I have a two year old Standard Schnauzer, who is the sweetest dog - a bit barky when new people around but other than that good as gold - apart from IN THE CAR!

Its turning into a nightmare.  Poppy seems to think she can and should be driving and howls with frustration if shes hindered from leaping into the driving seat.  When we take her out she is always highly excited, as usually she associates a drive with a run and a swim at her favourite park.  Shes always very inquisitive and likes to stick her head out of the window for a bit of a sniff.  The closer we get to our destination (if she recognises it) the more excited and jumpy she gets.  At one point last week i heard my boyfriend shout out and when i turned around she was leaning over his seat with her paws on his head and practically covering his head.  Which is obviously highly dangerous.  So now I have been designated to the back seat to hold her.  We've tried various solutions - a harness, which she twisted around so much in that all the leads got caught in her left paw and she was howling in pain.  We've tried travelling with other better behaved dogs, whom she tries to aggressively drive out of the car and now we are reduced to me sitting in the back with her bouncing off my bladder - I can't take any more, please somebody for the love of god give me some suggestions.  We're getting another puppy soon and there is no way I want him to copy her back seat driver behaviour!  I must be doing something wrong.  I'm thinking of buying an estate car with a grate in it - but I still want to teach her how to behave.  Or she won't be travelling in the car ANYMORE!

Thanks
Jo

You could try taking the dog out on as many very short car journeys as you can. Just a short trip around the block and back home again. It would help if you could perhaps set aside a weekend to repeatedly take her out. Try and break the link between getting in the car and going somewhere exciting. You needn't even drive anywhere each time, you could just try and work on getting her to settle quietly in the car whilst it is sitting in the drive. (Your neighbours may think that you have gone mad though!)

Try and make this a distinct training exercise. You will usually be too busy trying to get where you are going to deal with the dog otherwise.

My personal view is that a dog should either be in the boot of an estate or hatchback, or the front footwell of a saloon. If they are at all unruly, they need confining by a crate / cage / dog guard. Purpose-built dog boxes for cars are ideal, and they restrict the amount the dog can see and therefore bark at.

Addititionally you could teach the dog to bark and be quiet on command. I dont teach this, but I'm sure if you trawl through these boards there will be a method described somewhere.

Good luck.

Urrr I hate to say it because my dog would hate it but you need a cage and if your car won't accommodate one and you need to take the dog travelling a lot, then you need a new car! 

Dogs need to be controlled in a car or its a danger to yourself and other drivers.  Copper is like your dog and he would drive if he could.  I have a harness for him and he sits on my knee in the front and I have a seat belt thing for him so he's secure (I keep the strap very short to avoid throwing forward on hard brakes).  But he's like your dog, doesn't like the boot bit and appears to get car sick if he sits in the back (I say appears because I think its a bit of a put on).

I suggest to get a cage, keep the cage in the house first, put goodies and toys in it and let the dog get used to it and then put the cage in the car (when you're not going anywhere) and let the dog go in and out to get wee treats etc.  Then when you are going somewhere the dog thinks "yippee".  LOL yeah, CG's theory!! 

I had to hire a transit van once with 3 front seats and that was the ideal solution for Copper.  His own seat up front (clipped in of course) and he gets a first class view.  I think he was an airline pilot in a former life :D

CG

I think that dogs should always be regarded in the same light as a baby. They should never be on anybody's lap, whether secured or not. He would act as an air bag if you were involved in an accident.  (I assume (and hope) you mean that he is on your lap when you are a passenger NOT when driving :D )

Daisy

Hmm I knew that was coming!!  I drive as little as possible, but of course Cops is only on my lap as a passenger.  In our new car we have a million air bags but I think that would only act as suffocation.  I  know its probably hopeless but what if he was in the back and the car got rammed.  Pays the price and takes the chance as they say.

CG

Hmm I knew that was coming!!  I drive as little as possible, but of course Cops is only on my lap as a passenger.  In our new car we have a million air bags but I think that would only act as suffocation.  I  know its probably hopeless but what if he was in the back and the car got rammed.  Pays the price and takes the chance as they say. (sorry if this is posted  twice - pc playing up)

CG

The only safe way for your dog to travel is in a crate, mine were custom made for me & my car & has an escape hatch at the front just incase I should get rear ended.

