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.

help a dog with car anxiety pro trainer terrie hayward

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.