How do I stop my Dog getting car sick?
Kirsty Everard • 4 August 2025
Help with Safe and Enjoyable Car Travel for You and Your Dog
Taking your Dog on adventures in the car should be a pleasurable experience for you both, but it can be really difficult if they bark, jump about, or are sick.
If your Dog is a rather vocal passenger, can’t settle, or suffers with motion sickness in the car then this information will really help you!
Motion sickness is particularly common in Puppies and young Dogs because the structures in the ear that help with balance aren’t fully developed, many do grow out of it but an estimated 1 in 4 don’t, even if the sickness gets better as they mature it can create negative associations with the car.
It’s really important to create pleasant associations with being in the car, whether your Dog is anxious, over-excited or suffering from the effects of motion sickness this is extremely valuable for our young Puppies, as well as our older Dogs.
- Safety - when you travel with your Dog it’s important that they are safe and secure, this could be in a suitable crate, or on an appropriate harness and seatbelt attachment
- Food - avoid feeding your Dog just before travelling, but don’t starve them before either because if they suffer motion sickness, or are sick due to anxiety, then not feeding them may make them bring up less but it won’t stop them from vomiting – missing out a meal can also cause stress vomiting in some Dogs! If your Dog is due a meal then try feeding them a small and light meal at least 3-4 hours before your journey
- Water - If your Dog pants, or is sick in the car then this can make them dehydrated so be sure to have plenty of fresh water available
- Ventilation – a bit of fresh air can really help your Dog, especially if they suffer with motion sickness, open a window enough to allow in fresh air, but not so much that your Dog can put their head out because we don’t want bits of grit or debris causing injury to their eyes, or to distract other motorists! There is also a risk that if a window is open too widely that it may be viewed as an escape route. Opening the windows prior to closing the doors can also prevent an air lock forming when the doors are shut, which can be extremely uncomfortable for Dogs and especially Puppies, when the doors are shut you can then close the windows, especially if you will be putting on the air conditioner
- Air fresheners – remove any air fresheners because these can be overwhelmingly strong for our Dog’s highly sensitive sense of smell
- Adaptil is a synthetic pheromone which can help to promote calmness and reduce anxiety, you can buy plug in diffusers for the home, and a spray which can be used in the car – by having both your Dog will be calmer when you begin travelling, as well as in the car
- Music has also been shown to have a calming effect, classical music, soft rock and reggae have all been shown to have beneficial effects
- Ramps
– getting into the car may be difficult and cause discomfort for some Dogs, some Dogs also dislike being picked up – teaching your Dog to use a ramp to get in and out of the car can help them too
Training Tips
Please contact me for additional training support, but here are some tips to help you.
Remember to keep your training sessions in and around the car short and sweet; keep in mind that over doing it can actually result in anxiety levels escalating so it’s always better to end on a high note rather than trying to continue. Be patient and don’t try to rush through the process, you’ll get far better success in the long run if you take time working at your Dog’s pace.
- Start by working around the car every two or three days, use whatever your Dog loves most, this may be their favourite treat, or a game with their favourite toy: if your Dog is uninterested in taking food, or playing with you, then start a little further away from the car where they are comfortable and gradually move closer, be sure to go at their own pace and keep sessions really short and fun
- When your Dog is ready to move closer to the car do this in very small stages, 30cm at a time, don’t be afraid to move further away if you need to at any point
- Try scattering a few extra tasty treats on the ground near the car, you could also try giving your Dog their meals around the car (be sure to do this at a distance where your Dog is comfortable so that they eat their food at a normal pace and don’t just inhale it!)
- Once your Dog is comfortable approaching the car, the next stage is to ask them to get in it, at first do this with the engine off, open all of the doors and the boot so that your Dog won’t feel trapped and use a lead for safety, a 2m long line would be ideal (avoid using retractable leads to ensure your Dog’s safety and make sure the car is in a safe location)
- Repeat the earlier steps using your Dog’s favourite food or toys to help create nice associations inside the car, let your Dog see you place their treats in the car, so that they are within reach for your Dog, encourage your Dog to enjoy their treats, but go back to an easier stage if needed
- As your Dog becomes happier leaning in to reach their treats you can start to place them a little further inside the car, eventually they will need to step into the car – make sure you use something extra tasty at this point! This is where your long line will come in handy because your Dog may choose to hop in and out the other side of their car, be sure to keep the lead nice and slack at all times
- Next you can sit in the car and encourage your Dog to join you, using their treats or favourite toy, be careful to ensure you do not pull on the lead (you may need an assistant outside of the car at this stage to help make things easier)
- As your Dog becomes more confident at getting in and out of the car, you can start to hide their treats so that they spend a little longer in there, or sit with them feeding them treats for a little longer – be sure to still keep sessions short and sweet!
