our 15 month old yorkie has car issues

[sympa]

miko loves seeing her vet, gives him kisses whenever she's with him.
i really think it's intense separation anxiety because she doesn't want either of us to get out of the car. she does pretty well on the highway because there isn't any stopping and very few turn signals.

thanks again for all the helpful suggestions. my husband's been reading too.





i'll give you guys an update when there is one. thanks again

[Cathy Rosenblat]

I have a male Yorkie who really does not like the car either, he backs up when he realizes we are bringing him, I take his favorite comforter in the car , it also helps him to be able to reach the window for air, getting fresh air helps him from not throwing up, we also tried ginger bread or any typer of ginger cookie, it is supposed to calm their stomach , it worked for a little while and then I think Frodo didn't really like the taste, he would go hide it, but try that I know it worked for others, good luck, Cathy...

[SnowWa]

My dogs love the "Lookout carseats." I have two in the backseat - and both my dogs ride back there. They sit up and look out the window a lot - and if we're in the car very long, they'll lie down and sleep.

At first my new little Yorkie pup thought he rather ride up front climbing all over me -- but he just didn't get his way. I put him in the back - and he stays there (that's just the way it's going to be). There will be no exception to this rule.

He barked only a couple times when we first started taking him in the car. All I ever did was turn around and tell him "No" (firmly). And, I did this everytime he even started to bark.

He rides great now. He's content being in the back - and even sleeps a lot. We have gone for two hour drives with no problems often.

****** I do know - if I ever gave in and let him ride up front with me - he'd be driving me crazy to do that all the time. So - his only experience riding in a car has always been riding in the backseat in his carseat. This is all he knows. And, I have put my dog's carseats in a lot of other people's cars - and they are just as good in any car.

Good luck! Carol Jean

[dudley]

My Dudley howls like crazy the whole time we are going somewhere. After we have gotten to the store and been out he calms down and rides the whole way home with no problems. We have tried lots of things, to no avail, so good luck to you.

[estacyd]

Try pretending to go for car rides several times a day. Do the routine of getting in your car while it is parked, starting it and going through the motions that cause her to panic. Watch her while you do this to see what scares her the most. You won't be moving so you can pay close attention. If she freaks whenever you put the turn signal on, put the signal on and leave it until she calms down. Try soothing her while it's on to show her there's nothing to be afraid of. Then give her a treat when she quiets down.

I had to do this with Ollie for the vacuum cleaner. He would totally freak out when I vacuumed and even sometimes pee he got so scared. It took a few days of pretending to vacuum without the vacuum turned on to get him to even get near the vacuum. Once he was confident the vacuum wasn't going to hurt him, I did the routines with the vacuum running (and not moving). It definitely took alot of patience, but eventually it worked. Now we can vacuum and he's totally oblivious.

[prettypuppypink]

I have one now that used to barf. I discovered that if someone else drove and I held him in his carry bag, he was fine. So we did this and rewarded with a treat each short ride and increased to longer car rides. Then I took him in the car and just up and down the driveway alone in a carseat with the window opened a smidge,he only drooled, rewarded with a treat and tons of praise. He finally has adjusted to the car ride but doesn't love it but no barf or drooling. I think he also sensed my stress because I dreaded the fact that I wouldn't be able to take him with me. I also put blankets in the carseat tucked around him to make him feel secure. I had a car barfer and pooper years ago. I finally just let him stay on my lap although it wasn't safe and only to the vet. He did love walking outside although only 2.5 lbs. We live in a mountain area. He would stop when tired and I'd carry him for awhile and he'd let me know when he wanted to walk again. He had great muscle tone.
Jessica

[FirstYorkie]

Originally Posted by estacyd

Try pretending to go for car rides several times a day. Do the routine of getting in your car while it is parked, starting it and going through the motions that cause her to panic. Watch her while you do this to see what scares her the most. You won't be moving so you can pay close attention. If she freaks whenever you put the turn signal on, put the signal on and leave it until she calms down. Try soothing her while it's on to show her there's nothing to be afraid of. Then give her a treat when she quiets down. .

EXCELLENT advice! Then, following that, one can progress to prttypuppypink's advice.