- Top tips for happy car travels with your dog
- Advice on wellbeing and safety
- Learn how to spot the signs of stress and anxiety
- Always use crash-tested doggy travel equipment
Canine experts have revealed a new guide for car travel with dogs - while revealing the subtle signs of distress that motorists might miss.
For the third of UK households that own a pooch, car journeys can prove problematic for a host of reasons, not least anxiety and motion sickness.
Now Select has joined forces with certified Canine Behaviourist Caroline Wilkinson (below), founder of Barket Place, and Claire Harris (above), founder of professional pet taxi service Pets 2 Places, to offer new advice.
And Caroline, a Registered Training Instructor, has warned dog owners that just because their pet is quiet in the boot or cabin, it doesn't necessarily mean they're okay.
Speaking to Select Car Leasing, she said: "Some dogs are very clear - they're going to whine, moan and yap when they're unhappy in the car - but others are more passive in their indications that they're feeling uncomfortable.
"It's very easy for a dog owner to miss some of these tell-tale signs, such as panting, drooling, lip licking or nose licking. The dog might also yawn a lot. Yawning can be 'I'm tired', but it can also be a signal of pain and distress.
"And it's important to remember that just because the dog is quiet, it doesn't always mean they're okay. We need to always be able to check-in on our dogs during a car trip because if you miss those signs of anxiety, the dog becomes more and more hesitant each time you get in the car. If the dog is travelling in the boot, invest in a dog boot mirror, or even a camera, so that you can see what's going on back there."
Dogs won't just 'get over' any car-related issues over time, either, the experts add.
Caroline revealed: "If your dog doesn't like being in the car, don't avoid the issue. If you only go on one long journey a year with your dog there's a temptation to think, 'Ah, we'll just put up with them being nervous'. But that can have a huge knock-on effect on all of the other shorter journeys you also have to make.
"If they're not comfortable, they're not just going to miraculously 'get over it'. There's a reason behind their anxiety and it'll keep perpetuating until it becomes even more of a problem."
Here Caroline and Claire outline some of the things we can do to make car trips with dogs as safe and stress-free as possible - while also revealing some of the key things we might get wrong:
Car anxiety can set in at an early age
Caroline: "Dogs might have a very ingrained anticipation of bad stuff happening when it comes to your car. It starts when a puppy is first transported to the vets for jabs, taken away from their mum and their litter in a strange vehicle, and so early life experiences can lead to justified nervousness. Separation anxiety is a big thing, too, even if they're just separated from you by being on the back seat, as opposed to the boot. It's why it's often tricky to convince them that car travel is okay."
Choose crash-tested pet transport equipment
Rule 57 of the Highway Code says dogs must always be 'suitable restrained' in the car. But Claire adds: "If your crate or harness is not crash-tested, absolutely do not use it. In the event of an accident, not only will your dog be harmed they might also become a projectile missile that injures other passengers. The crate or harness needs to be crash tested to 'forward-facing 30mph' standards, the same as children's car seats. Reputable manufacturers will display the crash test certificate and many also have an accompanying video. Also, do NOT let your dog travel in the front seat. Most people aren't aware of this, but doing so could actually invalidate your car insurance, even if they're restrained. If they're next to you, they're also more likely to cause you a distraction. And make sure they're still properly restrained when you arrive at your location so that you don't run the risk of them jumping out of the car and endangering themselves or others."
Never put a dog coat UNDERNEATH a harness
Claire: "If it's a cold day, you might want to put a coat on your dog while they're in the car. But you should never put the coat on underneath the harness as it can prevent the restraint from fitting snugly and could be unsafe in an accident. It's the same principle as to why you shouldn't let children wear bulky coats in their car seats."
Focus on the footwell
Caroline says: "Make sure they're got enough traction underneath their feet, as if they're placed onto a slippery mat or crate they won't feel secure when travelling. If they're on the back seat, make sure the footwell in front of them is stuffed with pillows or has a buffer, because they can be scared of falling into that footwell cavity, particularly if it has happened in the past."