- At this point you can also give your Dog calming activities to enjoy in the car, such as a long-lasting chew, stuffed Kong, or lickimat
- Next you can begin to close the car doors, at first you may need to be inside with your Dog so an assistant may be helpful, open the windows slightly first to minimise any pressure changes and shut the doors as carefully and quietly as possible, leaving the door closest to your Dog until last
- Now you can build up the length of time that you are able to sit quietly together in the car, again you can use long lasting chews, a Kong, Lickimat, or even practice their settle on a mat
- When your Dog can jump into the car and sit with you calmly enjoying some treats with all the doors shut, then it’s time to progress to starting the engine
- Repeat all of the above steps with the engine on, so that your Dog can get used to the sound and vibrations, you may need to start with just a few seconds and gradually increase the time that the engine is on
- When your Dog is comfortable sitting in the car with the engine on it’s time to add in some movement, if you have an assistant (who is insured to drive your car) it may help so that you can concentrate on your Dog – if you don’t have an assistant spend a little time making sure your Dog can still sit comfortably whilst you are in the driver’s seat first
- Initially only move the car slowly forward a meter or two and be sure to brake gradually, be really careful not to rush this stage, very gradually increase the distance that you move over the next few weeks and if your Dog seems at all anxious end the session and restart going a smaller distance
- At first select short routes that avoid too many traffic lights, or roundabouts so that your Dog won’t have too much extra movement
- As your training progresses try driving to a nearby park to have some fun together before another short drive home
Introducing a Ramp
Care should be taken when getting your Dog in and out of the car. You’ll want to prevent your Dog from jumping whilst they are still growing to protect their joints, but lifting your Dog might be difficult, especially if they are a large breed. Using a ramp is the perfect solution.
Make sure your sessions are short and fun, so that your Dog really enjoys this exercise.
- To introduce a ramp to your Dog, start by laying it on the floor and letting your Dog investigate. You can use treats to make it a really positive experience
- When your Dog is relaxed you can start to encourage them to step onto the ramp while it is lying flat on the floor. Reward them for every paw contact at first, before gradually getting them to walk along it from one end to the other before rewarding
- The next stage is to elevate the ramp slightly so that your Dog can walk up and down a slight incline. A curb is perfect for this
- When they are happily moving back and forth along the ramp at a shallow incline, you can attach the ramp to your vehicle and practice getting them to move up the ramp and into your car. Reward highly as soon as they are in the car before getting them to move down the ramp again
- Over time you can add cues to prompt your Dog to get in and out of the car using the ramp
Please contact me if you have any questions or would like any additional support
You can also sign up at my online school for more help with training your Dog
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Christmas is a time to sit back, relax and enjoy some home comforts, the last thing you need is to have to worry about your Dog so here are some helpful tips for you. Creating a place where your Dog can relax and settle down quietly will help to reduce anxiety and help your Dog to cope with stressful situations. Even if your Dog doesn’t suffer from fear or anxiety, it’s great to have their own safe haven where they can go when they just want to relax for a bit. By giving your Dog the choice to go to their safe haven you will increase their confidence in dealing with uncertain or stressful situations. It's important your Dog views their safe space as the place ever! How to set up your Dog's safe space: ✅ Look at where your Dog naturally likes to go, could you set something up there for them? You could even set up more than one place if you'd like one where you spend the most time and a second in a really quiet spot! ✅ Make sure it's nice and cosy with enough space for your Dog to stretch out, and some comfortable bedding ✅ Try to pick a spot that won't be too hot, or too cold ✅ Make sure their safe space is easily accessible, and that they are never shut in there, it's important your Dog knows that they can come and go as they please from their safe space ✅ Make sure there's a water bowl near your Dog's safe space ✅ Over the next few days set up a safe space for your Dog, in preparation for all the festivities ✅ You could start feeding your Dog's meals in their safe space, and be sure to give them lots of tasty treats there so they start to build up some really great associations!
There are so many different toys out there for our Dogs, here is a little selection that hopefully will help to give you some ideas of ways to keep them relaxed, entertained and enriched both physically and mentally!
Christmas is a time to sit back, relax and enjoy some home comforts, the last thing you need is to have to worry about your Dog's safety so here are some helpful tips for you.
