My 9-week elkhound puppy is very scared of travelling by car. She shakes and cowers when we put her in her car kennel, and she is often sick during the trip. Unfortunately we had a long journey when we picked her up, and she was clearly terrified throughout (though not actually sick). I am taking her out on short trips each day, trying to keep stress down, not feeding before a trip, and trying to make the end of the trip interesting (but this is difficult when we can't walk anywhere because of vaccinations). But I just hate to see her so utterly abject and miserable - any ideas?? Help!

Can't you take her to anyones house for a visit? You are doing the right thing taking her out regularly. You could also put her in the car for a few minutes each day on your knee, without actually driving anywhere. Give her a tasty treat on these occasions & make a fuss of her. Zak used to be car sick, I stopped feeding him for at least 2 hrs before a journey & also gave a 'natural' travel sickness tablet from the Health Food Shop. Ginger is also good for stopping sickness. Zak stopped being sick, he loves going in the car, but he always lies down & doesn't get up until we arrive at our destination, I think that this stems from him feeling sick initially. She is very young, it will improve in time.

Is your 'car kennel' a crate ?? Does it rattle and make a noise all the journey ?? Our younger dog hated the car and drooled badly, although not usually sick, when she was a pup until we realised that it was just the noise of the crate that she hated. Since we removed the crate she has loved the car :) :)

Just a thought :)

Daisy

I hope I am doing this right as it's my first post, have been reading avidly for a while- please don't jump on me if I've got it wrong! Some come across as quite fierce!!

My SCWT pup was terrible in the car, even though I took the litter out regularly. It took a good while, but I sat in the boot with him, played with him and fed him in the crate, then I sat with him in the crate and me in the drivers seat, then had the engine on but didn't move. I found it was better if he could see me. I did this every day for about a fortnight, the neighbours thought I had totally cracked!!
Had him at the homeopath (terrible vaccination reaction) and she gave him super strength Thuja which she said would also help with the travel problems.
Last week we took him to Devon for a caravan break and did about 500 miles during the week- no problem. He enjoyed a marrow bone whilst in his crate and when we were going out was putting his paws up on the tailgate to get in.
Hope this helps.
Karen

Daisy, this is very interesting--my older dog has been a dreadful traveller since going in the crate after his first week with us at age 14 weeks. He is ok at low speeds, but over 40mph he stands in the cage and 'prays' in the corner. No amount of attention or treats can dissuade him and he can keep this up for hours. Our other boy couldn't care less. I never thought of the rattling and to be honest it doesn't really, but it could be vibration that bothers him since I notice he was fine sitting on the seat. Thank you!

Firstly don't sympathise, if you show any stress or worry she will pick up on it.

I am an Elk hound owner and until last year did not have a car of my own as I don't drive due to visual disability.

All mine learnt to travel well, and very few of the puppies I bred had travel issues, but one or two did.

Unfortunately one such bad traveller had to travel by car abroad!!!  she was really sick by the time they got to Dover, but she is now 12 years old and travels fine, and no it didn't take that long.

The best thing for reducing travel sickness is to restrict movement.

I had to start my own pups on the bus, as they only got to travel in Friends cars,a nd I certainly didn't want them being sick or being a problem for other people.

I also found that having a pup by my feet in the well of the car in front (short local journeys)meant they were reassured by my presence, and restricted in movement, and in a part of the car that moved around the least.

Often the back of the car moves around the most especially in 4 x 4's.

My current 14 months old obviously found travel a bit nauseating, but having already gotten used to being still at my feet, adopted the keeping still in her place to minimise this.

she still feels a  little queasy I can tell, but loves travel because she likes to be part of everything and going away, and to shows (certainly hasn't stopped her doing well).

If we are travelling with all five dogs with the rear foot-well full of our gear then she can be tethered on the back seat with my eldest, with the other three in the back.

The middle of the car moves about the least, so if you ca secure her crate there all the better for now.

The key thing is that all journeys should end in a pleasant outcome, and sadly the first ones often don't.

