Car Behavior: Important for Safety

Dogs love riding in the car, right? Most do, and some may even seem to love it too much! Jumping around, trying to sit on your lap, barking at everything; for some dogs, a ride in the car gets them so excited, they can become a downright dangerous passenger!

If this scenario sounds familiar, do not despair. Just as your pet can learn to behave obediently around your home, yard, and other places, so can he learn to mind his manners in your vehicle.

Begin by setting aside some time for the purpose of practicing. Start off getting him into the “listening frame of mind” by running through some obedience commands for about ten minutes. Particularly work on sharpening the “sit,” “down,” and “stay” commands, which will come in handy when it’s time to practice being calm inside the car.

Next, with your dog still on a leash, get into the back seat of the car and place him into a “sit/stay” or “down/stay” position. When he is relaxing, praise calmly. If he keeps getting up and jumping around, tell your dog “no,” and replace into the “stay” position.

Once your dog seems to be catching on that the car is a place for behaving, try working on having your dog in the back seat while you sit in the front. Again, use the “stay” command and if necessary, turn around and use your dog’s leash to get him back under control.

Another important step is practicing with the car moving. Building upon the previous exercises, take your dog for a ride around your neighborhood. Ideally, you would have a second passenger in the front seat that could reach back and redirect your dog if he were to begin getting too excited. If you don’t have a helper on hand, you can occasionally stop the car, get your dog back on track and continue from there.

Other safety ideas include purchasing a dog seat belt and/or using a divider to keep him in the back of the vehicle, or a crate for him to ride in. However, all of these options will be much more easily accomplished if your pet already knows how to sit and behave in the car.

When it comes to traveling safely with your pet, remember that the purpose of obedience training is so that you can use the commands as a way of life in day-to-day situations. With a little practice, your dog can soon be a pleasant passenger!