Travelling in the car
Being in a car is not a natural experience for a young puppy so it is important to acclimatise them slowly.
Positive associationsHelp puppy learn that the car is a fun place to be. You could consider feeding their meals in the car or giving them tasty treats/chews.- Engine onTo begin it can be helpful to teach puppy to enjoy spending time in the car with the engine off. Only once they are truly relaxed and happy should you introduce the sound of the engine (which may worry some puppies).
- Short journeysBegin by taking your puppy on small journeys at first. Try to take them somewhere every day during the first few months, even though you may not always take them out of the car until you get back home.
- Gradually increase durationAs they get more comfortable, increase the length of the car journeys and ensure they regularly result in visiting fun places e.g. a trip to the park or the beach. This will help continue to build positive associations and they will soon get used to car travel and accept it as a necessary part of life.
Top tips for successful travel
When travelling by car to puppy training classes, allow an extra 15 minutes to arrive and allow your puppy to relax and go to the toilet. An anxious puppy that comes straight out of the car into the lesson will not be able to learn and is likely to need to relieve itself before it can concentrate.
Place your puppy somewhere in the car where they will be safe and where their movement will be restricted so that they does not learn to jump around and distract the driver.
Provide a soft, non-slip, absorbent bedding for the journey. If your puppy is to travel on the seat, use a car harness so that they cannot fall off. Good use can be made of a travel cage to ensure they remain safe, but get them used to being confined in it at home first, and make sure it is big enough for them to stand up, turn around and lie down, changing the size if necessary as they grow.
Close doors carefully without slamming and don’t start the car until the puppy is closed inside as the exhaust can be frightening and unpleasant.Remember that your puppy cannot see where the car is going, is not supported by a seat, and cannot predict when the next corner will be coming up. Corners and bends cause the car to move unpredictably from your puppy’s point of view. Take corners, bumps, and rumble strips at a slow speed and accelerate/decelerate smoothly.
How can a Puppy School Tutor help?
If you are experiencing issues with car travel and your puppy, please get in touch with your local Puppy School tutor to find out how they can help you further.
As well as training classes, many of our tutors offer home visits to provide additional 121 support and guidance for you, your family and your puppy.
Find your local Puppy School tutor
If none of our Puppy School tutors are local to you, we recommend contacting an Animal Behaviour and Training Council (ABTC) registered Animal Training Instructor for further help and advice.
Need more help?
There are a number of problematic car travel behaviours that may occur for other reasons. Dogs may bark in excitement and frustration in anticipation of a fun walk, they may become destructive if they can see cars whiz past they would like to chase, they may bark to get attention from their owner or they may vomit due to motion sickness.
In these cases it is best to seek professional help fast. We recommend speaking to your veterinary surgeon for additional help (e.g. motion sickness) or contacting an Animal Behaviour and Training Council (ABTC) registered Clinical Animal Behaviourist when further behavioural advice and support is needed.
Testimonials
What Clients say
about Puppy School
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“Good fun and very relaxed classes. Small numbers in class so we got lots of attention from Sarah. Step by step approach which I could then work through and practice with Taz during the week.”— Anna
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“Honestly, we loved it. Aside from the obvious benefits in terms of behaviour improvements, we found it really lovely bonding experience with our new family member ❤️”— Mia
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“Claire was really patient and positive. She was really helpful in giving advice tailored to the needs of each puppy and reaffirming always the value of positive reinforcement to help puppies make good choices which felt so much better than some of the 'corrective' techniques recommended by other puppy trainers. Felt like a very supportive positive environment. ”— George
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“Brilliant trainer. The humans and puppies felt quickly at ease with the trainer Kelly. Learnt a lot and already putting into practice. Will be recommending the school to others.”— Henry
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“Really enjoyable course, puppy , myself and my children loved attending . We found it really beneficial and helpful”— Colin