Beware loud clicks:
Claire: "If you're using a harness to secure your dog in the back seat, be really mindful that when the buckle clips together it can be really loud - with that 'CLICK' sound often situated just behind your dog's ears. It could startle the dog, perhaps even make them jump, and if you notice this happening you might want to switch to a different harness or consider a crate instead."
Combat nausea and motion sickness
Caroline: "Certain breeds are more vulnerable to motion sickness than others. I see lot of 'doodle' breeds, like Labradoodles, that suffer in particular. And gut health plays a big role in how they're feeling generally, not just in terms of motion sickness, with 90% of a dog's feel-good serotonin levels created through the gut. You might want to explore something called 'Zoopharmacognosy', which uses natural substances to help treat health issues. It's built on the idea that the dog can self-medicate based on their needs. You put lots of different substances in front of the dog - such as peppermint, ginger and basil - and they'll gravitate to the things that help them. An old wive's tale could also help here, too. Try giving your dog a ginger biscuit before they travel, in the same way you might do with a sickly toddler. Ginger is warming and supportive of the gut, and it's a method that has worked with some of my clients."
Claire: "I'd recommend that you should avoid giving your dog a big meal two hours before going in the car. The earlier you can feed them, the better. If they're in the back seat, put the dog in the middle. If they're located on either side, they can see the world go, which can exacerbate motion sickness."
Dog's are more susceptible to air pressure in your car's cabin
Caroline: "We've all been in a car where someone has opened just one window and the air pressure becomes uneven and you get a throbbing sensation. That can be really uncomfortable for dogs with their sensitive ears. The air pressure inside a car's cabin can be really problematic for dogs in general, and you might want to slightly open a couple of windows at the same time to alleviate that."
Don't let your dog stick its head out of the window
Caroline: "Dogs love to poke their head out of the window for a couple of reasons; they get that olfactory overload and it reduces the air pressure that they might feel inside the car's cabin. But you should never let them do it."
Claire: "I find it really triggering when I see a dog with its head out of the window. It's so dangerous. Besides the risk of collision, they can get dirt and debris in their eyes and their ears, and if they've got their head out of the window, they probably aren't properly restrained, either."
Stay cool and don't skimp on the water
Claire: "Don't set off on a journey unless you've got at least a couple of litres of water with you. On a hot day, between 3-5 litres of water is necessary. The water also needs to be room temperature - not ice cold - because really cold water could actually cause them to go into shock when they're really hot. Beware warm air trapped in boots, too. You can invest in a doggy fan that plugs into the 12V outlet in the boot."
How often should you take rest stops with your dog?
Caroline: "Every two or three hours is a good rule of thumb but it all depends on the age and the physical wellbeing of the dog - and it's also crucial you're able to see the signs that your dog needs the toilet. For a young puppy, stop more often to make it a much more positive experience for them so they don't get those negative anticipations. Stop, sprinkle a few treats on the grass at the service station, let them have a sniffing experience, and allow them to calm down. If you've got an older dog, sleeping in one position might make them feel stiff, so getting them out of the car and allowing them to change position will be hugely beneficial. Dogs are what we call 'polyphasic' sleepers, in that they sleep multiple times and tend to not just stay in one position. By letting them get out of the car you allow them to make a choice about their new rest position."
About Barket Place
Barket Place offers self-paced courses, private consultations, and the exclusive Canine Connection Club, to help make training stress-free - so you can focus on what matters most: loving your dog. There's a focus on challenging behaviours such as barking, separation anxiety, recall training, and reactivity. Founder Caroline Wilkinson is a Certified Canine Behaviourist, Full Member of the APDT, UK and INTODogs – as well as a Registered Training Instructor (ABTC).
About Pets 2 Places
Claire Harris is the founder of the UK's first pet taxi service - Pets 2 Places. It was conceived for the many dog owners who don't have access to a vehicle but still need to get their pooches out and about, whether for a vet or grooming appointment, or for any other transport need. Pets 2 Places has won numerous industry awards and Claire was a finalist in last year's Women Who Solopreneur Awards.
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