Message
All,
I have a question for the group. My family got
our 9-month old pyr, Ella, roughly 3 months ago from a breeder in upstate
New York. In her first 3 months with us, she went from getting sick on the
ride home to New Jersey and refusing to climb the stairs to the bedrooms,
to being wonderfully adjusted and the star of our neighborhood. One problem,
however, we just can't seem to shake - she absolutely hates the car.
We tried food (she won't touch it in the car),
taking her on short rides to pleasant places (the park, grandma's (who always
has some food), etc.), but nothing has worked. When she knows its time to
go in the car she begins to pull, and the second she is in the car, begins
to have what can only be characterized as an anxiety attack (pants and drools,
and if the ride lasts too long, gets sick). Although she has gotten somewhat
better, i.e., I no longer have to pick her up and put her in the car, she
still gets anxious.
I ordered the pheromone spray that was earlier
discussed by the group and plan to test it on our next car ride. Any other
suggestions?
You may have to get in the car and NOT take a short ride. One of our dogs
made too many trips to the vet for surgery and shots and began to associate
the car rides with bad times. I had to put him in the car, crank it up, turn
it off, and give him a treat. This expanded to rides down the driveway and
back (all the while the kids were petting him). Trips around the block grew
into rides to the park. It took a while but he became a backseat driver.
Also, although Ella loves other dogs and children,
I notice that she frequently is shy around/backs away from strange adults
who try to pet her (a problem, since everyone stops us). Aside from having
her interact with adults at dog runs and other controlled environments, any
other thoughts?