4 Tips to Curb Your Dog’s Car Barking
Barking isn’t fun in general, but being stuck in a small space with barking is arguably worse. And if your dog happens to be large enough to look over your shoulder and bark into your ears, it’s downright tortuous!
Most car barking is about excitement: the dog is pumped to be on an adventure and it translates into vocalization.
For the excited dogs, the solution involves reducing their anticipatory excitement and teaching them to relax in the car.
Several times throughout the day, pick up your keys and his leash and then put them right back down. By breaking the pattern of keys + leash = ride, you reduce the anticipatory excitement associated with that event. The longer your dog stays calm while you prepare to go for a ride, the more likely he’ll stay quiet in the car.
Practice Dr Overall’s Protocol for Relaxation at home and then in the car. This protocol is a great, no-brainer way to teach your dog how to stay calm despite activity around him.
Capture Downs at home. Anytime your dog volunteers to lie down without being asked, feed a treat. This teaches him that lying Down is a good choice and he’ll be more likely to choose that in the car!
Sit in the parked car while he works on a frozen Kong or other long-lasting chew. Getting in the car doesn’t mean he’s going to go somewhere.
If he’s barking at something specific he sees outside the car, try crating him so he can’t look out the windows. If you can’t fit an appropriately sized crate in your car, consider teaching him to wear a Calming Cap to make it harder for him to see clearly.