Dog co-pilot help.

[Summitsearcher]

from an earlier post I mentioned I lost my co-pilot Beau. Today, insert Maggie. She is a Lab mix with high anxiety when traveling. So bad she whine’s, drools and howls when in the truck or whenever I leave her, even to pump gas. I travel a lot and try to take her with me but the chaos in the cab is distracting. I’ve tried CBD oil with minimal results, thundershirt, Kong and Benadryl to no avail. Any suggestions would really help and be greatly appreciated for my furry co-pilot.

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[Ball_Ze]

My best suggestion is talk to your veterinarian - I have a dog that is very similar during thunderstorms. Exact same behavior - never could find anything to work - and tried all of the same "self-med" options.

Luckily for me, he's now nearing his 14th year starting to go deaf, his desensitized hearing has helped more than anything else.

 

[Summitsearcher]

My best suggestion is talk to your veterinarian - I have a dog that is very similar during thunderstorms. Exact same behavior - never could find anything to work - and tried all of the same "self-med" options.

Luckily for me, he's now nearing his 14th year starting to go deaf, his desensitized hearing has helped more than anything else.

Thanks for the suggestion, I was hoping not to go the drug route because of her age.

 

[Ball_Ze]

Thanks for the suggestion, I was hoping not to go the drug route because of her age.

Oh yeah. I totally get that.

 

[jeepin48]

Repetition is key to desensitizing. Does she have an issue getting in or avoid getting in? Either way keep practicing. I would put her in there multiple times a day and not go anywhere. Leave the door open and hang out for 5 minutes looking the other way with you phone. Sweeten the deal with a good treat if it helps. Most of our labs liked to sit up on the rear seat so they could see. If we tried to keep them on the floor they would lose it. What worked best for me was adding a pup deck carpeted plywood on the rear seat and a soft pad on that. Then tied a rope across the head rest and flipped up the arm rest. The more you do it the better she will be.

 

[Summitsearcher]

Repetition is key to desensitizing. Does she have an issue getting in or avoid getting in? Either way keep practicing. I would put her in there multiple times a day and not go anywhere. Leave the door open and hang out for 5 minutes looking the other way with you phone. Sweeten the deal with a good treat if it helps. Most of our labs liked to sit up on the rear seat so they could see. If we tried to keep them on the floor they would lose it. What worked best for me was adding a pup deck carpeted plywood on the rear seat and a soft pad on that. Then tied a rope across the head rest and flipped up the arm rest. The more you do it the better she will be.

Thanks, I’ll try it.

 

[cuellar13]

We have a Boston Terrier that used to not go outside for almost a entire day, after hearing fireworks. She would literally wait to use the bathroom that entire time. She'd freak out the entire time any fireworks were let off. Desensitization was the key, and we did it using positive reinforcement and distraction while fireworks were being let off outside. She is a VERY treat motivated dog, though. Distractions with sound and food, also some CBD treats. Have the thunder shirt too. If I am correct, it takes a bit for the CBD to really start to work- just like us taking an OTC anti-inflammatory drug, you need to make sure that it's a "therapeutic dose" used consistently over a period of time to get the true benefits. I'm no vet, but you may want to research that. This is going to sound crazy, but I'd look at the type of food that the pup eats, too. High quality food did wonders for the energy, coats, and moods of our pups. Just my $.02. Good luck!

 

[869 KPH]

At the risk of stating something too simple - Is she crate trained? Our pup is and if she gets anxious in the car we just set up a soft crate in the back seat for her. She usually passes right out.

 

[johnparjr]

Keep doing it and she will get through it

 

[Trickster]

Do you have a cab divider/net installed?
How old is the dog?
How many times has the dog been in the JT?
Do you have any comfort beds or toys from your home in the vehicle?

I have experience, maybe with some more info I may provide some help.
Remember, a dog feeds off and reacts to the owners tactics and emotions.
Best of luck.

 

[MyRight]

Possibly try another brand/formulation of CBD.
We tried gummies from one brand that didn't do jack, then tried an oil from Green Roads and what a world of difference we saw in how our pug was affected.
I am a CBD reseller and have the oil for medium sized dogs on hand...15 - 50 lbs.

 

[AmosMoses01]

I don't have anything significantly different to add, but it looks like Maggie is just fine on the boat. (Go figure, labs liking the water! ) Maybe having each trip for a while go to the boat would help desensitize her...

Background for us: Our lab was one we adopted at probably 4 - 5 months old. My parents found him abandoned in a very rural area, brought him home and then proceeded to let us know that our one dog needed a brother. So we drove three hours to pick him up. At first, every car trip made him panic - he was traumatized by whoever dumped him in the woods. We did the desensitization thing by taking him on short trips - sometimes just get in the car and go around the block - for quite a while. Eventually it became a "normal thing" for him, but it just took time.

 

[j.o.y.ride]

Make the truck a fun positive experience. Don't feed as much before the trip so you can give little treats along the way, even the rest of the breakfast or dinner. And when you get out of the truck give a nice bit of food. Turn it into a positive.

 

[dcmdon]

I had a dog like that. He was a mentally tough field trial bred American lab. He was also alpha and had no problems with separation anxiety.

But when he rode in the car he lost his 5h1t. Yelping, whining, it was terrible.

I couldn't explain it. I tried everything.

In the end, I just brought him along with me less. And when I did, he got tranquilizers before the trip. In 11 years I was unable to make going for a ride a pleasant experience for him.

Sorry for that answer. But that was my experience.

If I had a dog like that, I'd probably put a cap on the gladiator and travel with him in a crate in the back. At least then one of you can enjoy the ride.

 

[DocMike]

I recently brought a new pup home. I used a hoodie I ran in on my seat and the heated seat. He digs that.

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