Question:
Dear Dr:

I would like to know what I can do to help my dog Molly enjoy car rides. Whenever I take her in the car, she seems excited and happy, however, once we are on the road, she proceeds to whimper, yelp, whine and move about on the seat. She never sits or lies down. This behaviour is very distracting to me while I am driving and I wish I could help Molly with her anxieties. She is never loose in the car, I use a dog seat belt and I anchor her in the back seat as well as in the front seat. I try to ignore her whimpers as well as her barks, although I sometimes fine it difficult. I try not to raise my voice nor yell as I'm sure she will interprete this as barking. Is there anything else I can do about this problem?

Thank you.

Greenwood

Answer:
Yes, this problem can certainly be overcome, but it will take patience and just moving one baby step at a time.

Here is a great article giving a step-by-step instruction on how to do this. Don't be tempted to rush it!.

Car anxiety

Answer:
What kind of a dog is this and how old?

Does she pant a lot when you are driving? If she does, and it is not very hot out, this means that she is under stress. Try to settle her with a chew toy or bone when you are driving. Having her bed and maybe "security blanket" and another soft cuddly toy might make her feel more secure. If you can, you might want to put her in the front seat where she can see you.

Answer: