CAR SICKNESS

Car Sickness is both distressing for the owner and the dog but with time and patience it can be overcome. The important thing to remember is not to rush the dog, he will need to overcome his fear in his own time. Don't move on a stage until your dog is completely comfortable with the stage you are teaching. If you do move too quickly go back and repeat the last stage. You will need to set aside some time every day to devote to training. We recommend three training sessions every day.

Homoeopathic remedies are very useful in the treatment of car sickness. A few drops of 'Rescue Remedy' should be put into your dogs drinking water every day during training. 'Cocculus Petroleum 6c' or 'Ipecac 30' is recommended for the control of drooling, vomiting and defecating. 'Nux Vomica 30c' is recommended for the dog that howls and refuses to sit still in the vehicle. 'Aconite 30c' can be used for the first few days to overcome his fear. You will need to choose which to administer, some dogs may need all four remedies.

Decide which door on the vehicle that the dog should use: side door for travelling on the back seat: rear door for hatchbacks. Always use the same door throughout the training. Arm your self with a bag of tasty titbits, something really special like small cubes of cheese or strips of dried liver or pieces of cooked chicken, your dog will not try to overcome his fear for a bland dried biscuit!

Stage 1 Put your dog on a lead and calmly and quietly walk him towards the car. Open the chosen door and sit quietly just inside leaving your dog on the outside. Wait until he is calm and reward him. Do this three times at each training session. When your dog is completely comfortable with this you are ready to move on to the next stage.

Stage 2 Repeat stage 1 but unclip your dogs lead, wait for 30 seconds and reward him for staying.

Stage 3 Walk to the vehicle, sit inside and call your dog to you for his titbit.

Stage 4 Move further into the vehicle so your dog has to reach inside to take his titbit.

Stage 5 Stand outside the open door, show your dog his titbit throw it just inside the vehicle whilst asking him to 'fetch'. Progress with this stage until he will readily jump onto the seat/into the boot to retrieve it.

Stage 6 Repeat stage 5 but follow your dog into the vehicle closing the door behind you, reward him, then get out again immediately. Progress until the dog is happy to spend a minute in the
car with you with the door closed.

Stage 7 Repeat stages 5 and 6 but with the engine running. Start the engine before the dog approaches the vehicle. This is the appropriate time to start to use the homoeopathic remedies each day. After choosing the appropriate remedies for your dog administer the tablet/s half an hour before the first training session of each day.

Stage 8 When your dog is truly comfortable with sitting in the vehicle with the engine running take him for a short drive to the end of your road and back, rewarding him before you release him.

Stage 9 Repeat stage 8 increasing the distance slightly each time until he is able to complete a
small journey with you i.e. to the shops: the school run: the park or beach.

Stage 10 When your dog is travelling happily reduce his homeopathic remedies to once a week for three weeks then you can discontinue them altogether. When you have a dog that is
happy with short journeys do not become complacent, still take him out regularly, once a day at this stage will be just fine.

There are other ways, along with the above training, to help develop a happy association between your dog and vehicle:

• When your dog is comfortable with stage 5 you can play ball with him. Have the car door open, throw the ball in the garden a few times then randomly throw the ball into the vehicle for him to retrieve.
• Also when your dog is comfortable with stage 5, you can give him his meals in the car with the door open.
• When he is comfortable with stage 6, feed him his meals in the car with the door closed behind him releasing him immediately he has eaten.
• When you reach stage 9, take your dog to the park or beach for a good run so that he builds the association with a journey in the car with a pleasant walk in his favourite place.
  

You now have a very happy travelling companion.
He should be able to travel anywhere with you quite comfortably.