Over the past few months, Harley's barking has become unbearable in the car. After a process of trying to work out why, we have realised it is pure excitement . If she comes to the garage or shops with me, she is fine. If we go to my mums or a friends, she is fine. The difference is as soon as I put on my walking clothes and get in the car she knows we are going for a walk. So, back to basics we go. No driving to walks over the next few weeks whilst we work on this issue. We are going to get in the car, turn the engine on, pull forward and stop and get out as soon as she barks. We are going to go slowly to try and eradicate this problem. Apart from this, she is now 26.8kg and the vets are very happy with this . They said she looks perfect and is fit and healthy - they were even happy with her diet of BARF/raw and said that it obviously suits her . Harley is still wary of the vets, but we did get a wag for one of the vet nurses which is a huge thing for her .
Ah, good girl at the vet's Harley. Charlie is getting noisy in the car. It's not too bad, but he whines when we get to one of his walking places and I'd like this to stop as it's slowly getting louder and longer. I've tried all sorts of things. What works is when I am close enough to him to treat for quiet. I can do this in only one car, my landrover, where I have a dog guard and he is sat right behind me - now, he is quiet in this car. I am seriously thinking of buying a remote controlled treat dispenser for his car crate....so I can C&T from the driver's seat.
Remote control treat dispenser sounds like a brilliant idea. Harley is in the boot and far to far for me to reach back. It's usually only me in the car so no one can sit and treat her whilst I drive.
Yes, I'd been going on about it for a while, and Barbara found one online....I'll get it, I think, the next break from work when I'll have chance to work with it.
When mine started this, I either stopped the car and told them the error of their ways, or drove straight past where I normally walk them! This solved the problem except at one place where they howl like wolves! I let them do this as I think it is sad for them that they have to be mute!
I've tried stopping the car, but it hasn't worked. I tried talking calmly and I did shout once when she carried on for 15 mins - I felt so bad afterwards though. My vet advised me not to converse with her at all as she could think that I'm joining in and that its ok. I don't expect her to be mute, but her excessively high pitched barking for long periods is not ok. It stresses me out, gives me a headache and can be distracting when I'm driving. It's not productive for either of us as our walk starts with me being stressed. I am determined to knock this on the head and by using positive methods.
Try the treat dispenser - it might just work. Clicking for quiet has worked for Charlie. Unfortunately the behaviour has not transferred from Cornwall and a Landrover, to London and a Volvo!
I have a similar problem with Molly. She doesn't bark as we're travelling along but goes mental with excited barking as we arrive somewhere, which stops as soon as I open the door. The worse problem is her barking defensively at passers by as we're getting into the car and waiting to set off. I don't have a drive or hard standing so park in the road opposite my house. I have tried ' look at me' and clicking for quiet but it only has a momentary effect. Sorry, not trying to hijack your thread, but will be interested to see if you can crack it.
The standard advice is never move, take your seat belt off, stop the engine, or open the door while the dog is barking/whining. I mostly do this, but not always - in London, practicalities just get in the way. I work, I'm on a schedule, often in a rush..... Treating for quiet was a constant thing I did during my holiday - for 4 weeks. He got 4 walks a day, and we always drove, so that was 112 trips of clicking for quiet and not moving to start his walk if he made a noise....it did work.
Is it Worthing trying mixing up your journeys so you wear your walking clothes to go to garage or your mum's perhaps and see how Harley reacts if it doesn't end with a walk, and also perhaps put your walking bits in the car before Harley and put them on when you reach your destination for a walk and see how she reacts again. Hope you get it sorted very soon
Day 1. I put on my walking stuff. Got my walking bag ready. Got in the car, Harley in the boot. Drove around the block, past one of our walking places, came home. She barked right up until we were 2 mins away from home. I'm ignored her the whole time. We went into the house for 5 mins, then went on a walk locally. I'm going to do something similar tomorrow.......might just pop to the garage or the shops. I'm hoping by doing this it will stop quickly. Thanks for the offer Kate, but she is fine with everyone else's vehicles!! She goes in my daughters car on the backseat as she has no boot, no noise. She goes in hubby's van, no problem. She goes in dog walkers car, no problem. It seems to be my car! I think it's because she is in the boot and wants to be in the car as she's in the car/van with everyone else. Bet nurse thinks it could also be because it's me and our walks are very fun!!
I'd say that when she stopped barking, no matter where you were, you'd have been better off stopping the car and getting her out for a walk - even if that was for 2 minutes. Here, what happened when she stopped barking was she went home...so the stopping barking wasn't rewarded in any way, really.
I share your vet nurses view that Harley is barking in the car because your walks are the most exciting, so I would be taking the same action that not all car journeys end in exciting walks. I've been lucky with Juno as she just gets in the boot and settles down on her mattresses and pretty much stays in the same position until we reach our destination at which point she sits up to look out to see where we are.
It would be much, much faster if Harley were rewarded for quiet. Otherwise, you are relying on extinction. That can take a long time.....
I appreciate what you're saying regarding treating for quiet being the most effective course, but when driving a car it is not necessarily safe or practical to stop and to treat and then to walk a dog even if for a few minutes.
