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Canine Behavior/Panic only in car on highway

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Expert: - 1/31/2008


Question
My dog is having panic/fear attack like the "normal" fear attack of a 6 month
old puppy. Except my dog is 11 years old. He did have fear attack as a puppy
which lasted a month and never again. I've had the same car, Matrix Toyota,
2004, for four years. He's never had fear attacks before in the car, they've
only started for the last month. My dog loves car traveling. He'll sit and wait
in the car for hours waiting to go. A slow trip doesn't seem to trigger the
panic it's only when we go 50mph plus and enter the highway. My dog is one
of the mellowest pets you'll ever meet. The panic/fear is; heavy panting,
clawing on me, nervous looking moving from back to front (no place to go),
constant trembling, wants to sit on my lap and I must pet him is the only
place he can handle. As soon as we pull over he stops and is back to normal.

Any ideas? Do you think the car may be making a sound above the human
hearing frequency?
http://freshxwater.tripod.com/ here is a pic of us a few years back.

Thanks!

Answer
Your dog might be developing a physical problem.  It could be cataracts (which occlude visibility and have advanced to the point where he can't see what he's experiencing), or neurological, or developing cognitive dysfunction.  He could also be responding to a moment in time when he acquired a fear response to something he's always loved.  I suggest you take him to the veterinarian for a full physical and neurological evaluation and a blood chemistry to rule out physical problems.

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Jill Connor, Ph.D.

Expertise

I have spent my entire professional life rehabilitating the behavior of the domestic dog and I can answer any question regarding any behavior problem in any breed dog. If you are a caring, committed owner and need advice, I'm here for you. THERE ARE NO QUICK FIXES for serious behavioral issues; not only is it unprofessional to offer same, it is also unethical. IF I ASK YOU SUBSEQUENT QUESTIONS, I NEED YOU TO INTERACT WITH ME. More information equals more credible answers and a more successful outcome. If you want ANSWERS THAT WORK, participate in any way I request. I'm quite committed to working on this site for YOUR benefit and the benefit of YOUR DOG. Help me in any way you can.

Experience

30 years of solving serious behavior problems in domestic dogs; expert in dog to human aggression; Internet columnist for ThePetChannel.com for 5 years; former radio talk show host, WHPC.FM, Garden City, NY "Bite Back" (1995 through 2000). List owner, international animal behavior experts, K9Shrinks@egroups.com. Seminar leader: "Operant Conditioning and Learning"; "Aggression in The Domestic Dog"; "Solving Problem Behaviors" -- conducted for various training facilities on Long Island from 1993 through 2000. Former clinical director of "Behavioral Abnormalities" in conjunction with Mark Beckerman, DVM, Hempstead, New York.

Organizations
Member, APDT (UK); Psychologists in Ethical Treatment with Animals

Publications
Harcourt Brace Learning Direct: "The Business of Dog Training" "The Fail Safe Dog: Brain Training, not Pain Training"

Education/Credentials
Ph.D., UC Berkeley

Past/Present Clients
Board of Directors: Northeast Dog Rescue Connection; The Dog Project; Sav-A-Dog Foundation; etc. Pro Bono counselor: Little Shelter Humane Society My practice is presently limited to forensics. I diagnose cause of dog bite, based upon testimony before the Court, for attorneys and insurance companies litigating dog bites, including fatal injuries. I also do pro bono work for bona fide rescue organizations, humane societies, et al, regarding such analysis in an effort to obtain release for dogs being held for death in municipal shelters in the US.

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