3 Ways to Help Your Dog Feel Comfortable in the Car

Summer often means travel. Earlier this summer I took a trip to my home state of Iowa, with treks through other states in the Midwest as well; my Shih Tzu, Jeremiah, made the road trip with me. He's an exceptional little traveler. However, not all pets are. I'm pleased to host Sarah Archer this week with thoughts on helping your pet feel comfortable in the car, and a link to a guidebook for more ideas.

Guest Post by Sarah Archer
 
Ah, the open road with just you and your dog. Seems like a dream. But if you are a pet owner with a dog that doesn’t much like the car, it can be a difficult ride. While some dogs love to stick their heads out of car windows, others can get skittish, whine incessantly or be violently ill.
 
If your dog has trouble getting used to the car there are a few things you can do to try to make it easier for them.
 Crate in the car: if you can fit an appropriate sized crate in the car for your dog, it may give an anxious dog some comfort.Treat them: If your dog has trouble even at the very idea of the car, try to get them slowly accustomed to the idea that the car is a positive place. Tempt them in with a favorite treat and then let them out again a short time later (without going anywhere). Try it a few times and then step it up by turning on the engine when they are inside the car. Then you can start taking short trips to see how your dog reacts.Take them somewhere nice: Chances are if your dog is a wreck in the car you haven’t tried to take them anywhere except the vet or the groomer. Try getting your dog to associate the car with happier memories by driving them to a park.
Keeping your dog comfortable in your car makes pet ownership so much easier. So does helping your pet feel more comfortable at home. There are simple things you can do to make sure that your life with a dog is blissful and everything you ever dreamed. See the guide to helping your new dog feel comfortable at home from Your Best Digs and find more ideas on how to keep you and your dog comfortable together both at home and in the car. 
 
 
About Sarah Archer:
Sarah is a Content and PR manager at Your Best Digs. She’s passionate about evaluating everyday home products to help customers save time and money. When she’s not putting a product’s promise to the test, you’ll find her hiking a local trail or collecting stamps in her passport.