Trouble in the vehicle...
 

My 3 yr old yorkie goes crazy when we get in the car.... barks barks and barks and also gets aggressive as in biting the steering wheel and unintentionally biting me in the process. any suggestions for calming her down? i have yet to find something to keep her in the back seat.... she really is an aggressive yorkie to begin with. if anyone is in sight she is automatically barking and going off on them. i almost feel like i've creating a monster and i don't know where it all began :-(

She should be in a snoozer car seat, where she is buckled in for her safety and for your safety. An out of control puppy can cause an accident. I know a woman traveling through here was killed when their, I think, chi, jumped in between her and the steering wheel. She lost control and crashed.

There is a calming spray that is all natural and safe ingredients that you can get at most pet supply stores. I forget what it is called at this moment. It is also available in forms other than spray.

Once you get a car seat or at least a buckle in harness (that attaches to a seat belt) maybe you can practice with it while not driving, sitting with her in the back seat then slowly moving to the drivers seat.

A snoozer seat is an excellent suggestion. Also try getting her used to the car gradually. Take her out to it walk her around it a couple of times a day for a couple of days. Then open a door and walk her around the car. If she wants to look in let her. Gradually get in and have her stay outside while you sit then when she seems more comfortable bring her inside. Sit with her a while then get out. See how she handles this. Eventually get to starting the motor and sitting, just for very short periods at first then increasing the time till you finally pull away and drive a short distance. Each time before going out ask her, do you want to go bye bye or do you want to go for a ride (a statement that just is related to the car) when you finally get her to riding in the car, when you are almost home ask do you want to go home and then pull in. Talk in a calm voice when she starts to bark and don't forget small treats that she can associate car rides with. I know this can take a while but this method was the only way my female stopped from having anxiety attacks and throwing up in the car. The minute she saw the car she would start shaking and drooling, then throw up. We have now driven from coastal NJ to Reading Pa with them sleeping in the snoozer seat.

Time for a Car Seat. Check out Petsmart.

This is the spray (also other forms) that I referred to:

Natural stress relief for pets - Rescue® Remedy Pet

i will be trying the spray as well as a harness seatbelt. we will see how these work and will go from there. thanks for all of the advice!!

Seat belt attachment that clips in the belt buckle and clips on and off your harness-keeps your dog safe in an accident and safely away from you while you are busy driving...not sure spray is a good idea in a car...the smell may just permeate around the vehicle and confuse the dog...especially in winter when we rarely roll windows down and air out car,with the heater going just heating up spray and spreading it all over the car even if you can't smell it they can.

That can be so dangerous. I think restraining her in the back seat in a comfy seat should help some. Once you find the right seat, I would try to practice letting her sit in it in the car while you praise her, maybe use treats.
Maybe, if she relates riding in the car with positive reinforcements she will look forward to car trips. Good luck:)

i'm sorry... i should have clarified- i will use the seat belt attachment in the car and the smelly stuff in my apartment when she's being out of control. sorry :-)

Oh!!! I get it now. I should have also added-DOGSWELL MELLOW MUT-I use it prior to grooming Scoobers-he has serious anxiety issues, prior to vet visits-if needed, and always on Fourth of July, once for a large family gathering. The fireworks are done on our street and the big ones that go in the air are done a block away-so ye.
It's totally homeopathic which I like Scoobers one fourth of July actually found the bag and ate the whole thing-he was really "stoned" out acting and looking I called the ER Vet they laughed and said to give him plenty of water make sure he keeps eating and put some cartoons on for him-they know this stuff and it is sooo much safer than any sedative you can use. In small doses they barely notice any change (okay I'm weird-I tried it based on my weight-best jerky I've ever had chamomile flavor is a lil "different" though) in large doses they are just that- "stoned" Try this in conjunction with a harness attachment that buckles into the seat belt...here's the link for it if your local dog boutique (store) doesn't sell it, it lasts in the refrigerator for months and isn't over priced! MELLOW MUT®

does anyone have any specific seat belt harnesses they would recommend? i hope i can find one to fit her so she doesn't slip right out!

I got mine at a local pet store but here it is on eBay for-well I'm somewhat irritated for how much I paid for it now LOL! I had the pink camo one-it was great! You use the harness as any harness and then belt attachment clips onto the D-ring just as a leash would and the other end of the attachment clips into the belt buckle just as a seat belt would. Amazed at how stinking cheap it on on eBay! Here's the link! Dog Car Safety Restraint Seat Belt Harness 7-15" Chest - eBay (item 350373860862 end time Dec-10-10 18:01:03 PST) I've heard great things about the ones that the seat belt goes through but the belts don't always go into restrain lock when you just stop short-and your dog still may be rolled and won't be restrained-or when you dog is just trying to run around the car-I know this one lists it only works on certain models but I've used mine in multiple vehicles and haven't had it not work yet-could look into the one's that clip to the car seat upper restraint-if you have one installed in your car.

I think we have the same dog!