Help......

[Ingridrose]

Karen, she is portraying these same behaviors at home as well...?

[Ingridrose]

TxVicki

No what is happening, is when we put her in the car, she starts to shake and then jumps down and climbs under the seat...and stays there...sure its not safe, so this is why we have stopped taking her with us....we have tried to put her in a carrier, but she just pants and wants out....very strange behavior...we are just baffled...

[yorkieusa]

Originally Posted by Ingridrose

Karen, she is portraying these same behaviors at home as well...?

You didn't mention that earlier. There is something else going on then. You may want to consider using Rescue Remedy for dogs. It is all natural and safe. It might help her get past the fear or anxiety she is experiencing and hopefully it is just a passing thing.

[Ingridrose]

Karen, thank you

what would you say, is a good dog food for her?

[navillusc]

Originally Posted by Ingridrose

TxVicki

No what is happening, is when we put her in the car, she starts to shake and then jumps down and climbs under the seat...and stays there...sure its not safe, so this is why we have stopped taking her with us....we have tried to put her in a carrier, but she just pants and wants out....very strange behavior...we are just baffled...

To unravel your baby's behavior you might need to carefully re-examine her last pleasant trip and/or/vs her frightened trip. Things like being very close to a train or when it's blowing its whistle, or a big semi in the next lane puffing black smoke out the stacks...something that seemed merely normal to you may have spooked her without you realizing. How was she riding prior to the fear onset? Did she ride in your lap? In her own seat? Did she usually lie down on the seat...or sit upright? Was she feeling ill on either occasion? Do you usually put her in the car first, close the doors, then start the motor, but on one occasion she was outside, beside, or under the car? A car sounds different from inside because they are made to block out most of the motor sound. Has your process of readying her and the car for the trip changed?

There is most definitely a reason but you will probably need to look closely at even the most insignificant (to you) details to see it. I'd watch her very closely starting from leaving the house to approacing and getting into the car for starters.

To help her get over her anxiety, you may need to start small and work up to a trip. Maybe just take her to the car, close all the doors, and just sit there a bit, holding her, petting her, reassuring her, then departing without going anywhere. Sit in different seats in the car...see if there is a position she is more, or less, omfortable being in. When she becomes comfortable, try just starting the motor, then shuting it down and leaving the vehicle, working up to moving the car in the driveway, and later, going around the block or a short distance, working back up to longer and longer trips...especially if you are unable to discover the source of her nervousness. You can also try combinations of the motor running and not running with and without the radio going, etc. tap the horn, and blow it longer. Wipers on, washer/wipers, etc. Was there bad weather...thunder or lightning that may have frightened her? There are so many variables.

She's going to need your help and confidence to rebuild her own. Good luck!

[dawn27]

Originally Posted by navillusc

To unravel your baby's behavior you might need to carefully re-examine her last pleasant trip and/or/vs her frightened trip. Things like being very close to a train or when it's blowing its whistle, or a big semi in the next lane puffing black smoke out the stacks...something that seemed merely normal to you may have spooked her without you realizing. How was she riding prior to the fear onset? Did she ride in your lap? In her own seat? Did she usually lie down on the seat...or sit upright? Was she feeling ill on either occasion? Do you usually put her in the car first, close the doors, then start the motor, but on one occasion she was outside, beside, or under the car? A car sounds different from inside because they are made to block out most of the motor sound. Has your process of readying her and the car for the trip changed?

There is most definitely a reason but you will probably need to look closely at even the most insignificant (to you) details to see it. I'd watch her very closely starting from leaving the house to approacing and getting into the car for starters.

To help her get over her anxiety, you may need to start small and work up to a trip. Maybe just take her to the car, close all the doors, and just sit there a bit, holding her, petting her, reassuring her, then departing without going anywhere. Sit in different seats in the car...see if there is a position she is more, or less, omfortable being in. When she becomes comfortable, try just starting the motor, then shuting it down and leaving the vehicle, working up to moving the car in the driveway, and later, going around the block or a short distance, working back up to longer and longer trips...especially if you are unable to discover the source of her nervousness. You can also try combinations of the motor running and not running with and without the radio going, etc. tap the horn, and blow it longer. Wipers on, washer/wipers, etc. Was there bad weather...thunder or lightning that may have frightened her? There are so many variables.