The friend who made my cages made some for another dog owner & when her car was sideswiped by a lorry & driven off the road turning over several times & ending up upside  down, not only did the cages save her dogs lives but hers as well(this was what the fire brigade guys told her when they cut her out.)the roof of the cage was 1/2 inch from her head only because the cages stopped it caving in

If you brake doing 60 mph your dog will continue forward at 60 mph if it is not restrained. There was a poodle killed last year wearing a harness attached to the seat belt because the side of the car was crushed, the dogs in the cage s were shaken up but physically unhurt

Please be careful of airbags in the front with a dog on your lap - they expand VERY fast, and can cause a fatal injury to a dog just as the can to a baby in a baby seat.  The VERY best place for a dog is on the back seat with a correctly adjusted dog seat belt, or in a crate......

Thanks for all your advice.  The thing is, on the journey home, when she's run off all her energy, shes happy to snuggle in the back and go to sleep.  I may well try the 'small journeys with no exciting destination' ploy as well as giving the crate a go. CG, poppy is exactly the same - she wants to be in the front.  She is happy to sit quietly in the car if we are not moving, I think she's just associating getting in the car (on way out) as prelude to exciting run around and swim.  Yes she is sitting in back with me when I am a passenger (although her ideal position would be on drivers lap!)  - I can't drive so this has become my 'car job'.  However, she is now 20KG and too heavy to be bouncing on me! 

Thanks again

Don't forget that a real collision - not just braking - will cause the dog to be propelled into the windscreen - that is, if you let go - if you don't let go, she will be pushed, with your body weight, into the back of the front seat. Sorry - to be so graphic, but know someone whose dog was badly injured in a relatively minor accident.

Daisy

Hi Jo

There are various methods - the easiest is to get a travelling crate and cover it so she cannot see outside or put a harness on her and fasten her into the footwell of the back seat, again so she can't see outside or jump around.

I had a dog that barked every time she was in the car. I managed to stop it when I took her about 200 yards down the road to a lay-by (I live in the country) and let her out for a sniff. For some reason she thought that was fine. She'd been out in the car and gone for a walk - albeit only a very short one :D I could go any distance after that and she was fine ;)

Of course this might not work for any other dog. :D

I would suggest a cage or something to stop her from jumping up at the driver. You may have to take her somewhere when there is only one of you around.

Restrain the dog; the Highway Code clearly says that drivers must be free from distractions; not only could this behaviour jeopardise the safety of your dog (eye infection head out of window), danger of her going through the windscreen, killing you or a passenger on the way, getting run over by another car and causing injury or death to other motorists or pedestrians.  It is highly irresponsible.

Get a proper cage and if she does not like it cover her up.

You would not travel with unrestrained children (I hope) even small dogs can weigh as much as  small child.

If you care about your dog's health, keep her and everyone else safe in the car.

A cage is the only answer, otherwise I can see a serious accident happening :-( 

I agree with Havoc.  Put her in the car, drive down the road for 100 yards, then stop and stay there for as long as it takes until she calms down.  You might find a good book will work wonders.  You may occasionally need to get out of the car, walk round it and get back in, so she doesn't learn to associate you getting out with so much fun...

Try it for a minimum of a week.

It worked on my lab, who gets so excited that she makes the weirdest noises.  We do have to do remedial training occasionally though, as she does start to revert eventually.

Yep, agree with everything Tohme just said :) It all makes sooo much sense. I shudder everytime I see an unrestrained dog in a car bouncing about :( I personally couldn't drive with an unrestrained dog in the car as it would distract me too much, not to mention the illegalities of it. Get a cage or guard. I take my dogs everywhere with me and they have learnt throught repetition and experience to behave.

Yep, agree with everything Tohme just said :) It all makes sooo much sense. I shudder everytime I see an unrestrained dog in a car bouncing about :( I personally couldn't drive with an unrestrained dog in the car as it would distract me too much, not to mention the illegalities of it. Get a cage or guard. I take my dogs everywhere with me and they have learnt throught repetition and experience, to behave.

OK thanks everyone.  I know I've got to sort this out so I will be trying all of these and I'll let you know how it goes!