When it’s the first car ride with a puppy, any length of a car ride can feel long. It can be overwhelming for your young dog and a stressful experience for you as the driver. But a long car ride with your puppy doesn’t have to be a disaster.
Fortunately there are numerous ways to help make your trip with your puppy more enjoyable. Whether you’re bringing your puppy home in the car for the first time or just trying to get him or her used to taking car rides, this article is for you!
Check out these 12 helpful tips and tricks to create a happy, safe trip for the both of you.
1. A Calming Experience on the Way to the Car
Sometimes when we head to the car, isn’t it true that we’re in an extreme rush, bustling around the house and creating chaos?! We’re creating a lot of confusion and excitement for our pups who get riled up and aren’t quite sure whats going on. One way to have a better car ride with your small furry friend is to make the whole experience of getting into the car a bit more peaceful.
Take some extra time to help them adjust to the situation. Plan for things to take a bit longer than they usually do. It’s one thing to get on the road when you’re by yourself but its completely different when you’re taking your puppy with you.
Think of your dog like a small child who has a mind of their own and might delay you. With enough patience and simplicity you can set a much more effective tone for the whole ride. Be sure to allow yourself more time to get ready so you’re not getting your dog excited by your fast paced actions.
2. Let Your Puppy Get Familiar With the Car
You can make your dog more comfortable with the concept of the car in the future by taking them into it and letting them play around without moving. If the only time your dog is ever in the car is when you’re barreling down the highway, it’ll be difficult for them to get comfortable with the space in the first place.
Let your dog explore the car when it isn’t moving. Let them into the car, and close the doors so that they can become comfortable with the idea of being in the closed space of the car without it even moving. Doing this just a few times a week while they’re young can be extremely helpful in getting them acclimated to your vehicle.
3. Don’t Forget the Essentials
Is this the first car ride you’ll be taking with your puppy? Be prepared with a few things first:
- Leash. Not that your puppy needs to be leashed in the car, but this helps you make a quick exit with them if you need to.
- Crate/Carrier. Have a place for them to hang out. Remember that cars are built for human bodies and not for puppy bodies. With this in mind its a good idea to invest in a small crate or carrier designed specifically for transporting your puppy. Doing so will make the whole car riding experience better for your young furry friend.
- Cleaning supplies. This one speaks for itself. Prepare for the worst, hope for the best.
4. Remember that Dogs Can Be a Distraction
Driving with your phone is distracting. Driving with your dog can also be really, really distracting. While you may love your puppy very much, they also soak up a ton of attention. While your puppy may be new to car rides, you yourself might be new to the whole “driving with a dog” experience! New drivers with dogs should take special care to keep everything safe.
- The first couple of times that you have your dog in the car, it can be really helpful to have someone else with you so that they can watch your pup in the event that things get a bit feisty.
- Remember that pulling over is always an option. Your first reaction might usually be to attend to your dog in the event that things get a bit fuzzy, but it’s actually best to take a couple of seconds to simply pull over first.
- When routing the road trip, choose highways that are less busy. Don’t try to drive through heavy traffic or make difficult merging and exiting maneuvers.
5. Be Prepared to Stop
Remember that you and your dog do not experience time in the same way. While you may know your exact destination and are well used to the confines of the car, your dog is not. If the trip is going to be one of the first for your pup, make sure to keep an eye on them and be prepared to stop if your dog needs it.
When taking your puppy places, start small. Let them get used to the idea of getting in and out of a car. Allow them a couple of short, 15-minute rides before you attempt anything longer.
6. Having the Right Gear
The right gear can go a long way towards making or breaking the trip for your pup. With the wrong kind of equipment, your puppy can be really uncomfortable in the car.
If your dog or puppy has a favorite blanket, its a good idea to bring it along for the ride. Since your dog will recognize the scents on the blanket, it can have a calming effect on him or her.
If your puppy doesn’t have a favorite blanket already, check out this one on Amazon. Its super soft, comes in 5 different sizes and 4 different color patterns. Your dog is sure to love this blanket!
7. Don’t Overdo the Treats!
Nobody likes experiencing a little nausea and discomfort, but it can be worse after a rich meal. While treats are a great way to motivate and train your dog, they’re also a great way to make your dog extra sick from the nausea.
Don’t use too many treats when getting your dog settled in the car. Make sure that they are well fed before the road trip so that they don’t get sick on an empty stomach. Just make sure that the food you’re feeding them is nutritious and healthy.
8. Give Your Puppy Cool Air
Your pup needs to be cool. With too much heat in the car, your dog is more likely to get carsick, just like human beings.
If it’s a nice day out, go ahead and crack the windows just to get a little bit of air flowing. This airflow will help your dog experience motion properly so they don’t get sick by not understanding that the car is moving or where it’s going.
If it’s blisteringly cold or hot out, such that rolling down the windows isn’t quite an option, you can also crank the AC just to get a little bit of cool air going. Making your car AC colder will help your dog maintain a solid stomach.
9. Create a Peaceful Environment
This may seem obvious, but your puppy should remain at least somewhat calm if they are going to have a good ride experience without becoming sick from all the tossing and turning. You can help your dog stay calm by maintaining a quiet, peaceful environment inside of the car.
- Don’t play super loud and fast music.
- If there are other people in the car, have them remain calm and engaged with your dog.
- While rolling down the windows can create airflow, it can also create extra noise. If you’re on the freeway and the noise disorients your pup, use the AC instead.
- Cars can be home to a lot of smells. Your dog uses smell to orient itself and explore the environment. Certain car air fresheners can create strong smells that irritate your dog’s nose.
10. Use a Comforting Voice
While you certainly don’t want to get distracted when you’re driving with your dog, you also don’t want to forget about them either.
Make sure to keep talking to them. Maintain interaction with your dog throughout the journey. Even if you’re just talking to yourself, the comfort of your voice can improve the journey a lot for your pup.
11. Set and Maintain Boundaries
If your dog is allowed to roam around in the car anywhere they want to, no doubt they’ll have a good time. But doing so can be a distraction to you and cause them to become sick inadvertently. Prevent the disaster of free roaming by helping to set some boundaries for your dog so that they can feel comfortable.
Boundaries, far from limiting your dog, can actually make them more comfortable with the idea of staying in the car. Do this by getting into the vehicle with your dog while not driving and get them used to staying in one area of the vehicle whether its the back seat, floorboard, etc.
If you’re worried about your dog tearing up your backseat, you can always check out a pet seat cover. This one by Chumajor, available on Amazon, is a great choice. Its made of durable polyester which is waterproof, scratch proof, and slip resistant. That also means its easy to clean in case of an accident.
If you’re in need of some backseat protection that’s easy to install and remove from your vehicle, definitely check out this product on Amazon.
12. Patience
One of the worst things that you can do for your dog is to panic or overreact to the things they do in the car. Your puppy goes to the bathroom or makes a similar mistake, and instead of responding with the grace that they need, you respond by yelling at them, raising your voice, or rubbing their nose in it. Trust me, this won’t be helpful.
One of the most helpful things you can do in a car ride with your puppy is to respond well to the imperfect events and bumpy moments of the car ride. Pay attention to your dog’s personality and the way that they feel. It’s best to respond to road trip difficulties with specific fixes for your specific dog. No list or article knows your dog the way that you do. Respond with special care for your pup in each moment, and you’ll soon be going on happy travels together.
Conclusion
That’s our 12 best tips for how to handle a car ride with your puppy. Focus on the basics and give your dog enough repetition and you’ll be happy road trip pals before long. I hope this article has been helpful. Be safe and thanks for reading!