How to train a Dog Lesson 14

Depending on your dog’s personality, he may find travelling a stressful or enjoyable experience. And if your dog finds travelling stressful, you may get upset seeing your dg getting stressed. It is important to do this piece of training early on in your dog’s life. Although you may think it’s cute to have your small puppy sitting on your lap when you travel, you have to remember that this small dog will quickly turn much bigger. Having a large, heavy dog trying to sit on your lap is not so cute!

As with a young child, make sure that your dog always sits in the back seat rather than the front seat. If there was to be an accident your dog may be hurt by the airbag if he is sat in the front. There is also the possibility that your dog may go through the windshield.

Seat belts made especially for dogs are now available and they are an excellent way to keep your dog in the same place and to stay there for the entire journey. They also ensure the safety of your dog at the same time.
Just as you would do for your child, it is up to you to buckle up your dog to ensure his safety.

Once your dog is able to sit, stay and lay down, you will use this commands a lot during the training of your dog. Do not make the first few journeys too long as he will lose concentration and start to panic. As your dog starts to get used to these shorter journeys, gradually increase the distance until he has no problem with riding in the car.

During the first few journeys your dog may start to panic and if this is the case, it is a good idea for you, or a family member, to ride alongside him. This familiar person sitting next to him will help relax and calm him down. Dogs are good at picking up on human’s emotions and so make sure that you do not appear to be anxious about training him otherwise he will sense this and feel stressed himself.

Once you’ve taken your dog on his first few journeys, both you and him will start to relax and the use of a couple of his toys will help him to relax even more. Your dog may start to bark or whine during some journeys and this may be because there is a noise from the car that they can hear but you cannot. Therefore make sure that there are no obvious problems with the car that may start to make noises that will cause your dog distress. After a while travelling will become enjoyable for both you and your dog as your dog is no longer being left on his own and you are enjoying spending time with him.