1. Make sure your Dog is comfortable Try to take your Dog out before it gets dark if they are likely to be spooked by people in costumes, you may want to feed them slightly earlier and then take them out for their last wee later when it's a bit quieter. Keep your Dog on their lead and make sure that ID tag and microchip is up to date just incase something scares them and they bolt, make sure that your garden is safe and escape proof too. 2. Create a safe ‘Doggy den’ Provide your Dog with plenty of places to hide if they choose to, if your Dog has a crate you could cover it with blankets, or you could use chairs and blankets to create a new safe space for them, perhaps you have noticed your Dog has found their own safe space that they like to go to? Try not to choose somewhere by a window though so that they're away from any outside noise. Make sure your Dog can come and go from their den as they please. Fill your Doggy dens with plenty of blankets, chew toys and ensure there is a water bowl nearby. Your Dog may be most comfortable with you, or in their usual bed so make sure they have options and avoid confining them to one place. If your Dog prefers to hide away do let them. By giving your Dog a safe space we can help to reduce stress and improve their confidence. Creating a place where they can relax and settle down quietly will help to reduce anxiety and help your Dog to cope with stressful situations. Even if your Dog doesn’t suffer from fear or anxiety, it’s great to have their own safe space where they can go when they just want to relax for a bit. By giving your Dog the choice to go to their safe space you will increase their confidence in dealing with strange situations. It's important your Dog views their safe space as positively and sees it as the place ever! 3. Make sure your Dog is secure If you are likely to be having visitors ensure that your Dog is somewhere secure when you open the door, it may be worth leaving their collar and ID tag on just incase they accidentally escape 4. Turn on the TV or radio The sound from the TV or radio can help to mask outdoor noises, avoid turning the volume up too loudly though. 5. Be available to reassure your Dog Reassure your Dog if they are nervous, but do try to stay calm and act normally, gently stroke them if they are comfortable with that, or you could try playing a game with their favourite toy if they want to. 6. Provide your Dog with a stuffed Kong, or long-lasting chew Giving your Dog something to chew on will have a calming effect and help to keep them occupied; you could also try puzzle toys, or a snuffle matt to keep them busy! 7. Keep Human treats out of your Dog's reach Chocolate is harmful for Dogs, and sweeties are very high in sugar, some may contain xylitol which can be fatal so be sure to keep them away from your Dog. 8. Fill your Dog’s water bowls Make sure that your Dog has access to plenty of water because anxious Dogs pant more and chews may make them more thirsty too. 9. Dressing up If you are going to be dressing up then you may want to introduce your Dog to your outfit beforehand so that they aren't surprised by your sudden change of appearance! If you are thinking about dressing your Dog up then please ensure that they are completely comfortable with the whole process from having the item put on them to wearing it.
Stop! Before you next empty your recycle bin let us take a look at some home-made enrichment toys we can create for our Dogs, for free! Always be sure to supervise your Dog with these and if they like to eat any of the materials listed then please avoid using them to be sure to keep them safe. Cardboard boxes: you can use these to pop some of your Dog's food or treats in, for beginners keep the box open but then you can start to pop little holes in, or seal them up for your Dog to get the food out, if your Dog is highly toy motivated then you could also hide a toy for them to find and then have a good play together! Toilet roll inner tubes: start saving those tubes because there are so many things that we can do with them to help provide some mental stimulation for our Dogs; for beginners we can cut those tubes into different sizes, put them in a box and scatter some treats in there for our Dogs to get out, then once your Dog has learned the game you could even fold over the ends of the tubes to turn them into little parcels to make the game more difficult! Plastic Bottles: we can start by making this really easy for our Dogs, grab a plastic bottle, throw away the lid and make a few holes in it, next pop some treats in and let your Dog work out how to get them out; once your Dog is used to this game you can make less holes, or just take the lid off, if your Dog gets really smart you could always leave the lid on but just be careful to make sure your Dog doesn't swallow it Sustainable cardboard packaging: this is great for popping in a box with some of your Dogs food or treats, to start with you can put their biscuits in the box and then pop the packaging on top, but once they are used to the game you could even wrap their food up in the packaging before popping it in a box for them so they have to rustle around to find the food! Paper plates: you can use paper plates to make little parcels for your Dog by folding the plate in half, placing some food in the middle and then folding over the edges! Muffin tins: if you have an old muffin tin these are great! You can begin by just putting food in the trays but then you can start to cover the tops with tennis balls, your Dog will have to use their nose or paw to get to the food! (If you don't have an old muffin tin you can also use the plastic trays that come in multi-packs of biscuits - it's a great excuse to treat yourself!) Pillow cases: if you have an old pillow case you can crinkle it up a little and pop treats in the gaps, much like how a snuffle mat works, or if you have a Dog who is a little more inquisitive and want to up the activity level you could always place their treats, or favourite toy inside the pillowcase and let them work out how to get it out! Blankets: you can start this off quite easily by popping some treats on a blanket and then progress to rolling the blanket so that your Dog has to unravel it with their nose to get the food Plastic cups: you can use these to hide treats under, when your Dog is first starting you can lift them to show your Dog the food underneath and keep them interested, but after a while you'll be able to let your Dog work this one out on their own, over time you will be able to just put food under some of the cups so your Dog has to sniff out the correct ones! Ice cube trays: ice cube trays are fantastic for teething Puppies and are great in the summer months for Dogs of any age to help keep cool, pop some of their treats in the tray with a little water and leave to freeze, you have the option of taking out the individual ice cubes, or allowing your Dog to lick the whole tray to get to their treats! These are all great ideas for you and your Dog but if you would like to look at some of the interactive toys that are available at the moment please do check out my previous blog with some ideas for interactive toys for your Dog that you can buy.
