Tess is 9 weeks and nothing has bothered her at all except going in her car crate. She cries and howls like crazy. We try to talk to her if she goes quiet but she doesn't really stop long enough to listen! We are going to try to get her on very short journeys every day. Anything else we can do?
Re: Car crate Food, treats, toys. Make the crate something she loves to get into. Sometimes it is the motion of the car that bothers them at the beginning. Other times it's a new sensation and maybe a bit scary. A frozen Kong stuffed with her kibble and a bit of peanut butter would help to keep her busy for a bit. I put a bit of kibble in water so it expands, stuff it into a Kong and seal the hole with peanutbutter.....she will love to lick the peanut butter and take some time getting kibble out of it. Give it a shot.
Re: Car crate Is she happy to go in the crate when it's not in the car? Does she have anything in the crate with her "home" smells. if she's happy in ghe crate but not in the car I would just pop her in, and treat her for staying in there without fuss and then do the same closing the door on her and gradually work up go going for a short drive.
Re: Car crate I did a lot of crate work when Chepi was 8-11 weeks. I would pop her in and sit with her for a minute several times a day. After a few days I would start the engine and sit with her. Then after a few days just drive for a couple of minutes. She had travelled for 5 hours when I picked her up and was fine but didn't like it when I started putting her in it again. She cried a lot. When she stopped crying I said "yes!" And that also helped but I didn't otherwise talk when we were driving. After a few weeks she just stopped crying and never looked back. I will still sometimes give her a treat when she gets in.
Re: Car crate She loves her crate at home and puts herself in it countless times each day. She also gets several Kongs a day which she enjoys but she ignores them in the car crate. We will keep at it and build it up slowly, thank you!
Re: Car crate Both my dogs hated the car when they were little. I tried all sorts but in the end I just had to tough it out until they got used to it.....which they both did and now we have no problems. Best of luck
Re: Car crate I don't think it helps that I drive a VW Caravelle so she can't see out of the window when she's in her crate, it must be a strange feeling - but the safest way for her to travel!
Re: Car crate We were advised to give them some of their meals in the car to create a positive association Lou x
Re: Car crate My two hated the car and screamed and shouted. I took them several very short journeys a day and had a 'no nonsense, this is what we do' approach. They love the car now, of course. Both grew out of the shouting at about 16 weeks.
Re: Car crate When she first came home and we used to go out in the car Bella was in a fabric travel crate secured on the passenger seat, she hated it, howled and barked. Then we got a car harness and she's amazing, just has a little look out then lays down and goes to sleep. She moved onto the back seat recently and loves spreading right out, that could be another option for you if the crate really isn't happening.
Re: Car crate The crate has to happen unfortunately, there are no spare seats in the car! I took my eldest son out with me this evening, we stayed completely quiet whenever Tess whined and as soon as she stopped I said 'good' and my son dropped a treat in to her crate then we carried on chatting normally until she was noisy again. We definitely had some quiet moments so we'll try and do this together when my husband gets home from work each day. When I have all the children in the car it doesn't work because they all talk at the wrong moments!!
