Going for a car ride can be an exciting event for any dog. Whether you have a car or not it helps to have a well mannered dog in your vehicle. If you have a car (or a friend who can let you practice with theirs) you can teach your dog to enter and exit the car in a controlled manner. Teach your dog to sit before the door opens. If he jumps up while you are opening the door, simply close the door and get him to sit again. He will quickly learn that if his but stays on the ground he gets to go in the car! Repeat for the exit. Poochie needs to wait for a release command before he can exit the car. This will come in handy when you are parked in a tight spot with traffic buzzing by.
When traveling with Poochie remember to buckle him in! A dog seatbelt or dog crate are the best options. I have read many stories of dogs surviving car accidents because they were in crates and not loose in the car. Think of how many times you have to stop abruptly when out driving in the city. Taxis and tourists are the main culprit. Now imaging Poochie flying through the front of the windshield because you failed to secure him. That is a horrible visual, but let it be a reminder to buckle Poochie up or put him a secure crate or carrier everytime.
Tip for the Day:
There are many soft sided crates that are lightweight and easy to transport even for the normal sized Labrador sized dog. They also come in handy when using a car sharing service such as Zipcar which require pets to be in carriers.
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