How do you get your newf to settle down in the car on long trips?

[Halli's Mom]

Having a challenge with my one newf. Jasmine refuses to sit or lay down on a car ride. When we are going 5-10 minutes away, this is ok, but when we go to beach on our annual trip, its a 4-5 hour car ride. We stop every 1.5 hours, but I'm still uncomfortable with her standing the entire way. The only options I can think of are to either drug her (not ideal) or somehow train her to lay down - however, this is proving to be IMPOSSIBLE. Looking for suggestions.

 

[Puppypeoplenj]

Why do you need her to lie down? Just wondering because I'm in the car with Orca right now starting a three hour trip and he sits stands and lays down alternately. Just like he does at home basically.

 

[Capri]

Does she have enough space to lay down comfortably? Does she have a cool enough place to lay down at? I know that one of our cars had bad aircon at the back, and that's the car where I find they sit up most (to get fresh air from open windows). Are you fussing her to lay down when she's standing up (ie paying more attention to her when she's up vs. laying down)?

Why are you stopping every 1,5 hours? Just go for a longer trip. If she's expecting you to stop shortly, she's less likely to settle down. We usually travel the 5 hours in one go (until we need to fill up), and the dogs know that once we hit the highway, it's time to sleep as there's nothing going on.

 

[Angela]

I used to have a VW camper and travelled all over the U.S and Canada with a Labrador who would stand between the front seats every day and never lie down. One year we drove from here (about 2 hours north of Seattle WA) down to Key West Florida. Every day she stood!!!
Don't worry about her. Also I agree with Capri, why are you stopping so often?

 

[Angela]

Ps, these days it is not an issue as I have a van and Evan and Owain travel in crates and go to sleep all the way.

 

[NinaA]

Have not had this problem with mine, especially on long trips, but Moonlight always likes to stand for a bit when we start, and then when she's ready she lays down. I'd spread out the breaks and let sit or lay down when she wants.

 

[CathyC.]

We walk obi before a trip. We stop about every two hours or so to stretch and pee and drink water. Obi is pretty calm in the car. I'm grateful. I had one dog, a bearded collie, who would try to chase every 18 wheeler we passed by on the highway or any fast moving car. It was not a peaceful journey!

 

[Jager's Mom]

An idea... get a kong, put some peanut butter inside. Give at beginning of ride.... hopefully the pup will lay down to lick on it....then will stay laying down (being more relaxed).

 

[BLCOLE]

I travel a lot with my Newf in a Volvo station wagon. I agree with the poster that it is better to have them lay down. If they don't, I can't see out of the back of the car. My previous girl, Calza, had to stand up and block the back window of the car. My current Newf, her son Candyman, settles right down. I MUCH prefer the dog getting settled.

 

[Sound Bay Newfs]

Sage would always sit up on my trips no matter how long. Her crate was behind my seat and she would look out the front windshield. I always felt like she did not trust my driving and had to keep her eye on the road too!

 

[Halli's Mom]

Jasmine refuses to lie down or sit down at all. She stands and pants the whole way. Last year when we went to the beach, we got stuck in a traffic jam, when we got to our destination finally, she was holding her back leg up - assuming from general fatigue of refusing to lay down. She has plenty of room in my car, and there is Airco vents in the back where she is, so that isn't the issue. I think in generally she gets stressed in the car and just insists on standing the entire time in anticipation of where we are going. She has no issues getting into the car - loves to go for rides, but will only stand. sigh. I'm just worried about her safety.

 

[Capri]

Maybe she's suffering from motion sickness (car sickness) and just needs to keep looking where she's going?

One of our newfs prefers to sit up or stand if there's too much space ie slides too much on tight turns or bumpy roads.

 

[fall3n-ang3l]

Bernie never lays down, always sits, even when he's shattered from a long walk on the beach or the country side

 

[DAWNMERIE]

Zeke is like that, one day 2013 he stopped wanting to go to work everyday. I keep asking, and I've bribed him once to see how he would do by taking him down the road to the park. He got himself all worked up and I thought we'd have to walk home but the bribe worked to get him back home. I will work with him again and maybe next time let him swim, so he knows it's a quick, fun happy trip but he pants so much it scares me, I know he's nervous.

 

[mrsnamsherf]

Don't drive away until she is laying down. Tell her to lay down and stay, then start driving. If she gets up, stop the car. Wait a few minutes, tell her to lay down and stay again and then start driving. Rinse, repeat. She thinks you cannot stop her when you are driving, so you need to change her mind by stopping and reestablishing control (having her lay down and be calm).

You kind of want her to have the idea that laying down makes the car go, and standing up makes it stop. Don't worry about her having to lie down the whole time. My Sam does. Unless you are driving for hours, it is not too much to expect her to lie still.

Definitely perfect this in a parking lot near your house before taking it on the road.

Also, how is her attitude toward the car in general? Does she charge up to the car and leap in? Do you make it sound exciting to her? If so, she could be having more built-up excitement than she knows what to do with. She should be calm before she even gets in. Put on her leash and walk her calmly to the car-dont tell her where you are going, or ask her to go for a ride. Have her stay before getting in or out until you invite her in or out. Get some treats, stand outside her door and ask her to obey sit, down, shake, whatever she knows that is easy for her to do in the car. Practice to help establish that the car is a place to be calm and obedient. If she heels, have her heel right up to the door of the car before getting in.

Dog trainer Patricia McConell used a similar method to keep her BC from barking on the way to sheepherding. She actually got out of her car and read a magazine til he stopped barking. She said it took forever the first time, but eventually they could drive to the sheep bark-free.

Good luck!
Marie

 

[R Taft]

We are lucky as we have a large flat area for the dogs in our van, behind a cargo barrier and safe.they have a large bucket of water and also a fan , just for katy......katy was one of those who would stand all the time, just to catch any breath of air from windows or the aircon...since we have gotten her a litte 12V fan, she is happy and lies down forever...we even did this in our jeep. I allow my dogs to lie , sit or stand..you will find if the trip is long enough they will eventually find they have to lie down. We do a lot of very long trips. just this weekend Katy and Annabelle went on a 14 hour round trip over two days..they settle now, we do not do many breaks, only to feed and about and hour later for the P&P's.....Or if I have to stop for me....I think sometimes when they are harnessed in, they are a little retricted, so they need to get used to it........I think as long as they do not vomit, they will eventually get used to however long the trips are. Most of mine love going on car trips.katy however will only get exited if the boats are on the trailer behind the van as the equals water training.