Zoom zoom, into the car

13-05-2022

A trip to the forest, a visit to the vet. Or a wonderful road trip with your best friend, we can't imagine a better vacation.
Getting your dog used to car travel is just as important as transporting your puppy safely in the car. In this article we will discuss preparation or training, car sickness (yes, it really exists) and tips for on the road.

Safe for everyone
Research has shown that in a collision at 50 km/h, even a small dog can cause life-threatening situations by being launched as a projectile. For the safety of your pet, but also yours, it is therefore important that you either secure your buddy or put him in a crate.

There are special car belts with a hook that you can attach to the harness. The line should be short, but long enough for the dog to assume a comfortable position. Never attach the belt to the front of the harness, in the event of an abrupt stop this will cause the body to be twisted with force. Our harnesses from Dogtools have a ring on the loop on the back, where you attach the belt. The closure also contains a safety lock, so that the harness cannot open.

Don't use a harness? Click here for our collection 😉 Or does your pup tend to chew on the harness during the car ride? Then a crate is a very safe and practical solution. Your buddy can sit in it 'naked' and it also has a bit more room to move.
NB we strongly advise against using a collar to secure your dog.

Important when choosing a crate, is that it should be big enough for your dog to stand, sit and lie down in. Make sure it can't slide while driving, fasten the crate to something or place an anti-slip mat underneath.
For large breeds, seniors or dogs with joint problems, a ramp can be a useful tool to easily get in and out.

Being able to lie comfortably and softly, especially during a long car ride, your best friend will thank you for it. There are mattresses that you can place in benches. We use the BIA mattresses in the benches in our bus.
What we like about this mattress is that the inside is made of foam rubber. This distributes the weight of the joints well and prevents the body from touching the hard ground. And the mattress is lightweight and rollable, super handy for on holiday.

Training
Not all dogs are used to or enjoy being in a car. How do you train your dog to sit relaxed in such a small, moving space?

Start by exploring the car and all the smells. Let your dog sniff everything and give treats when he shows calm and positive behavior. If he wants to get in on his own initiative, hurray! Get in the car yourself and talk to him encouragingly. This first trip is a very short one, because you are not going to drive yet. You can turn on the engine for a few minutes, to get used to the sound.
Next time you can go for a drive. Keep it very short, like out of the street and back. You can gradually increase this and go further away.

The most important thing is to make sure that driving becomes a positive experience or at least with a positive outcome. That something fun awaits afterwards, such as going to the forest or beach or playing with the ball. That is why we recommend that you get your dog used to the car as early as possible and not wait until a situation occurs that it is necessary, such as going to the vet. This will make the dog remember and possibly associate the car with the (bad) event.

If you see that your buddy is very tense or shows other symptoms of stress, stop the training and try again another time. In any case, do not try to force her or raise your voice. This will lead to more stress, related to the 'car'.

Car sickness
Travel sickness, including car sickness and sea sickness, is caused by a disruption of the balance organ due to movements and swings. It mainly occurs in puppies, because the balance organ in the ears is not yet fully developed. Most dogs grow out of this, but not all.

The symptoms:

• to drool;
• to pant;
• swallow a lot;
• licking the lips;
• to gag.

Do you see one or more symptoms? Then I would stop immediately (safely). Usually the nausea disappears as soon as your dog is on solid ground or in fresh air. And if only because you would rather have the vomit outside than inside.

It can also help to leave the window slightly open while driving. This will help to balance the air pressure inside the car. Sufficient oxygen and a pleasant temperature also help against nausea.

There is medication for nausea, available from the vet. However, this is mainly for short term use, it is much better to train your dog to sit relaxed in the car.

During the training you can use a natural supplement, Relax Compositum from the Groene Os. It is a herbal tincture with hops, lime blossom, valerian and passion flower. These plants have a calming effect and ensure that dogs and cats relax more quickly in stressful situations. Want to know more? Click here .

My car
It can happen that your best friend is so used to the car that he starts to see the vehicle as territory. And wants to let everyone who comes near know this. The result; woof, woof. But barking does not necessarily have to be territorial, maybe he wants to warn you of approaching objects, when hearing a strange sound or maybe it is just saying hello to that passing dog.
The function and meaning of barking is the subject of a whole separate article. But what you can try in any case is to reduce the view outside. You can hang something in front of the window so that there is no distraction. Dogs that cannot see outside are often calmer and feel better because there is no movement to be seen. This can also help with car sickness.

On the road
Now we are ready for that road trip! Good preparation is half the battle. Make sure that your personal details of the chip are up to date and that your friend wears a tag with your phone number. Are you going out of the country? Then take the pet passport with you and check whether your dog has the right vaccinations. The rules for vaccinations, but also for transporting your dog in the car and whether or not to wear a muzzle can differ from country to country. So inquire well before departure about the most recent rules of the holiday country and the countries you are traveling through.

Even on a short trip, anything can happen; traffic jams, car trouble, open bridges. Therefore, always take fresh water with you and some extra, when the temperature can rise. Don't forget a drinking bowl, some treats, a leash and poop bags.

Other tips

• Consider the timing of the meal. There should be enough time between eating and driving, at least 1.5-2 hours before you hit the road;
• Be sure to stop every 2 hours to pee and poop and to stretch your legs;
• It is best to transport your pet in the back of the car. An airbag that deploys can cause serious injuries if the animal is in the passenger seat. Or, if possible, turn off the airbag function;
• Make sure the temperature in the back of the car is comfortable and that fresh air can circulate;
• Check that there are no loose objects in the car or crate that could injure or be eaten by your dog (chewing gum often contains Xylitol = poisonous!);
• Don't let your dog hang their head out of the window. They often love it, but the wind can blow sand and dirt into their eyes, possibly causing eye infections. They could also accidentally open the window themselves 😱
• When abroad, choose bottled mineral water. Local drinking water that your dog is not used to can cause diarrhea or stomach upsets.

Finally
It seems obvious, but we mention it anyway...

Don't leave your dog alone in the car. In high temperatures, even with the windows open, the car can become an oven in a very short time. In cold temperatures, the car can become a refrigerator.

Sudden/too fast movements of the car can throw your dog off balance and cause injury. Go calmly over thresholds, take corners wide and keep your distance from the car in front so that you can brake in time. Actually just normal driving behavior 😜

Source:
https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/general-pet-care/travel-safety-tips
https://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/pet-health-hub/conditions/car-sickness-and-motion-sickness-in-dogs
https://pets.webmd.com/dogs/dogs-and-motion-sickness
https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motion Sickness

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