Dog Carsickness
While car sickness is not considered a behavioral problem, it sure is something that is just as important to deal with as any type of other issue with your dog. Having to clean up your dog's mess with every car ride is not fun at all.
A
dog that gets carsick is a genuine victim of motion sickness (rare in
dogs), a leader-type animal that becomes ill as a psychosomatic
response to its inability to control its circumstances, or one that has
experienced traumatic reinforcement in a car or at the journey's end.
A
prime example of a trauma victim is a dog that always gets ill on the
way to the veterinarian, but seldom on the way home. In
several
cases, this predictable reaction was used in correction. The
dogs
were driven away from home, in the opposite direction from the clinic,
then back toward home and thence on to the doctor. No illness
occurred. Different routes were used on later
trips.
Most carsickness cases are not so easily corrected.
Where no emotional basis is found for the problem, administration of
motion sickness medication has proved helpful. If excessive
salivation accompanies vomiting, atropine sulfate (by veterinary
prescription) may alleviate the problem. In cases involving
behavioral relationships, a combination of general environmental and
leadership adjustments
succeeds.
Most of the carsickness cases encountered by professionals
involve a leader-type dog. Therefore, the first step toward
correction is for the owner to gain a dominant leader
position.
Together with teaching a few simple commands, all general petting of
the dog must cease. Any solicitation for attention by the dog
must be countered by a command, with a few seconds of petting and
praise if the dog responds appropriately.
This regimen
impresses on the dog that the owner is in control of the general tenor
of life. In addition to command training, the dog should be
taken
for an upbeat car ride around the block at least twice daily.
The
owner should act jolly toward the dog throughout the ride, reinforcing
happy behavior. These trips may then be extended in time and
distance over a 6-week period, after which permanent correction is
usually achieved....
Containment
Petco offers a variety of products to keep your dog safe and sound,
indoors, outdoors and while traveling. These products range from a
simple gate to a complete electronic control system. Find Everything You Need For Your Pet at PETCO.com!