National Train Your Dog Month: How to Train Your Dog to Enjoy Car Rides and Other Training Pointers

Jan 4, 2023

It’s National Train Your Dog Month, and it couldn’t have come at a better time! With so many people adopting dogs during the pandemic, and getting puppies over the holidays, we love that there’s a month-long event to help our furry friends be their best self! We’re going to share some local training programs, resources, and tips to help you on your journey to a “well-mannered doggo” so you can live your best life together and be “road ready”!

How to Get Your Dog Ready for Road Travel

For some canine companions, a ride in the car is the greatest adventure on earth. However, some dogs may be a bit more apprehensive or downright anxious over the idea of roadway transportation. Here’s some helpful tips to make your dog more comfortable and ready to go, wherever the road may take you!

Make sure that your dog feels comfortable, safe, and secure! Distracted driving due to roaming pets is a deadly road hazard! Keep the lives of you, your passengers, your pets, and other drivers safe by ensuring your pup is belted/buckled just as you would fellow humans.

Introduce your pup to safety restraints, crates, and other car ride harnesses while indoors, and always while reinforcing positive experiences such as treats, praise, playing with their favorite toys, and physical affection (if your dog appreciates that!) Your job here is to associate the safety gear with a happy, wonderful, enjoyable experience ahead of time so that when you’re ready to get on the road, they’re excited to use it!
Crack the windows no more than a few inches, making sure your pup cannot get any paws, their nose, or any other body part out the window. Just enough for some fresh air!
Use a crate to keep them safe and sound, a grate between the front and back seat or cargo areas, or secure them with a pet-friendly seatbelt, car seat, or click their harness into a seatbelt attachment.
Have a friend or family member that your dog is comfortable with sit in the back seat alongside your pal to help them remain calm and seated or lying down.

Does your doggy get car sick? Here are some tips to make them more comfortable:

Get them a special elevated doggy car seat so they’re positioned up higher with a view of the outside that can help them see outside and acclimate their equilibrium a bit better.
Open the window just a pinch to circulate some fresh air and help them breathe more evenly.
If they get car sick despite your best efforts, or perhaps a little too anxious even with acclimation and practice, you can speak to your vet about anti-nausea or anxiety medication.

Does your doggy get anxious at the idea of car travel? Here are some tips that can help alleviate their stress, and help them be more comfortable with traveling:

Keep early desensitization training sessions short so as not to overwhelm your pup, and provide a safe and comfortable experience in the car, and use only positive reinforcement training and never leave them unattended in the vehicle for any reason. Do not force your dog into the vehicle; be patient, work with your dog’s comfort level, and gradually build up their tolerance and provide positive methods to peak their curiosity and excitement.
Let your dog explore the environment before you embark on your journey! Facilitate a positive experience of the in the cargo area or backseat of your vehicle with a scavenger hunt for treats, and by placing their favorite toy and/or familiar bed/blanket inside while you sit in the front seat and chaperone. Use positive reinforcement and happy praises to encourage them to enjoy the experience.
Once your pup is comfortable inside the vehicle, turn on the engine and give them a treat and some more positive verbal reinforcement and praise. Turn on the radio to some soothing music or upbeat tunes, open the windows a little (not enough for them to put their head out!) and the air vents to get them used to the sounds and smells of the car.
When you and your puppy pal feel comfortable and secure with the above, you can start by slowly backing out of your parking space or driveway, and doing a trip down the block and back. Slowly increase the duration of your trips, and start off with a fun destination like a local park, a local beach, or a drive through with a pup-cup option! Once your dog is feeling safe, secure, and no motion sickness, you are ready to hit the road comfortably and go just about anywhere!
If your methods above are not working, consult a professional behaviorist and trainer to assist you with interventions and comforting training techniques.

A friendly reminder: never leave your dog in the car alone for any reason, for any length of time. Many states also have legislation requiring passersby or law enforcement to break the windows of your vehicle and remove the dog to safety and you may receive a citation.

Where to Start Your Search for Local Positive Reinforcement Dog Training

Did you know that Waukegan Parks District runs local dog training programs? You can sign up for Puppy Dog Obedience Training Basic Dog Obedience Training, and Advanced Dog Obedience Training from $75-$90 per course.

Looking for Positive Reinforcement Dog Training? Locals have had great success and experiences with these local positive training programs: