or four days.

    • 5

      Increase the amount of time you let the dog ride in the car. Continue to increase the amount of time by five or 10 minutes every three or four days. The increase in riding time gets the dog used to riding in a moving car.

    • 6

      Put a dog bed on the car seat. This keeps the dog comfortable while riding in the car so the experience is less scary.

    • 7

      Take the dog for rides to someplace fun. Trips to the dog park, the pet store or to see friends or family are more enjoyable that trips to just the veterinarian.