Free Tips to Help a Dog Afraid of Car Rides

For this Omaha dog training session we help a formerly abused 5 year-old Australian Shepherd mix named Rocky. This sweet rescue dog is fearful of new humans. But Rocky’s family’s main concern was how to help a dog afraid of car rides.

Overcoming Trust Issues with a Dog

We started by discussing Rocky’s backstory and new life with his current guardians. Evidently Rocky spent the first 4 years of his life tied up and neglected. As a result he is fearful of humans until he gets to know them and they demonstrate that they are a good person. Since humans likely drove him around, its quite possible the dog is scard of the car.

I went over some basic fundamentals like how and when to use a marker word, how to read dog body language and recognize dog consent and cut off signals. These are fundamental building blocks of positive dog training and need to be in place to use many of the dog behavior secrets I share with my clients.

To help build Rocky’s confidence, I showed his guardian how to pet him. This will boost his self-esteem and reward him for good actions and commands. I like to call it Petting with a Purpose.

One of Rocky’s dog behavior problems is barking at the family’s son when he moves around upstairs or comes into the room. I discussed a counterconditioning exercise they can use. I also suggested that the son start walking and feeding Rocky.

If you have trust issues with a dog, creating positive experiences can help. This approach builds their confidence and helps them overcome their fear of people.

I suggested that Rocky join our puppy classes. This way, he can play with young dogs and enjoy their energy. Sometimes seeing or being around other dogs can help a dog gain confidence, we call this habituation.

How to Help a Dog Afraid of Car Rides

A big problem is, Rocky is fearful of the car. Dogs can be scared of car rides for many reasons.

The most common reason when a dog hates the car is motion sickness. Other reasons include not having enough experience in a car or having bad experiences in one. As a dog behavior expert, I help dogs overcome their fear of cars. I do this by practicing car rides in small, easy steps.

But before you can start driving, you need to change how your dog feels about the car. If it doesnt want to get in or go for a ride, its likely the dog is scared of the car. After all, from the dog’s perspective, there isnt anything positive about the car.

To help a dog scared of the car, we need to practice the steps of getting into the car individually until the dog is comfortable with that step before moving on. Once a dog gets scared, continuing will only make the dog afraid of car rides. Going slowly, at the dog’s pace is the way to go if you want to fix it when a dog hates the car.

You can learn how to help a dog get over a fear of the car by following these steps:

1. Walk near the part of your car your dog will use to enter it. Ask your dog to sit, one time. If they wont sit, move 5 feet away and ask again. Keep repeating this step until your dog will sit. That will be your starting point.
2. Wait for your dog to look at the car. The instant he looks, say your marker word, then give the dog a treat. You need to say the marker when your dog looks at the car, not when you give a treat. Your dog doesnt have to sit for this, just stay in that general location.Keep practicing this step (it may take more than one practice session) until your dog is looking at the car frequently, every 5-15 seconds.
3. Once your dog is looking at the car repeatedly under 15 seconds, the next practice session, start 5 feet closer than you were before and repeat the exercise.Repeat this process until you are able to walk right up to the car and have your dog sit the first time you ask
4. Next practice session, walk to the car, open the door, then give your dog a treat. Do not try to get them to get into the car. We just want your dog to feel comfortable walking to the car and waiting as you open the door.If your dog moves away when you open the door, let them. When they stop moving, take note of how far away you are. Repeat steps 2 & 3 but this time with the door open.
5. Once you are able to get all the way to the car and open the door, place a treat on the ledge of the car frame (where the door normally covers). If your dog wont get it, use a higher value treat like beef liver or heated meat of some kind.When your dog licks up the treat, say your marker word. Repeat this exercise for 1-2 minutes, then take your dog for a walk, gave of fetch or some pets. Finishing this practice with something fun can be highly beneficial.
6. Once your dog is going for the treats easily and without hesitaiton, place a second treat a little further into the car. Our goal is to graduallly get your dog to move further into the car, but on her own volition.
7. The first time your dog puts a paw into the car, say your marker word, then give them 5 treats in a row. This is called a jackpot and is a good thing to do when a dog completes a difficult step.
8. Keep at this process until your dog will go all the way into the car. Once this is the case, get into the car and give your dog a treat and some pets. We want them to learn entering the car is a great way to get some love or attention from you.After a minute or so, exit the car and repeat this step. Keep practicing this step until your dog goes into the car easily.
9. Next practice session, have your dog get into the car, get in after them, then close the door and give them a treat. Pet your dog a sec, then exit and repeat. Repeat this step until your dog is unbothered by getting into the car.
10. Now we are ready to address to start the car. Do not start the car with your dog inside until you reach this step. Otherwise you will validate your why your dog is scared of the car.Start the car, then give your dog a treat. After it finishes, turn the car off, then start it again and treat again. Repeat this for a a minute, then exit the car and do something your dog likes (walk, pets, fetch, etc).

    Stick with this step until your dog seems completely relaxed as you start the car.

11. Now we will start to add in movement, in parts. Get into the car, start it, give your dog a treat, then put the car in gear with your foot on the brake. Most cars will shutter a bit. We just want a tiny bit of movement at this stage.Give your dog a treat after you put the car into gear. Then put the car back into park. Repeat this process for a minute or two, then exit the car and do something your dog likes (walk, pets, fetch, etc). Now, we are repleacing a situation where the dog is scared of the car with the dog liking the car.
12. Once your dog is calm in the car when you put it in gear, we are ready for some actual movement.Gently take your foot off the break and let your car roll slowly a dozen feet as smoothly and slowly as possible. Make sure to gradually and slowly apply the break. You want the movement to be so subtle the dog isnt really aware its moving.

    Repeat this step going back and forth for a minute or so. Then exit the car and do something your dog likes (walk, pets, fetch, etc).

13. Once your dog is unbothered by the car rolling backward or forwards, start giing for short (30-60 second) trips that include turns. Make your turns, acceleration and braking as progressive as you can. For a dog afraid of car rides, the sharp turns, accellerating and breaking can be too much. So drive as smoothly as you can.
14. As you progress, you can start making your drives longer, but add in more very gradually. No more than 1 minute more at a time. To eliminate when dog is scared of the car, you have to go at their pace. Going with too big a step is a common mistake people make that can contribute when dog is scared of the car.

By taking it slow and helping Rocky get used to each step before continuing, we can set him up for success. As humans, we often go too fast and we can easily end up with a situation where your dog is scared of the car.

They usually tell us when a dog hates the car, but as humans we confiuse the dog stopping or refusing to get into the car as being honerey. Even worse, when your furry friend’s body language says “dog is scared of the car,” we pick them up and put them inside anyway. Over and over. This can be devestating and resutl with real trust issues with a dog.

Adding in a fun experience at the end of those steps are the cherry on top. These are wonderful ways to help a dog stop feeling anxious in the car. Now this is a process that wont be fixed overnight.

Be sure to take your dog to a variety of destinations. If a dog only goes in the car to visit the vet or the groomer, it will link the car to bad experiences. Take your dog to parks, playdates, and any other places they enjoy.

To help Rocky’s family remember the dog behavior tips I covered, we made a roadmap to success video. Check it out below.