Dog in the car

[Moonstone6]

Hi All,

My little Westie pup is now six months old, and before when travelling in the car he was small enough to sit on my lap (im a passenger!), now he's too big and its dangerous. We've tried putting him on the back seat but he just practically screams the whole journey.
We tried a doggy seatbelt but he just chokes himself with it trying to get to us in the front.
I've tried researching online what i can do about it but they all give advice on how to stop them getting freaked out by the car/outside the car, but i dont think my Westie has that problem, i think he's crying because he's not the centre of attention anymore.
We've tried shouting at him to be quiet, I've tried putting my hand round to the back seat to give him some reassurance (which of course is dangerous if we were to crash!) and neither tactic works. My partner suggested i sit in the back with him, which kinda worked to a degree but i can't sit in the back of my car forever (plus i get carsick in the back on long journeys!)

Can anyone please advise on what we can try now, as i can't find any advice on the web that isnt to do with crating or seatbelts.

Thankyou

Moonstone x

[lankeela]

Whats wrong with a car cage, you can get a soft material one, and give him a bone or a chew to keep him occupied. Leave him in it for short times while at home and maybe even feed him in it so he is comfortable with it, and you can even take it indoors for him as a 'den' to retreat to if he is sleeepy. If he still creates sit in the front of the car for an hour or two reading a book and ignoring him.

[Moonstone6]

Yea, i was just reading about that. My partner thinks we should try other things before spending out on a crate though.

[ruthann58]

try strapping him in to the seat belt with a harness on not on his collar that way he wont choke

[paraffin]

He's only a Westie, therefore can't be that big. Still, if you won't have him on your lap anymore, consider having him on the floor in the footwell on your side.
It may just work and you might find that, as long as you are not too inconvenienced, i.e. that you still have enough footroom, he might curl up there and go to sleep.
Might not work or could be too impractical but it's worth a try.
Try pushing your seat back as far as possible, pop him at your feet and see what happens. Good luck.

[Moonstone6]

Well i've bought a little material crate thing to put in the car for when he's in it and for home when he's not - hopefully this will calm him down!

He started being sick in the car last night (although nothing came of it) - i wonder if maybe he's car sick??

[melodydriver]

Hi Moonstone, You may not be aware but it is a legal requirement to have a dog properly restrained in a car, that means in a crate in the back, on the back seat with a harness or in the front passenger footwell (Not lap). your doing the right thing wanting to restrain him and and in my experience crates are the best (and safest) option. I know it sound mean but he will get used to it, he's been used to siting on your lap and having a cuddle and suddenly he has to go in the back, he doesn't understand he's too big and safety issues, so he will make a fuss for a while. But i'm sure after a while he'll associate it with going out to new places and having fun. Good luck anyway, hope he get used to it soon.
M

[Moonstone6]

Thanks Melody, my crate has arrived today so lets hope it works!!! x

[bessieboo5]

Get a crate! It worked wonders for my puppy who was 3 months old when I got her from a rescue centre. She was taken home in a crate and was sick in it every time we went out for about a week. I used to sit in the car with the engine running to get her used to the noise and progressed to driving around for a few mins to up to an hour which helped her get used to it and now can't wait to get in it. It is safe for her, plus me! Patience is needed I think ( plus a good washing machine and several old blankets!). Good luck!