travel anxiety

[Jane Austen]

Duchess has always been a good traveler. She will ride in the back seat and I don't hear from her until we stop or get near to a place she knows she is getting out to play. Except now she is starting to whine and walk/run accross the back seat like she wants to get out of the car. I have stopped and taken her out to potty and the same thing happens when she gets back in. For a while she is quiet then she starts acting up.

As far as I know Duchess has not had any bad experiences that would change her behavior. I thought there may be somethng wrong with the car that she can sense. I haven't really checked that out yet, because I think it is a long shop. If I put her in my sister's car that should rule out trouble with mine.

Does anyone have any ideas why she would be acting like this? Jane

[Clogs]

I think your conclusion about problems with the car is probably right. You do hear from time to time about how some dog or other "saved a family from certain death" by telling them that the wheels were about to come off, but...I dunno...probably more urban legend than fact.

Possibly she is getting a little bored? Sometimes Rosie does the same thing - she is generally very good about the car, and just as well, as we do some very long trips with her, but about every half hour or so, she will get agitated and whine and jump around in her harness, going "Are we there yet, are we there yet?!?".
I tried the wee-wee thing too, but it didn't seem to alter the behavior. In fact, if anything, it made it worse, as she got to know that if she "stressed" I would let her out.
So now I just tell her, very firmly, to "Settle!" And she usually does.

But others may have different ideas.

[Michael Romanos]

Sometimes if you react a certain way to a situation, then you only result in exaberating it. So if Duchess gets anxious for no apparant reason whilst travelling in a car and you react to it by letting her out of the car and taking her walkabouts, she will probably think this is a good deal. I get to go for a walk if I play up in the car. This is what most people don't realise: the reason why their dog loves the car so much could be because the dog thinks the car will take him/her to a desination where they can run and frolic about.

On another thought: is Duchess getting enough air in your car. Dogs like/need more fresh air/breeze than we do and Corgis can of course wothstand more sustained cool temperatures than we can or like to experience.

[colbycorgi]

I too an running into the same issue with Colby. Except I just got a new suv and now he's in the "way back" and just doesnt like that he cant be in my lap anymore, a bad habit I didnt like from the get go. Jamie also got a new car and he is "banshised"(Colby's version) to the back seat and whines for a bit too....we spoiled him in our last cars a bit too much I fear

I'll let you know if I have any miracle ideas....i was thinking of tossing some toys back there as well as a blankie and seeing if that helps??

I wish I had someone to cart me around all day...."HOME JAMES".....

See you on Sunday at Derry Dog Park?? Hope you can make it....

Julie

[Peggy]

Originally Posted by colbycorgi

I'll let you know if I have any miracle ideas....i was thinking of tossing some toys back there as well as a blankie and seeing if that helps??

Have you tried having him ride in a crate? Often dogs will settle and be calmer in crates.

Peggy

[Lovemycorgi]

Julie,
Maybe a piece of your clothing would help to comfort him.
Edna

[Lovemycorgi]

Jane,
Has Duchess's behavior been during all the thunder and lightening storms we have been having? Or on those days? I think there has been alot of "barometric" changes. Zachary has been sensing them alot. He doesn't like it. The other day I put him in the car as a storm was approaching in the distance and he was running around in the back seat too. When I put the car engine on and played some country music (his trainer told us that country music soothes dogs) he laid down and was fine.

Just a thought.
Edna

[colbycorgi]

I planned on some toys/bed to keep him comfy but I am sure Jamie and I could each spare an old ratty sweatshirt or two as well....I hadnt wanted to put him in the crate as he has never used one in the car and doesnt in the house either....we havent used it excpet when he was super young for potty training....its always available to him but he doesnt really seem to care

we'll see what happens next time we go riding around....

julie

[Peggy]

Originally Posted by colbycorgi

I planned on some toys/bed to keep him comfy but I am sure Jamie and I could each spare an old ratty sweatshirt or two as well....I hadnt wanted to put him in the crate as he has never used one in the car and doesnt in the house either....we havent used it excpet when he was super young for potty training....its always available to him but he doesnt really seem to care

I still recommend the crate for car travel. It might work better than you think. And it is safer for him too.

Peggy

[Michael Romanos]

If at all possible, a dog very much prefers to sit on a seat in the car and look through the window at the passing scenery etc. Taylor as a young pup woild often try and nudge his way onto my lap when I was driving. He may have wanted to drive the car or hold onto the steering wheel or blow the horn, but he probably also did it because he could - and for comfort of mind. However, like almost every Corgi, he loves his special seat (my Previa is seven seated) for the ultimate in Corgi viewing. Some dogs who don't enjoy car rides, might be better off confined in a car oe in the boot area of a lift up, windowed boot or in a crate. But if possoble a bit of reasurance, readjustment and patience in having your Corgi not confined in this way, will be more pleasurable for your dog in the long run.