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Old April 8th, 2009, 03:31 PM
MajorsMom MajorsMom is offline
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Question Constant crying in the car

Ok we just got our 4 yr old GSD, who was a rescue. He absolutely loves car rides, However after a few minutes in the vehical he starts to cry and he cries and he cries . But if he hears keys jingle and you open the door (house) he parks his butt at the tailgate of the van and won't move until you let him in, so he wants to go, but why the cry?

1 thing I thought of was all the travelling he did while being rescued, maybe he thinks we're going to drop him off somewhere or take him to another home. ( but that's not gonna happen)

So now, how can I break this whining and crying thing? Our last GSD () did the exact same thing and it would drive us nuts on long drives.
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Old April 8th, 2009, 03:39 PM
BenMax BenMax is offline
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MajorMom - this dog has gone through many transitions in such a short time.

Lost and brought to a pound from hell where he witnessed dogs being killed.
Transported by strangers...me and brought to a shelter.
Next day picked up again by strangers...(not me this time) and brought to the vets.
2 days later: Picked up again by the person that brought him to the vet and transported to a doggie spa facility.
Approximately 1 week later - picked up by no other than myself and transported to the SPCA where he was then moved into the rescue vehicle and transported from Montreal to you.

So alot of changing of hands and transporting for this guy. It will take time for him to be comfy and secure.

If he has a favourite toy or something - bring it with you. Something familiar should help ease his anxiety.
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Old April 8th, 2009, 03:53 PM
aslan aslan is offline
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Majorsmom, Benmax is absolutely right about why he is behaving this way..Take him on short little drives, to the park, (teehee)timmies drivethrough for a plain timbit...Mcdonalds for and icecream...ladies it's not real icecream..these are just examples. take him somewhere close, end the drive with a pleasant experience.
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Old April 8th, 2009, 04:03 PM
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mollywog mollywog is offline
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we go through the same thing with our dog and have had her for almost a year since rescue. I find that she's better if the radio (music) is turned off- have you tried that??
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Old April 8th, 2009, 04:35 PM
BenMax BenMax is offline
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Aslan has a good point - go for mini drives...oh yes and ice cream!
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Old April 8th, 2009, 04:36 PM
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Winston Winston is offline
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Welcome Majorsmom! god he is a beauty!

This may sound strange but we had a 2 door explorer when we got winston. He never would settle in the truck. We would drive all over and try things and it was horrible. We used to think we wouldnt be able to stand the 6 hours drive say to montreal with him. I actually got a tranquilizer of some sort from the vet for our first vacation trip skiing in Montreal. Well I never used it. I was too afraid. He wasnt very good for the first hour or so but eventually he settled down a bit.

This is the strange part! We traded that vehicle in not long after we got him and went to a 4 dr explorer. Funniset thing happened was that as long as he had a window spot and you could open it a crack he would be fine?? Close the windows and he is back to being anxious??

He is 9 now and is really wonderful in the car except that darm window has to be open or he is uptight. I think he doesnt like to be confined ??

Although I really think Major will be awesome in the car once he knows that he is not going anywhere and maybe once he associates some good things with a car ride? like maybe take him to the park and do fun things like fetch the ball. He may associate the good time with the car and settle. He may seem at home but it is still all new to him.

Hope this helps..
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Old April 9th, 2009, 07:07 AM
MajorsMom MajorsMom is offline
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Smile

Thank you all for your advice. You have made some great and valid points.
Yes we have done the short rides, yes we have taken him to Timmies LOL, however we drive a mini van and the windows in the back don't open enough!
My friends kidnapped him from us last sunday, and they drive a huge pickup and Major jumped right in, they put down both windows in the back and he ran back and forth across the seat from window to window in his glory. But when they pulled into our driveway and Major saw we were no longer behind him (knowing he was home) they were affraid he was going to jump out the window
He seems to be fine in the car as long as
1. No ones gets out of the vehical i.e: to run into a variety store
or
2. You don't pull into a community of houses!
We live in a small town, and everywhere we go Major is right there with us, all our friends want him, so he is welcome everywhere we go, but they live in subdivision type areas and Major gets all anxious.

Well I will and and try taking him to the park to play ball and see if that'll help him. :sad: I don't like to see him anxious. However it's going to be a game of fetch because he just wants to eat the balls; we are on our 6th ball We even let him try street-hockey balls (the hard orange ones) and he chewed that to bits too! So we will see. Thanks everyone!
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