Dribbling in the car

[Cosd]

My pup is now just over 16 weeks old.

 

Having had the pup for just over 1 week now we have taken him out in the car 4 or 5 times but every time he gets in the car he dribbles for Britain.

I don't think it's a thirst thing as the dribbling starts almost instantly he gets into the car and stops that quickly too when he gets out, so possibly a phsycological thing maybe.

 

Any ideas or tips please.

 

 

Cos

[Kes]

I think this is quite common in dogs who rarely travel in cars or are unused to it (or are pups). Best to start by convincing the dog its a safe environment - if you can easily put his bed in there and allow him to jump in and out without a problem, provide a very solid step if hes a pup. I then took mine to a field and left the back door open and drove round v slowly to get them used to driving. Seemed to work. Could be a separation thing - can he get to you easily?

Its a problem the dog whisperer has dealt with effectively if you can access his series?

Good luck

[Highbird70]

Kes I know that you trying to give the best advise, but PLEASE...don't let the 16 weeks old dog...jumping on and off from your Land rover, its to young. The dribbling its very normal, leave the non passenger window open a little, for a lot of ventilation at the back, don't make the dog drink...if its possible, 15 20 minutes prior departure, the dog will soon get use to it, also don't feed him if you going for a long journey, take a little brekky for dog with you and water.

I think this is quite common in dogs who rarely travel in cars or are unused to it (or are pups). Best to start by convincing the dog its a safe environment - if you can easily put his bed in there and allow him to jump in and out without a problem, provide a very solid step if hes a pup. I then took mine to a field and left the back door open and drove round v slowly to get them used to driving. Seemed to work. Could be a separation thing - can he get to you easily?

Its a problem the dog whisperer has dealt with effectively if you can access his series?

Good luck

[al4x]

sounds like excitement Cosd to me, do plenty of it and you might well find it stops.

[Cosd]

sounds like excitement Cosd to me, do plenty of it and you might well find it stops.

Could be excitement. It's not a food/water thing or ventilation. If it was a water thing I expect he would continue to dribble when he gets out the other end. It starts instantly when he gets in and stops instantly when he gets out.

 

We've also tried ventilating the car yesterday, I opened all the windows in the landy, it's only about a mile and a half to this particular park we take him to, but that didn't help either.

 

My feeling is that it is something going on in his head that starts this reaction, I just need to figure out what. Landy's already have their own water features, I don't need the dog creating more puddles

Edited April 29, 2013 by Cosd

[al4x]

mine can do it on demand if she is watching you eat a sandwich, in your case it may or may not get better. they usually start to associate the car with fun which means it goes one way or the other. With most things the more you do something the less exciting it gets for them

[WGD]

Is he crated inside the vehicle?

 

My guess would be he is either travel sick or stressed, more than likely due to the many hours of no doubt less than pleasant (for a puppy) travelling from Portugal?

 

As highbird says, do not allow him to jump out at his age - none of mine are allowed to jump out of the truck until they are a year old. If you can get him to jump in I expect he'll have stopped dribbling.

 

Feed him in a stationary vehicle and if possible put him in the vehicle for a very short journey prior to exercise (even if you drive up and down the road and end up back at home, do it before he gets out).

 

I would also crate him in the back of the vehicle, or even better get a dog box. I don't think seeing the scenery rushing past helps dogs who are car sick, but that's just my personal belief - no real science behind it other than experience.

 

Sure he'll be fine mate with a bit of positive association, but don't expect it overnight. One of the first bitches I had was like this and it wasn't until she came into season at 7 months old and I had to take her away in the truck for exercise daily that she improved. 3 weeks of always getting into the truck to go for a run about, by the time the 3 weeks was done she was jumping in herself but it did take time.

[AlistairB]

Mine do it, i spoke to trainer about it and he told me it was stress related. Neither of mine like the car and are often sick on any length of journey, but understand that if they get in the car, they're going somewhere they'll have fun!

 

I've tried feeding them in it when it parked, sitting them in it with the boot open when i cut the grass etc to get them used to it but they still do it! I put it down to the fact that they were both sick in the car on their very first journey when i picked them up. Having said that, they're much better now than they used to be.

 

AB

[Cosd]

Is he crated inside the vehicle?

 

My guess would be he is either travel sick or stressed, more than likely due to the many hours of no doubt less than pleasant (for a puppy) travelling from Portugal?

 

As highbird says, do not allow him to jump out at his age - none of mine are allowed to jump out of the truck until they are a year old. If you can get him to jump in I expect he'll have stopped dribbling.

 

Feed him in a stationary vehicle and if possible put him in the vehicle for a very short journey prior to exercise (even if you drive up and down the road and end up back at home, do it before he gets out).

 

I would also crate him in the back of the vehicle, or even better get a dog box. I don't think seeing the scenery rushing past helps dogs who are car sick, but that's just my personal belief - no real science behind it other than experience.

 

Sure he'll be fine mate with a bit of positive association, but don't expect it overnight. One of the first bitches I had was like this and it wasn't until she came into season at 7 months old and I had to take her away in the truck for exercise daily that she improved. 3 weeks of always getting into the truck to go for a run about, by the time the 3 weeks was done she was jumping in herself but it did take time.

 

I don't allow him to jump in or out of the Landy.

 

The stress factor makes sense, I think I will try putting his crate in the car which he sleeps in and see how that works. And also try to associate travelling with fun. To be fair he loved the park and being off the lead and we've only done that twice. There is no reason now to put him in the car unless we go to that particular park so hopefully he will soon learn that the car means going to have fun.

 

Out of interest, what's the difference between a crate and a dog box? Any links to examples that I can look at please.

 

Thanks

Cos

[WGD]

Crates are cheap but rattle like nothing on earth when you're travelling, and the dog can see out of all sides - the noise of a crate when travelling could make a pup even more nervous IMO and may put him off being in the crate in the house so be wary of that.

 

Dog boxes are fairly expensive, but I wouldn't be without one. Generally the dog can only see out of the doors. I have the pups in it in the back of the pickup from day one (granted the pickup is good because once you're moving you can't hear them howling LOL)

 

TransK9 are amongst the best IMO, the only downside being their weight if you need to move it in and out of the car regularly.

 

Lintran and Dogtran are lighter weight, I have a Dogtran one just now so I can take it in and out of the pickup if I need the space for work.

 

CAB are the Rolls Royce but at Rolls Royce prices.

 

There are a lot or others kicking about now, but googling any of the names I have mentioned will let you see what I am talking about.

Expensive habits these dogs.... get your hand in your pocket.... AGAIN

[al4x]

The only issue in a discovery is when you get a pointer sized dog box in you don't get much else. It depends if you are going to want to have the dog in a cage all its life or just in the boot, if you aren't going to work it hard then you might be fine in the boot cleanliness wise. Mine lives on the back seat then come beating season the top goes on the pickup and stays there all beating season and she just goes in.

[highseas]

I don't get out much in cars eather, and all the summer totty in shorts gets me drooling for England too........