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Originally Posted by Zoey Zendaya  That's interesting! Does that go for short 15 minute car trips too?
Izzy is so anxious she releases her scent glands, and ohh myyyy. Then wants to travel behind my neck...( I'm not driving) I have a car seat ordered.but I can't see her in that by herself....she hides in her sling against my body in stores and visiting. Do you think I ought to keep taking her? Or wait till she matures....I socialized Zoey young and she did adjusted well...not so with Izzy. |
Her behavior shows she's very anxious in the car. I'd work on slowly desensitizing her to it by just walking her around it in the drive with the doors open for a couple of days. Then, urge her to jump inside to get some warm, boiled chicken you are holding while sitting in the seat and give it to her and then have her immediately follow you right on through the car out the opposite door. Use a leash if you must, being infinitely patient and give her time, but eventually coax her using gentle pulls on the leash, if necessary, up into that car and immediately out again, using treats inside if she will take them but if not, once she's jumped back out. The thing is, you want to get the idea the car is a brief experience and one that she repeats with you over and over and over(not more than 5 times a session at first) until she's quite ready to jump up, in and out for her treat and praise.
Once she jumping in and out on her own, hold her inside the car for 15 - 30 seconds, not soothing her if she shakes or looks about fearfully - rather letting her experience that the car really isn't that scary and besides, she'll learn that she needn't be in there but a few moments and then let her follow you out the other side for her treats and praise. Repeat, repeat, repeat for 5 times per session or so, up to 2 - 4 times daily, treating/praising her for controlling her impulse to shake or run, while she stays there in the seat for longer and longer periods as she grows used to the smells and feelings in the scary car. Eventually, she needs to be able to lie down and wait in the seat - with all doors wide open so she doesn't feel trapped. Before too long, she will learn that the car really isn't scary - it's a positive experience for her as she gets lots of positive reinforcement when she's finished each desensitization/training episode.
Now, move on once she's accepted the former steps. Close the doors when she's inside, wait and then both of you quickly exit, treat/praise and gradually increase her time in the car with the doors shut, allowing her to realize that nothing bad is happening to her in there, as she's learned the car isn't all that scary and besides, she'll have come to learn the whole experience is over very quickly and then she's treated and praised. Repeat frequently but not more than 5 times per session on any of these steps.
When she will lie quietly in the seat with the doors closed, one day start the car and instantly turn it back off and both of you get out, treat, praise, gradually working up to letting her feel the car run there in the driveway with the doors closed and finding nothing bad is happening to her. If she begins to act fearful or anxious, back up a bit and focus on the earlier step until she's accepting and ready to move on again.
Eventually, back the car out of the drive and right back in and get her out immediately, treat/praise. Repeat over and over until she's comfortable with that and then back out, drive half a block and return, get her out, treat/praise and repeat a couple of time or more a day until she's fine with it. Eventually, drive her around the block and then home, both of you right out of that car and she's treated and praised. In time, drive twice around the block and slowly work up until she's comfortable in the car for up to a half hour or more, as long as she remains non-fearful and confident.
If you go slowly and gradually introduce her to each step of experiencing being in the car with nothing bad happening to her or else go back a step until she's comfortable, she will eventually grow to accept that the car is not all that scary, is amazingly brief at first, and nothing bad happens and in fact, being in and around it gets her treats, praise and a happy, proud mommy. She'll grow more self-confident with time and repetitions and come to accept car rides as a fact of life and eventually may learn to absolutely love going in the car.