My Fearful Dog - DogForum.net

becca55 · 03-07-2006, 04:11 PM

I have a lovely 90 lb. mutt named Casey who's almost 3. I got her at the SPCA when she was 6 mos. old. She has always been somewhat fearful of new people, new experiences etc. but she is calm around "her people" and her house. She has gone to day care 3 times a week since the beginning and to work with me 2 days a week. Two weeks ago, she suddenly wouldn't get in the car. I can't think of anything that happened in the car. Any ideas about re-introducing her to the car without freaking her out totally??

cyclefiend2000 · 03-08-2006, 02:02 PM

i would think that it may not be the car so much as she is afraid to go back to the day care. unless you take her other places frequently in the car, she would associate the car with the day care. kind of like if you only put the dog into the car to goto the vet, and she doesnt like the vet she would probably not want to get into the car. have you asked the people at the day care if anything happened with her lately?

try coaxing her into the car with her favorite treat or toy and taking her to the park or to a friends house or any other place that she would like. if you do this enough she will start seeing the car as potentially taking her to do something she really likes. one of our dogs is really like this and everytime we go to the vet, we stop by the park afterwards to give her a little fun time so that the car isn't associated only with bad things.

lassie · 03-08-2006, 02:35 PM

Hi try feeding her in the car,

ChipsDad · 03-16-2006, 01:54 AM

Do you have any pics?

MrsRottie · 03-16-2006, 04:20 AM

If you have the time, sit in the car with all the doors open, no engine running and let her come and go as she pleases.
Every time she comes to a recall when you're in the car, loads of great treats and fuss. Basically you need to 'de-sensitise' her to it again. Give her meals in there, groom her in there etc etc.

But I totally agree with the post re the day care - definately worth asking what's going on there.

03-07-2006, 04:11 PM	#1
becca55 Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Buffalo, New York Posts: 1 Rep: 10 Unique Rep: 0	My Fearful Dog I have a lovely 90 lb. mutt named Casey who's almost 3. I got her at the SPCA when she was 6 mos. old. She has always been somewhat fearful of new people, new experiences etc. but she is calm around "her people" and her house. She has gone to day care 3 times a week since the beginning and to work with me 2 days a week. Two weeks ago, she suddenly wouldn't get in the car. I can't think of anything that happened in the car. Any ideas about re-introducing her to the car without freaking her out totally??

03-08-2006, 02:35 PM	#3
lassie Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: England Posts: 3,534 Blog Entries: 1 Rep: 38 Unique Rep: 20	Hi try feeding her in the car, __________________ Love is a ruffie:

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My Fearful Dog

03-08-2006, 02:02 PM	#2
cyclefiend2000 Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 14 Rep: 10 Unique Rep: 0	i would think that it may not be the car so much as she is afraid to go back to the day care. unless you take her other places frequently in the car, she would associate the car with the day care. kind of like if you only put the dog into the car to goto the vet, and she doesnt like the vet she would probably not want to get into the car. have you asked the people at the day care if anything happened with her lately? try coaxing her into the car with her favorite treat or toy and taking her to the park or to a friends house or any other place that she would like. if you do this enough she will start seeing the car as potentially taking her to do something she really likes. one of our dogs is really like this and everytime we go to the vet, we stop by the park afterwards to give her a little fun time so that the car isn't associated only with bad things.

03-16-2006, 01:54 AM	#4
ChipsDad Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Malibu, CA Posts: 79 Rep: 10 Unique Rep: 0	Do you have any pics?

03-16-2006, 04:20 AM	#5
MrsRottie Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: North Wales, UK Posts: 569 Rep: 23 Unique Rep: 13	If you have the time, sit in the car with all the doors open, no engine running and let her come and go as she pleases. Every time she comes to a recall when you're in the car, loads of great treats and fuss. Basically you need to 'de-sensitise' her to it again. Give her meals in there, groom her in there etc etc. But I totally agree with the post re the day care - definately worth asking what's going on there.

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