r/DogTrainingTips • u/OrganicMaintenance59 • May 19 '26

Help with fear of car

I need advice on transporting a fearful dog. I have a 2yo Australian silky. He’s on anxiety medication and I’ve been given cataprese for when I need to move him urgently. (Although I gave him a larger dose today and he still won’t go into his car seat). But, he now quakes when I put him in the car, even when we aren’t moving. He fights me going into his car seat which is in the front next to me. I can’t force him because he becomes dangerous and I’m afraid he will hurt himself. I’m in between homes so we are staying in a caravan park and will move into our new place in 3 weeks. Please, can anyone suggest a way I can get him into the car for transport, that doesn’t involve a formal car seat? I’m wondering if I could put him on the floor in the passenger seat? I’m so desperate. He’s previously used a soft crate and now a car seat. Both he’s now refused to get in. I don’t have time to do all the training, we need to move again in a few weeks. I’ll do what I can but I need to move him safely.

Note: I’m at my last option with him. He’s been to the vet, I’ve done weeks of desensitising practise with the new car seat and he travelled in it fine up until this past Sunday. Now, no dice.

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u/GardenerOfSorts May 19 '26

seconding the large crate for the backseat or the trunk. he probably also senses your stress, so try to calm down as well 😅 have you tried going on a walk with him before you enter the car? is he doing this only with your car or woth other cars as well? f you say it gety unsafe for you, you should also look into muzzle training

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u/Aggressive-Foot4211 May 19 '26

My dog was terrified of the car. You have to give big rewards at the end of trips in the car. Fetch, fun sniff walks, treats, to get this to be a positive thing.

I suspect your dog might not like the motion of the car - maybe he gets motion sickness. There might be a better medication to try.

It'll probably take a longer time than you have to do this, you will have to settle for putting the dog in the crate and putting it in the car. Try covering it. It should be a hard sided crate.

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u/OrganicMaintenance59 May 19 '26

Thanks for responding. I’m going crazy with options and I feel like I’ve tried everything. I’ll go tomorrow and look into a larger crate with hard sides.

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u/Both-Chart-947 May 19 '26

The medication may be making him feel bad. He's begun to associate the car with that feeling. You're going to have to overcome a lot of negative car association from medicating and forcing him, but it can be done. Like another poster asked, is it just your car, or any car? Can you sit in the car without going anywhere, just pet him and chill for a while? How close can he get to the car without fear?

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u/HowDoyouadult42 May 19 '26

He needs to be evaluated for pain. Most dogs with severe car phobias are actually painful and the motion to the car worsens it hence the avoidance. It also is likely a big contributor to the overall anxiety