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Canine Behavior/travel anxiety

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Expert: - 4/25/2008


Question
I have a 6 yr. old Yorkshire terrior. She hates traveling in the car; however, my
husband and I have to take her with us every weekend to our place at the
beach.  I've tried many different things to calm her in the car, but finally had
to resort to crating her. When we are on the highway she settles down a bit  ,
but as soon as we hit stop and go traffic she freaks out. She barks so
incessantly and loudly that we have to wear earplugs to survive the rest of the
ride to our destination. Needless to say, we are at the end of our rope until
we arrive. The ride is incredibly disturbing to us and makes it difficult to
concentrate on driving. Last year she suffered a long bout of colitis. I don't
know if traveling triggered this or not. I don't want to repeat last summer. Is
there anything we can do to ease her anxiety in the car. My husband wants
me to get rid of her because he can't take the anxiety of traveling with her
anymore!

Answer
Discuss this with the veterinarian.  Rehabilitating this sort of anxiety cannot include long car trips.  It would take most likely at least a month or two to build positive associations with short trips and the first long one would most likely precipitate a full return of the anxiety.  The veterinarian might prescribe a mild sedative which you can give the dog an hour or two before departure.  Sometimes, when a dog is in the middle of a fear provoking incident and recuperating from sedation, the fear self extinguishes.

While I understand the frustration of dealing with any sort of fear behavior (including those in humans), thinking about dumping this dog is outrageous.  Mature adult coping skills include finding alternatives to anger and frustration.  'Nuff said.

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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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