Hi

I am wondering if anyone can offer any advice? I have taken my 3 month old chocolate lab pup in the car a few times now, (in the boot with a cover down, but no dog guard as yet) but each time she whines and then poos in the car. How can I get her used to the car without pooing every time? She tend to go from side window to side window looking out first then starts crying/whining then poos.  Any advice gratefully received. My car is a Dacia Duster if that helps.  thanks very much.

Could you put her in a crate in the car?

Covered crate. Try to get her to poo before you set off and don't feed her to close to journey if possible. Also don't avoid taking her in the car, try little trips shorter than the length she poos at if you see what I mean

I had a rescue dog who did this when I got her at a year. It took time but she did stop. I gave her ginger capsules but not sure I would give them to a pup

HTH

Contain her in a crate of a suitable size

Definitely use a crate.  I've often found those of mine who don't travel well, do when it's dark, so cover the crate!   And start by sitting a puppy in the back with the tailgate up and some toys in there - stay with him and play with him - do not start the car/shut the tailgate.   Once he seems a bit more comfortable being in there, then close the tailgate and take him for a short distance, the smoother the better, ending with a good run in a local park.   Too often we only take out dogs out in the car, to a vet!

Also don't avoid taking her in the car,

Totally agree, 1st dog was travel sick and poo prone, all other dogs have been put in the car from week one, going up the garage - take the dog, going for a paper - take the dog, post office - take the dog etc. all short journeys.
Most of the time the dog never even got out of the car so the car had NO excitement and was just another room as part of the house.
never had a dog with car problems since.

> Also don't avoid taking her in the car, try little trips shorter than the length she poos at if you see what I mean

This!  I do the odd bit of dog walking and there's one little terrier of a pair who was pooing *every* time she got in my car.  So, I picked her and her friend up last and took them to the nearest possible suitable walk in a bid to get her out before she went.  Worked like a charm

At that point she wouldn't hold it more than 5 minutes, but today I've had them in my car for over half an hour before I got them out for a walk (had to run a quick errand en route) and no mess at all

Thank you - I will certainly try that.  I think it is just her nerves so will build up her confidence slowly :-)

Thank you everyone who took time to reply - all much appreciated.

moiras, was your travel problem solved?  If so, which method did you use?

Hi Not yet - it is a job in progress!  I am taking it very slowly. Have sat with her in the boot of car and played there, then I sat in back seat and closed boot door.  she now seems ok with that.  I was going to do that but turn on the engine next time.  Then another time I intend to drive round block, just taking it bit by bit and see how we get on. If she is ok with that then I will drive a bit further til she gets used to it. I will let you know. Fingers crossed!

Make sure you get her in the car every day without fail. Even just to move the car off the drive and back. My friends JRT was sick whenever she got in the car (she was 5 at the time|) so I made a point of taking them out with me every day to walk with my girls, we started with her on the floor on towels and drove 3 minuets to the local park, we gradually upped the length of the trip and she eventually could go anywhere. Once she had got used to it she could happily do an hours trip to the beach and back. She never had a problem for the rest of her life. She was happy to get in the back with my girls in the end and it took about 6 months to get her sorted.