She's going to need your help and confidence to rebuild her own. Good luck!

Very good advise.. I totaly agree with everything the OP said!

Something happened to trigger this behavior. It could be anything that was not of the norm and has now gotten her very anxious and uneasy.
I hope that you find some way to reasure her and snap her out of her frightmare.

[Ingridrose]

Originally Posted by Dazzlingdoodles

I can actually help with this... Roscoe was VERY use to going on car rides since he was a baby. Around 8 months old he started to FREAK out in the car! He did the same thing. He would cry and whine, bark, try to hide under the seats and everything else. In fact one time I was at a red light and he was freaking out! I was trying to deal with him and help him get comfy when I let off the brake by accident and hit the car in front of us. Thank goodness it wasn't a big accident it was a little nudge. After finding YT I got him a carseat and not either he rides in his carseat or in his kennel and he actually loves car rides again! He likes feeling secure. In fact if we are on a country road and not going to fast he likes to sit in my lap and feel the air on his face again! So I would try a carseat for him and there are a lot of people in here with reccomendations on those, myself included. If a carseat won't work then try his kennel if he/shae is kennel trained it might make your baby feel safer.

Thanks, I tried the kennel and she freeked out even more, so I let her out and just held her till we got to our destination...something has thrggered this and I am trying to find out what...and why she is doing this...

[Ingridrose]

Originally Posted by navillusc

To unravel your baby's behavior you might need to carefully re-examine her last pleasant trip and/or/vs her frightened trip. Things like being very close to a train or when it's blowing its whistle, or a big semi in the next lane puffing black smoke out the stacks...something that seemed merely normal to you may have spooked her without you realizing. How was she riding prior to the fear onset? Did she ride in your lap? In her own seat? Did she usually lie down on the seat...or sit upright? Was she feeling ill on either occasion? Do you usually put her in the car first, close the doors, then start the motor, but on one occasion she was outside, beside, or under the car? A car sounds different from inside because they are made to block out most of the motor sound. Has your process of readying her and the car for the trip changed?

There is most definitely a reason but you will probably need to look closely at even the most insignificant (to you) details to see it. I'd watch her very closely starting from leaving the house to approacing and getting into the car for starters.

To help her get over her anxiety, you may need to start small and work up to a trip. Maybe just take her to the car, close all the doors, and just sit there a bit, holding her, petting her, reassuring her, then departing without going anywhere. Sit in different seats in the car...see if there is a position she is more, or less, omfortable being in. When she becomes comfortable, try just starting the motor, then shuting it down and leaving the vehicle, working up to moving the car in the driveway, and later, going around the block or a short distance, working back up to longer and longer trips...especially if you are unable to discover the source of her nervousness. You can also try combinations of the motor running and not running with and without the radio going, etc. tap the horn, and blow it longer. Wipers on, washer/wipers, etc. Was there bad weather...thunder or lightning that may have frightened her? There are so many variables.

She's going to need your help and confidence to rebuild her own. Good luck!

Thank you for your kind response...
From birth on she was always sitting in my lap or my husbands lap. she was put in a carrier LV...lol for a few times when we went shopping and she came with me..other than that the trips in the car have always been on one of our laps.
The last time we took her for a short ride, I even took her little bed with us thinking that perhaps she will feel more comfortable in the car....this did not help....we typically go away to our summer home which is about 5 hours away by car, so Im really not sure what we are going to do...
I will try what you say, by starting out slow...and see how that works...thanks a bunch...

[emykay]

My sister had a dog once that started having anxiety attacks while riding in the car (same thing as you, one day he just decided he didn't like it anymore.) She had to give him an anti-anxiety medication everytime she took him anywhere. It seemed to work, but he never liked riding in the car again.