Dog & Car Travel Question

 Rescue Remedy maybe?  If she has a harness, is there someone who can sit in the back with her?

Rescue Remedy, have her wear a bandanna sprayed with DAP, and I would use a crate that is secured.  My dogs are OK in the car but neither of them really like the feeling of it moving beneath them.  They both prefer a crate with some kind of dog bed (something other than slippery plastic or nylon) that is level on the seat and can't tip around.

If she gets that upset, I really would ask my Vet for a mild sedative to take the edge off. You're going to want something that's fairly long lasting and also that you're going to be able to give again for the way back. I know a lot of people are very leary of giving meds and prefer natural meds, but you really don't have much time to see how she's going to handle them, and if they don't work it's going to be a VERY stressful ride for all involved. If it were me I would be making an appt. asap and let that baby sleep most of the way.

I think the most helpful thing would be to take her for a short happy drive every day until then. Also, would it be possible to feed her in the car?

samshine

I think the most helpful thing would be to take her for a short happy drive every day until then. Also, would it be possible to feed her in the car?

I was thinking the same thing. Just some short drives with a stop and a special treat and then back home. I'm no expert, but I think this would be one of the areas that might be easy to desensitisize and the payoff would be great. I'd still have a plan for using the other suggestions, but maybe just give it a try and see if it helps.

What about just boarding her while you're gone?  Sounds like the ride is going to be uber stressful and boarding will likely be less so, especially if you find one that does the daycare thing (if that's something Rory would enjoy of course). 

Start very very short.  Begin literally by doing nothing more than getting in the car and sitting there, and YOU relax too.  Read, have a bottle of water.  Do nothing but sit and pet her.  Don't even do a seatbelt (work up to that). 

Next time ONLY start the car and then off.  Repeat the whole process of going TO the car, getting in, such a GOOD girl, etc.

Don't do food in the car -- you'll set her up to be carsick. 

Rescue Remedy works for ****SOME**** dogs.  Not for many - in fact, I've only had one dog it every worked for.  I use it but only where it works. 

Calms Forte is great -- that will help her sleep.  But you have to give it about an HOUR before you want it to work.

 How old is she?  Oat Seed works well on puppies (HerbPharm makes a good tincture of that one.)

Valerian root tincture also -- sometimes that doesn't work on very young puppies, dependso on the individual dog. 

You CAN use both Calms and Valerian at the same time -- Valerian is a nervine herb - it will relax the dog (it literally works on the muscles - it's NOT a sedative).  Calms will calm the dog down in preparation for sleep.  So they work well together.

You may want to try both the first time you do this -- the tinctures work faster -- in about 5 minutes (either/both in a bit of peanut butter is awesome, Mom!!)

YOu may need to keep up the herbs THRU the trip -- they aren't addictive, but you want to set this up the best you know how. 

Some dogs MUST be able to look out.  Some dogs ***don't*** WANT to look out.  Luna does better when she can't see out.  Billy does better when he can. 

Everyone has their own individual ideas of what they want to do -- seatbelt, crate or whatever.  You couldn't pay me enough to crate my dog in the car.  I hate the entire idea of it.  I don't want them trapped in it -- give me a seatbelt please. 

Everyone is entitled to their opinion and we all have big ones on this.  But do what works for you.

calliecritturs

Don't do food in the car -- you'll set her up to be carsick. 

Good point about not feeding before a drive. I was thinking more along the lines of taking her dinner out to the car, letting her eat and maybe relax a bit if possible, then bringing her back to the house.

Just to build positive associations about the car, and help her relax in there a bit.

Do not coddle Rory when she acts scared in the car.  That rewards her behavior and tells her that there is something to be scared of.  Have someone sit by her, but not look at her when she is acting scared.  Turning your head away says "Your behavior is not appropriate."

Products to consider for travel:

• Happy Traveler capsules 
• DAP spray on a bandana
• Gentle Leader Calming Cap
• a t-shirt snugged with a large safety pin (may be similar to swaddling clothes for an infant)

Things to do:

Learn canine calming signals (e.g yawning, licking lips) -

• Rugaas, Turid, On Talking Terms With Dogs: Calming Signals, 2^nd edition, 12/2005     http://tinyurl.com/2tk7dt
• Rugaas, Turid, Calming Signals: What Your Dog Tells You, DVD, 2006      http://www.dogwise.com/itemdetails.cfm?ID=A251    48 Min

Make lots of trips to the vet just to visit and get treats.  Talk in a very high-pitched, happy voice while there.  You may need to have people come outside at first rather than taking Rory inside.

If you've been trying to desensitize her to the car for the last 7 months with no results I'd say figure out some way to not-bring-her on this ride.