Riding in the Car
"One" of the things that has me concerned is that he is nervous riding in the car. It took me a while to figure this out. He was just over a year old when we drove out to Colorado. He never slept a wink, laid down, the time we spent driving. He was right between dh and I and stared out the front window...we spent hours and hours driving. He is now five yrs old and, yes I'm a little slow, but I finally realized last year its because he's nervous. I don't have a seatbelt for him in the car but for all our safety I think its in the near future. The #2 thing I'm concerned about. He seems to be nervous/concerned/scared around other dogs. Since a small pup he was socialized around other dogs and people. He played great with other dogs. Its just in this past year that I noticed this. There are a lot if instances but the two that stick out in my mind are: near the dog park, we were walking and some folks were walking toward us and had a black lab. The dog started running toward us and I don't like dogs I don't know and I had Simon's collar in my hand and I just put him behind me. Well Simon had other ideas, like "I'm outta here" and tried to get away. I held tight as he was doing circles around me trying to get loose. Stupid people finally got hold of their dog and they left. Second one that sticks out in my mind: The trial last month. I had Simon on leash, talking to Dawn and Chewie walks past us. Just walked. Simon snapped the air three times. He didn't touch Chewie but he was nervous as he walked past. I don't know what to do about these things. Simon is in the car tons and will not settle and he's around other dogs tons too. How can I help my neurotic dog? |
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| Regarding riding in the car, I am a HUGE advocate of dog seatbelts. As soon as my Max would see the harness come out, he'd spin, sit, and lift his paw to make it easy to slip on. A good fitting harness keeps them safe and contained. And it's much more convenient for us than a crate. With Benson, we're using a Champion seatbelt harness system, and it's working out very well. I like the way it attaches to any regular seatbelt. Since we have no back seat in the Jeep, I had to get creative:   This gives her enough freedom look out all sides and poke her nose between the front seats, but she can't hop out or get up into our laps. Perhaps feeling more secure (either through a harness or a crate) might help alleviate Simon's nervousness? As for the reaction to other dogs, we had a similar problem with Max. In hindsight, I suspect that we were so nervous anticipating his reaction that after a while that we probably instigated it without realizing it. I'd say work with a trainer, so you can all learn to work your way through it. Good luck!  |
| The seatbelt thing is a really good idea. My dogs will calmly go through an automatice car wash with me now. It took a few rides through. Violet was the best, she's always on her couch so nothing seems to bother her. China and Asia learned to relax with me talking to them the first few times through, now it is like nothing to them. I had to do the same thing for one of my friends. Years before I met her, at one time she was going through an automatic car was and the car was broke down and she was stuck for a while. She never could go through the car wash after that. So one day we were out to lunch and I said I was going to wash my car on the way back to work and she told me about her incident. So I asked her if she wanted to try it? She was game, so I talked to her the whole time we were going through and she was so excited when she got to the end. She thanked me and started taking her car through the car wash on her own. |
| Pam - he's crate trained and you have room for a crate in your current vehicle. Use that and cover it with blankets so he feels secure in his "cave" . A seatbelt will keep him confined, but typically only heightens the anxiety of such dogs. As for other dogs, if you're nervous/concerned about approaching dogs, he will be too. Putting him behind your back (plus your body tension) told him there was something to be worried about - you inadvertently reinforced whatever anxieties he may have had in that regard. Then, the biggy - along comes Gar, King of Obnoxious & Rude. I was surprised when you said he'd react to Chewie who is as stable and dog savvy an OES as you'll ever find and doesn't give off any "vibes", plus even many OES who have other dog issues - my friend's rescue dog, for instance - often tend to feel secure among their own. But Simon's experience has been different. Gar's been a pill since you got him, and the boys have scrapped in the past. Given Gar it does make sense that he may not be a big fan of other OES. He doesn't respond much to Sybil, either and it's a rare OES who doesn't want to flirt with the wench - she gives off play-with me vibes. Though I don't sense that he feels tense around her, do you? Two things: 1) you need to react with more confidence yourself. Other dogs are not a problem, you're in control, he need not concern himself 2) find non-obnoxious dogs he does like, OES and otherwise, and arrange play dates with just him and that dog, no Garfunkel I think there's a run-thru at Katie's coming up, are you going? A nice chance to work on this before the trial next month as it's very tight near the entrances and exits at that trial, so the more confident both of you can be, the better. Kristine |
Simon's Mom wrote: Mr. Simon is my neurotic dog. If you've met him you wouldn't think so because he does not present in that manner. You're right! I have met him and he seems the perfect gentledog!  |
| I would try traveling in a covered crate for Simon. Short trips that are quiet, little traffic or distraction or noise. Then end somewhere fun or at least pleasant! I can see where life with Gar would trigger some anti-OES sentiment.  Especially back when you 1st got him. And as mentioned, really make sure you minimize any tenseness/ fear/ worried potential you may be feeling and "sharing" with him. Easier said than done. And the incident when we walked by - I'm actually not surprised. You were SO nervous and anxious, I'm sure Simon thought you were in mortal danger and he was going to do his part to save you!  |
| Is he nervous in the car when it isn't moving, ie have you tried just letting him play/sleep in the car parked up at home? Is he fearful of that particular car or all cars? ie could your car smell funny or make an odd noise he does not like? Is he at all nervous of any other things? |
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