Some of us are lucky enough to have dogs that enjoy every car ride. Some of us are not quite so lucky. Thankfully, it is possible to teach a dog to enjoy road trips so you can make it to your favorite hikes and campsites.
In a former life, our Communications Coordinator was a dog trainer. He wants to help make sure everyone in your family loves your Subaru as much as you do.
Teaching a dog to like car rides is based on a simple premise. Simple doesn't always mean easy, so working with your dog may take a little more effort than someone else with another dog, but it is totally possible to teach your dog to love riding along with its family.
Requisite disclaimer: what follows is advice offered in good faith by a former professional dog trainer. Every dog is different; the following is offered as broad guidance. There is no substitute for personalized recommendations from a certified, professional dog trainer. Dogs with conditions including but not limited to orientation and balance issues, gastrointestinal issues, or anxiety may need particular attention or tailored training. If you have questions, contact a current professional to oversee training to make your dog the happiest and healthiest it can be.
There are two ideas behind teaching your dog to be happy in the car
There are a bunch of reasons a dog might not like car rides. One is that getting in a car means going somewhere bad (the dreaded vet visit). One is that the dog wasn't introduced to your car well (or cars in general) and gets nervous. These are the big ones. And they both mean one thing: when your dog gets in the car, they know something they don't like is going to happen, so they get upset.
1. Make the car a happy place
It sounds deceptively easy. Sometimes it is easy! Our Rental Manager the other day, for instance, saw a dog so excited it was bouncing around inside a car while at a fast-food drive-thru. The driver swings through to pick up some fries every time the dog takes a car ride, and their dog gets to have a few of them. You can bet that dog likes car rides. There are healthier (and cheaper) options that work. That and if your dog doesn't like car rides, getting them into the car to go through the drive-thru may be a hassle. That dog owner, however, has figured out how to get their dog to look forward to every trip.
Your dog already eats. Instead of dinner in the kitchen, feed it in the cargo area with the gate up while it's parked in your driveway or garage. Your dog probably has a favorite toy. Play tug of war in the back seat. Take the things you already know your dog likes doing and do them in and near your car while it's parked. Sit next to your dog and pet it while you read or play on your phone.
There are things your dog likes to do. If you get your dog to associate the things it likes with your car, it will start to feel good about the car! Dogs learn by association and direct cause and effect. If you associate your vehicle with things your dog likes, it will like your vehicle!
2. Take your time
Don't rush it. You might want to start doing things the dog likes just next to the car. Then do them with the doors/lift gate open. Then do them inside with the doors open where the dog will be during rides while the car is off and parked. This last step is important, because it helps keep the dog calm: they have the option to leave if they want to, but if you make it fun or enjoyable enough inside the car, the dog will WANT to be in the car. If your dog does leave? Do something fun to bring it back inside! Then do the fun things inside with the doors closed. Then do them inside while the car is parked but the engine is running. Lastly, rope someone else into driving so you can do it with them while the car is in motion.
You're teaching your dog to do something new. You're teaching it to like car rides. Think of it kind of like learning math. No one pops up and starts doing differential calculus out of nowhere. Everyone first learns their numbers. Then addition and subtraction. Then multiplication and division and on from there. Getting your dog to be happy around a car is teaching it numbers. Getting a dog to be happy inside a stationary car is teaching it operations. If liking car rides were easy for your dog, it would already enjoy them. Taking the time to go through the steps is how you teach them to get to where you need them to be.
It really doesn't have to take that long. It probably won't take that long! But, like it says in the disclaimer, every dog is different, and it might take a little longer than you expect. However, training a dog this way ensures that it will do the things you want it to do because the dog wants to do it. That will make for a happier, healthier dog that you can share car rides for years to come.