Many Dogs are scared of fireworks, throughout the year we can work to desensitise them to the sounds of those loud bangs, but here are some ways to help keep them comfortable during fireworks season. Where possible try to implement any changes gradually, over a few days, so that your Dog’s routine isn’t suddenly changed. 1. Take your Dog for their walk before it gets dark Try to make sure you take your Dog out before fireworks are likely to start going off, you may want to feed them slightly earlier too and then take them out for their last wee when the fireworks have finished. Keep your Dog on their lead and make sure that ID tag and microchip is up to date just incase something scares them and they bolt, make sure that your garden is safe and escape proof too. 2. Create a safe ‘Doggy den’ Provide your Dog with plenty of places to hide if they choose to, if your Dog has a crate you could cover it with blankets, or you could use chairs and blankets to create a new safe space for them, perhaps you have noticed your Dog has found their own safe space that they like to go to? Try not to choose somewhere by a window though so that they're away from any outside noise. Make sure your Dog can come and go from their den as they please. Fill your Doggy dens with plenty of blankets, chew toys and ensure there is a water bowl nearby. Your Dog may be most comfortable with you, or in their usual bed so make sure they have options and avoid confining them to one place. If your Dog prefers to hide away do let them. By giving your Dog a safe space we can help to reduce stress and improve their confidence. Creating a place where they can relax and settle down quietly will help to reduce anxiety and help your Dog to cope with stressful situations, including fireworks. Even if your Dog doesn’t suffer from fear or anxiety, it’s great to have their own safe space where they can go when they just want to relax for a bit. By giving your Dog the choice to go to their safe space you will increase their confidence in dealing with uncertain or stressful situations, like fireworks. It's important your Dog views their safe space as positively and sees it as the place ever! 3. Shut the windows, close the curtains and leave the lights on Making sure the windows are closed will help quieten the sound of the fireworks. Closing the curtains and keeping the room lit will help to keep your Dog cosy and hide any flashes of light from the fireworks. 4. Turn on the TV, radio or play some music The sound from the TV or radio can help to mask the sound of the fireworks, avoid turning the volume up too loudly though. Classical music has been shown to have calming effects - in one study Dogs who were played classical music were found to rest more, spent more of their time being quiet, and less time standing than when exposed to heavy metal, pop and conversation. Classical music with a single instrument at a slower tempo has been especially shown to produced relaxed behaviors in Dogs. Dogs seem to relax when exposed to music with a tempo of 50-60 beats per minute, interestingly this doesn't just include classical music, but reggae and some types of soft rock have been shown to reduce heart rate and lower stress too! Why not play a selection of calming music and see which encourages your Dog to relax most! 5. Be available to reassure your Dog Reassure your Dog if they are nervous, but do try to stay calm and act normally, gently stroke them if they are comfortable with that, or you could try playing a game with their favourite toy if they want to. 6. Provide your Dog with a stuffed Kong, or long-lasting chew Giving your Dog something to chew on will have a calming effect and help to keep them occupied; you could also try puzzle toys, a snuffle matt, or a lickimat. If your Dog is really anxious be mindful that they may not want to eat but it’s certainly worth a try! 7. Fill your Dog’s water bowls Make sure that your Dog has access to plenty of water because anxious Dogs pant more and chews may make them more thirsty too. 8. Try some calming remedies - Adaptil is a synthetic pheromone which can help to promote calmness and reduce anxiety by sending 'comforting messages' to your Dog, you can buy plug in diffusers for your home, or it is available as a spray - Scullcap and Valerian Tablets are a natural way to help promote relaxation and reduce anxiety 9. Extra inspiration If you would like some ideas for free home made interactive toys to help keep your Dog occupied, or ideas to put on a LickiMat please check out my other blogs too! 10. Start preparing for next year If your Dog is anxious of fireworks please do get in contact with me so that we can arrange an appointment to help them in preparation for next year.