I am worried about this. It happened twice. Today was really bad. My 6 month Border Collie dog, and I sit in the front passenger seat together as usual. We are driving along normally, then all of a sudden he starts screaming as if in agony, almost like his tail was trapped in the door (it wasn't) and then he bit me. I know the bite was an accident so that's not a problem. I am just really concerned what would make him behave like he was in acute agony, when nothing untoward was in the car or on him and he showed no signs of injury when we stopped the car and inspected him. What could it be??? Should I go to the vets? He's normal now. He was normal when the screaming stopped. Helllpp!!!

Thanks,

CG :(

Firstly and please dont be offended but its very dangerous to let your dog travel in the front of the car with you if you slam on she will be straight through the windscreen unless of course she has a harness and even so I dont feel its right at all I also think the police could caution you about the safety of it.
Also dogs are really better travelling in a cage or at the very least on the back seat lying down and at six months she is still a puppy and its not too late to start again.
You cannot consentrate on driving if you are busy watching what your dog is doing all the time.
Please accept this as just advice and in my humble opinion.
Best wishes

I don't drive, I have my dog on the floor by my feet and I am in the passenger's seat.

Since he's on the floor, it's entirely possible that one of his toenails or a slight hangnail was "caught" by the rug/carpeting.
It could have set up a couple of problems that caused his distress and biting..... a combination of panic and pain when he tried to moved his foot or even after he moved it. Then it freed up on its own before you noticed anything wrong.
It's a thought...
toodles

very possible I guess. I am a constant worrier and I thought he might be dying of cancer or something :(

Im going for a glass of wine

If on the floor, could it be something to do with the heater/air conditioning that usually comes from the front floor?
Dot

I'm afraid I would never have a dog in the front. A few years ago my cousin was had for driving without due care and attention. The police man was standing on the corner and the dog barked. He just looked at the dog and told it to shut up. That was enough!

John

I don't know. I shall have a look.

About 3-4 weeks ago, a message came over the radio notifying that there was a serious accident on the autobahn about 4 miles down from where I live. 3 car pile-up with fatalities. They were telling everyone to avoid that stretch.

About a half hour later, announcer came back on saying that the German Police was warning motorists on the opposite direction to slow down and stop because 2 dogs were loose on the road. There was another accident due to them. I think one was hit. Another was found about 40 feet below the bridge where it had jumped off in panic. I don't know if either dog survived.

This happened in an area where the speed limit dropped to about 50 miles an hour due to construction and congestion.

IMHO -- dogs belong in the back seat just like kids (it's the law for kids here). They need to be in a doggy seatbelt or a crate. Something to stop them from jumping out of the vehicle if a door/window opens.

I personally keep my two in the back - they are harnessed. I wouldn't have them on the front seat because of the air bag. I did hear a few years back though that the advice was that the footwell on the passenger side was the safest place for a dog in an accident.

I would have thought it would have been better to start a new thread on where to travel with your dog rather than get at this person who was looking for advice about something that happened while her dog was in the car and that was out of the norm. (Ego - I'm not talking to you as you are just responding to this part of the thread)

To the person who started the post I would say go over your dog carefully to be sure he didn't scrape himself or pull a muscle or something. If he seems tender at all or the behaviour re-occurs I would get him to the vet for a good checkup.

Wendy

Let's say I am an extreme worrier.

Cuteygirl - worrying is a hobby of mine too - dont "worry" about it! lol.

Firstly you need to look at the problem logically. Has this screaming only ever occurred when the dog was in the front of the car by your feet? Never at home or on a walk etc?
If yes, then the first obvious thing to do is not put your dog in this place.
If yes, then there must be SOMETHING in this particular area which causes the dog distress/pain. Perhaps a cramp from being in a confined area? This sounds quite likely to me under the circumstances - especially as the dog is getting bigger but the space is remaining the same size!

Sit your dog in the back seat from now on - if the screaming doesnt happen anywhere else - this seems the easiest answer.

Hope everything works out
Muffinsmum

Collies are apt to do things like this, I have know idea why. Had a friend who's collie used to look at the ceiling and howl and another that would sometimes take it into his head to attack shadows, and nothing would stop them. I just though they were brain damaged, but since then I've seen several BC's behave in a strange manner so perhaps it is something in their makeup. Ja:)kie

Funny you should mention him chasing shadows, he's just started doing this and I think it's great. He just does it for hours. Saves money on toys lol :D

Don't mean to be nasty but I wouldn't let him do this as it can become an obsession and collies can be very single minded about things. JMO feel free to ignore it
Anne

OK. I will stop him. I guess he won't listen to me if he is busy with shadows, and I don't want a disobedient dog!

Thanks muffinsmum!!! I am getting him a seatbelt and will keep him in the back :D I will let you know if he starts this again, but yeah it could just be cos he is a mad Collie !

Thanks all.

Hi CG

If your dog has screamed as if in agony twice and then bitten through it I suggest you take him to the vet straight away and get him checked out. He may be trapping a nerve or have some sort of skeletal problem which happens when he sits in a particular way and could be extremely painful and causing him distress. :(
Please don't ignore it and hope it goes away.