Please Help

[mummytodakota]

I took my 12 week old staffy to the vets this morning for her vaccinations. I put her in the create in the back of the car, she absolutely freaked out & pooped everywhere! By the time we got to the vets she was covered in poo & the car was a mess. I have been giving her treats to try & get her use to the car but shes just petrified of it still. She refuses to eat them most of the time anyway. She has never been a big eater & is lucky to eat one meal a day! Compared to 3 like she's suppose to. I dont know what to do, im concerned about her eating habits & over the whole car issues. Do you think something has happened to her in a car previously to cause her to be this petrified of it? Any advice would be appreciated :p

[persephone]

Still having problems, poor girl :p

Has she been IN THE CRATE in a car before?

I can imagine it would be a scary experience

Is she normally settled in her crate? ( or is this a different crate?) Is it a closed or open crate? can she see what is happening?

Regarding food... what are you feeding?

Treats are whatever SHE enjoys... not necessarily what WE think a dog will like ;)

If she enjoys cream sponge, or roast chicken skin... well, that is her high-value treat!

She is certainly keeping you busy!

PS I would really recommend a BEHAVIOURIST/Psychologist... we cannot help a lot without seeing her actual body language/behaviour

Edited June 4, 2008 by persephone

[mummytodakota]

Still having problems, poor girl :p

Has she been IN THE CRATE in a car before?

I can imagine it would be a scary experience

Is she normally settled in her crate? ( or is this a different crate?) Is it a closed or open crate? can she see what is happening?

Regarding food... what are you feeding?

Treats are whatever SHE enjoys... not necessarily what WE think a dog will like ;)

If she enjoys cream sponge, or roast chicken skin... well, that is her high-value treat!

She is certainly keeping you busy!

PS I would really recommend a BEHAVIOURIST/Psychologist... we cannot help a lot without seeing her actual body language/behaviour

It is her crate that she occassionally goes in when i cannot supervise her with my toddler. She normally doesn't mind it. It's closed because if it isnt she will jump all over the car. She can see out of it, but cannot see out the car windows etc, as we have a 4wd & she goes in the back of that on the floor, so the windows are higher than her level. I have tried putting it on the back seat etc so she can see out the windows but it makes no difference what so ever. She is just absolutely petrified!

In regards to the food she has the tucker time rolls from the vets with puppy biskuits, but she is just not hungry. Its really weird, ive never know a puppy to not be hungry. She loves pigs ears as treats but thats it. I dont know whats going on, we might have to start looking into a pet behaviourlist like u said.

[Guest Tess32]

That's not the healthiest diet for her. Could you try a premium dry food like Eagle Pack or consider putting her on a raw natural diet? Could you feed her things like chicken wings, frames, lamb necks etc?

[Stewie_the_Frenchie]

Did you talk to the vet about her appetite? Agree that it's not a great diet, especially if it's not appealing to her.

I'd say talk to your vet before making any decisions, it can't hurt. What about her breeder? Could you talk to him/her? They would know the pup better than the vet - maybe they could help.

[Luke W]

Still having problems, poor girl :p

Has she been IN THE CRATE in a car before?

I can imagine it would be a scary experience

Is she normally settled in her crate? ( or is this a different crate?) Is it a closed or open crate? can she see what is happening?

Regarding food... what are you feeding?

Treats are whatever SHE enjoys... not necessarily what WE think a dog will like ;)

If she enjoys cream sponge, or roast chicken skin... well, that is her high-value treat!

She is certainly keeping you busy!

PS I would really recommend a BEHAVIOURIST/Psychologist... we cannot help a lot without seeing her actual body language/behaviour

It is her crate that she occassionally goes in when i cannot supervise her with my toddler. She normally doesn't mind it. It's closed because if it isnt she will jump all over the car. She can see out of it, but cannot see out the car windows etc, as we have a 4wd & she goes in the back of that on the floor, so the windows are higher than her level. I have tried putting it on the back seat etc so she can see out the windows but it makes no difference what so ever. She is just absolutely petrified!

In regards to the food she has the tucker time rolls from the vets with puppy biskuits, but she is just not hungry. Its really weird, ive never know a puppy to not be hungry. She loves pigs ears as treats but thats it. I dont know whats going on, we might have to start looking into a pet behaviourlist like u said.

I'm no expert, but I've read a few books...

What I'd do:

I guess you are going to have to start slowly.

Get your dog to be very happy in it's crate, lots of treats everytime it's in there.

Then work on the car...

Start by playing, feeding, treating just standing next to the car. Start 20 feet away, then 10, then 5.

Then next to the open rear door. get closer and closer...gradually, over a period of several days at least. Take it slowly, only go the next step when the dog seems really, really comfortable.

Then feed little treats by placing them on the bottom of the car door well, make sure they are not inside the car...only just resting on the lip of the door well. Lure your dog to take treats from there...

Greadually move the treat to a few inches inside the car.

Sit on the back seat of the car and start offereng treats to your dog who's outsid ethe car, lure the dog closer and closer.

Eventually the dog will place it's paws on the door well lip...

Keep treating.

Eveneutally, try to lure your dogs paws up on to the seat.

If you've done this slowly and the dog is happy and calm, try to lure him to jump up on the seat.

He'll probably be too small to jump up...keep him really excited for the treat you have in your hand that he just can't reach. Hold the treat in one hand, inside the car, just out of reach. Scoop him up with the other hand and plonk him on the back seat and immediately dump a handful of treats on the back seat. As soon as he's finished the treats, remove him from the car and treat him another handful.

Get him used to this then introduce the crate and start the process again, then time getting him closer and closer to the crate that is sitting in the car.

Then turn on the car and start from the beginning (it'll progress much quicker this time).

Then start closing the car door.

Then start going on tiny drives (down the driveway)...

Get the idea?

Use high value, tasty treats. Chicken liver, boiled chicken breast, devon...

When he's more used to the car and the crate, take him to FUN places. Make 99/100 car trips fun...parks, the beach, doggy friends, etc, etc.

[Dogsfevr]

Tuckertime is a fantastic product & all our pups & older dogs receive.

Which variety are you using??

What diet did the breeder suggest & have you contacted them regarding your problems??

How often has she been in the car & where have these journies been too??

I would also consider your pup may get car sick so would suggest using a travel calm tablet(ginger) before any trip.

Also consider covering the crate.

I for example feel awful if in a car without sunglasses .

I would also do the slow & steady method.Even if on lead just walking around the car whilst one,simply sitting in it whilst on .Just be patient.many dogs do hate cars & your pup may never be perfect but what you need to achieve is a more relaxed child.

As for eating did the vet have a look??

Things like bad tonsils can put a dog of eating.

Teething

[macka]

I don't use a crate in the car, I use a harness on my puppy and put the seatbelt through the back strap, so she can sit up or lie down but not move around. I put one of her cushions under her and one of her toys next to her and away we go. If it's just me in the car with her, I put her on the front seat next to me so I can pat her when she's being good (ie. quiet). Maybe you could try that?

She cried a lot in the car at first, but now she just lies down and goes to sleep.

It took a few weeks of regular car trips o get her used to it.

Also, car trips can't all be to the vet, they have to end in something fun from time to time, like a trip to the park, or to a friend's house to meet new people.