For many dogs, car travel is a source of significant stress that manifests through vocalization, shaking, or drooling. If your dog is struggling, it is important to remember that this is a behavioral response, not a choice—they are having a hard time, not giving you one.

By using techniques like desensitization (moving at your dog’s comfortable pace) and counter-conditioning (pairing the car with positive things), you can change their feelings from stressful to relaxed.

1. Build a “Happy Place” Association

The first step begins outside of the vehicle. You want to teach your dog to settle on a mat or voluntarily hang out in a crate.

• The Goal: Establish a safe spot where the dog is already relaxed and calm.

• The Method: Set up a mat, toss a treat away, and then mark and reinforce the dog when they return to the mat.

• The Transfer: Once the dog is comfortable, transfer the mat or crate into the vehicle to provide a familiar “safe spot”.

2. Play the “Car Equals Good Stuff” Game

Before even getting inside, teach your dog that being near the car is reinforcing.

• Keep Your Distance: If your dog is nervous, start at the other end of the driveway.

• Watch Body Language: Look for a “wiggly” body and a willingness to take treats.

• High-Value Reinforcers: Use treats like chicken or cheese to reinforce calm behavior.

• The Stress Metric: If your dog refuses high-value treats, you are too close and need to move further away.

3. Practice Small “In-and-Out” Steps

Once your dog is comfortable near the car, practice small approximations of getting in and out.

• Low Stakes: Don’t force them to stay in for long periods.

• Reinforce and Release: Mark and treat your dog for jumping in, then let them jump right back out immediately.

• Avoid Difficulty: Vary the game by sometimes treating outside the car so the dog doesn’t feel every step is getting harder.

4. Desensitize to Engine Sounds and Movement

The sound and vibration of a car can be a major trigger.

• Beep and Start: Mark and reinforce your dog for staying calm when the car beeps or when the engine turns on and then immediately off.

• External Training: If the dog struggles inside the car, have a partner start the engine while you and the dog stand outside the vehicle then mark and reinforce any calm, offered behavior.

• Micro-Movements: Once the sound is okay, move the car just a few feet—enough for the dog to feel motion—and reinforce for relaxed behavior.

5. Take the “Smallest Ride”

Always start and end every trip on a high note.

• Tiny Increments: Pull forward or backward a few feet, then get out for a game of tug, or chase, or a treat scatter.

• Short Trips: Gradually build up to a five-minute ride that ends with something great.

• Avoid “Flooding”: Do not push ahead too fast; the goal is for the dog to enjoy the process, not to be overwhelmed by it.

Professional Tip: Consider Training and Medication

If your dog’s anxiety is severe, consult your veterinarian or a veterinary behaviorist. Pairing behavior modification with vet-prescribed medication can often provide the traction needed for training to be successful.

Is your dog showing signs of stress? Watch for lip licking, yawning, turning away, or “shaking off” as if they are wet (when dry). If you see these behaviors, stop, make the training easier, and move further away from the car and/or make sessions much shorter.

Do you struggle to get your dog to come to you when you call their name? A reliable recall is one of the most crucial behaviors a dog can learn, ensuring their safety and giving you peace of mind.

The key to success is to first make the process as easy as possible for your dog. You’ll teach your dog that their name is a cue that predicts an immediate, high-value reinforcer, making them “fly like the wind” towards you.

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The Foundation: Mark, Reinforce, and Repeat

Before beginning, select a consistent marker—a clicker, a verbal marker like “Yes,” or a visual marker like a “thumbs up” all work the same way. The marker tells your dog the exact moment they performed the correct behavior, and it must always be followed by a reinforcer (a high-value treat or sometimes a toy). Use your dog’s name as the recall cue, but only call them when you are certain they can respond!

The 4-Step Recall Training Program

This training process is systematic, gradually increasing the difficulty to build a rock-solid recall, starting from close proximity and eventually moving to an off-leash scenario in a distracting environment.

Step 1: Building Orientation in Close Quarters

Start close to your dog. Your dog should not be paying attention to you.

1. Call your dog’s name (the cue) one time in a happy, excited voice.
2. The moment your dog orients to you (makes eye contact or turns their head), mark and reinforce.
3. Important: Give the treat to a spot on the opposite side of your dog, encouraging them to turn away to eat it. This sets up the next repetition.

The goal in this step is simply that your dog registers they heard you and has turned back toward you. You can practice this low-effort drill while relaxing on your couch.

Step 2: Adding a Little Distance

Now, introduce a small gap between you and your dog.

1. Get your dog to stay in place by marking and reinforcing a behavior you like–this can be any cued or offered behavior.
2. Move a short distance away.
3. Reinforce the dog at their current spot (e.g., walk back to them to deliver the treat) to keep them occupied.
4. Call your dog’s name.
5. When they make eye contact or start moving toward you, mark.
6. Crucial: Reinforce the dog right next to you. This teaches them that good things only happen when they come all the way.

Step 3: Introducing Obstacles and Greater Distance

Increase the distance further, potentially moving so you are temporarily out of sight—for example, going to the other side of an island or counter.

1. Mark and reinforce your dog in their spot.
2. Drop a treat/reinforcer where they are (e.g., on their bed).
3. Move out of sight.
4. Wait for your dog to finish their treat.
5. Call your dog’s name and then mark and reinforce when they come to you!

Step 4: Adding Real-World Distractions

Move your training to a secure, enclosed outdoor area. You are now competing with outside environmental reinforcers like sights and smells. It’s recommended to start with a long line/leash attached to your dog for safety, just in case their recall isn’t yet ready for this level of distraction.

1. Toss a very high-value treat (like turkey) away from you.
2. While your dog is distracted by the treat, move away from them.
3. Call your dog’s name when they are done eating.
4. Mark and reinforce enthusiastically right next to you for coming back despite the distractions.

Do you find yourself constantly shouting “off” when your dog jumps on the furniture or on people? This common problem can be frustrating, but the good news is that there’s a better way to handle it. In this guide, you’ll learn a positive reinforcement solution that doesn’t involve yelling. Instead, it teaches your dog exactly what you want them to do, building a stronger, more positive bond in the process.

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The Problem with Yelling “Off!”

For many dog parents, yelling “off” is an instinctual reaction. However, this method has a few drawbacks. Yelling can inadvertently reinforce the behavior you’re trying to stop, as your dog may perceive your attention—even negative attention—as a reinforcer. More importantly, shouting doesn’t teach your dog what to do instead. It only tells them what not to do, leaving them confused and more likely to repeat the unwanted action.

Reinforce the Behavior You Want

The key to a successful solution is to shift your focus from punishing the behavior you dislike to reinforcing the behavior you like. The goal is to make the floor the most reinforcing and desirable place for your dog to be.

Here’s how to apply this method:

1. Mark and Reinforce: When your dog is on the furniture, try to get their attention. The moment they make eye contact, say a marker word like “yes” and place a treat on the floor where you want them to go. This teaches them that engaging with you and leaving the furniture leads to a reinforcer.
2. Build a “Treasure Pile”: If your dog is hesitant to jump down, simply repeat the process. Put the treats on the floor again after marking their eye contact. Eventually, the pile of treats will become so tempting that they’ll jump down to get them.