Also I suggest you join our UK Elkhound group on the net, PM me for the site address, and you can share and ask other elkie owners all things elkhound.

She will grow out of it, as Elkhounds are very adaptable and make great travelling companions.  Mine are real gypsies.

> trying to make the end of the trip interesting (but this is difficult when we can't walk anywhere because of vaccinations)

Dont forget that you can still get out of the car in a nice place and go and sit somewhere so she can watch the world go by.  She can stay on your lap or put a groundsheet down for her to sit on.  It's great opportunity for a bit of bonding as well as a chance to see new things.

Travel sickness often passes with time but my boy got so much better when I reduced the size of his crate and put a new rubber mat in there to make sure he couldn't slide.  He stayed in the smaller crate till he was oozing out the sides - he much prefered being able to brace himself around corners!

I'm not too sure about the wisdom of no food before a trip.  At this age they need their 4 meals a day so you don't want to miss a meal if you can help it and interestingly, mine got more distressed by being sick on an empty stomach.  Of course that does present you with mess issues but (WARNING: if you have a weak stomach) - he used to quickly eat it again.  Bleugh!

A final point - take care not to overdo the car.  It doesn't have to be every day, alternate days will do.  Good luck :)

Lots of good suggestions here, so shall only add a couple of additional things.
One of my past dogs was a terrible traveller - constant drooling, to the extent towels had to be everywhere.  This was from collection as a pup until I changed my vehicle.  So, suggestion number 1 ... change your car!!!  I always joked that my new car was the most expensive present I'd bought a dog ;-)  Not likely I hear you cry?  OK, here's a couple of suggestions that don't involve huge financial outlay!  If she's travelling in a crate, is there too much room for her to be thrown about in?  I am a very bad traveller myself if I'm not in the front of the vehicle.  I'm always mindful of this with my young dogs (if not travelled as a litter with mum), and whenever possible start them off in a crate on front or rear passenger seat rather than in the boot. My youngest dog, now a year and a brill traveller, couldn't manage 1/4 mile.  I covered her crate so she could see nowt.  On a long journey she would have cocculus tablets, about 5-6 (these are available from health stores) - they're a herbal pill that helps with travel sickness and I know used by someone who regularly exports pups abroad.
Hope she soon becomes a wonderful traveller.

I've definitely got to reply to this one.  My , now 3 1/2 year old, Elkie bitch has been TERRIBLE in the car.  Drooling, vomiting, shaking, not wanting to get in - to the point of breaking free from her collar + lead on one occasion and running into the [thankfully car free] road; desperate to get out... the list goes on.
The good news is that since using 'Stugeron' tablets she has improved amazingly.  I don't tend to take the dogs out in the car much these days, but the last time, only 2-3 weeks ago, Heidi actually jumped into the back of the car on her own!!!!  This was a truly wonderful experience I thought would never happen.  At best, I thought she may be able to tolerate car travel - amazingly she now seems to enjoy it and looks out the windows too.  I have also reduced the travel sickness tablets to 1/2 tab but am still carefull not to feed her within an hour or so either way of travelling.
By the way, Heidi is still unsure of cage rattles - in or out of the car; I tend to put this down to her being a puppy farm bred dog - a 'cause of all ills', but really, I think?, she's just on the ball re possible negative consequences eg shaky fencing could fall on her.

Interestingly my obedience trainer Friend has always used and recommended stugeron.  She found she could use it on competition dogs without having them get sleepy.

Thank you to everyone who has replied - it's been such an encouragement. Bene is now travelling much better - although she still feels a bit queasy, I think. But here's what made the difference - I moved her crate from the tailgate end to the back seat, and also halved the size of her crate space with a big pillow. She has stopped being sick completely, and now has her ears pricked up all the time if awake. But mostly she settles down and sleeps after a couple of minutes of whining. Best of all, she goes into her car crate independently!! No pushing and struggling/luring with treats etc.   So thank you for all the encouragement and input!

Glad to hear that she's travelling rather better!  It just takes time. :-)