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Although a car ride might be fun for you, it isn’t always as fun for your furry companion. This is especially true if it’s one of the very first times your dog has ever been in a moving vehicle. Below you will find some of the most common reasons why a dog would whine and cry while on a car ride.
You might have a dog suffering from travel sickness
Humans aren’t the only ones that can suffer from motion sickness. In fact, this is also very common among dogs, especially pups. A dog becoming whiny might mean that he is experiencing discomfort due to motion sickness. As they get older, most dogs will slowly learn to overcome this. If your dog still has problems with the side effects of this medical condition, then you can try to help them by reducing the food amount they consume before longer car rides or finding a way of keeping them busy and distracted.
Smaller spaces might frustrate him
When having to deal with a shortage of space, a lot of dogs will start to whine in your car. The fact that they can’t move freely is really frustrating for them. Keep in mind that they are still animals, so it’s a lot harder for them to understand the need to get through a long car ride. This, again, will require you to find something to distract the dog or he will keep whining. Toys are again one of the best distractions for your dog.
You might also like my articles on why dogs whine in general, lick their lips, or dig your yard.
A dog developing car anxiety is a real thing and will cause your dog to develop all kinds of symptoms like paw licking, shivering, and whining.
Stress induced by finding the place unfamiliar
Dogs are pretty territorial animals, which means that they will have to get used to an unfamiliar place before being forced to spend too much time inside. One of the most common signs of anxiety is actually whining. If this is the case, you might help your dog by leaving a few of your used clothes in the backseat, so the dog is less stressed due to the comfort your clothes provide.
Stopping a dog from whining in your car
One way to stop most dogs from whining while they are in your car is by distracting them. His favorite treats and toys will surely distract him at least through shorter rides. Keep in mind that you should never give your dog treats exactly when he is whining. This might lead to the pet considering whining a positive behavior that warrants a reward. What you should do instead, is let your dog calm down, and then reward him, so that he knows that the calm state is rewarded and not the whining.
If you know for sure that your dog suffers from car anxiety then it might help if you keep him covered throughout car rides. It usually helps to prevent them from looking out the window, as looking outside usually increases the stress, leading to more crying and whining.
Some dogs also find relief in gentle music that blocks at least parts of the stressful noise caused by traffic. Jazz music has been known to calm dogs in general.
