Car sickness/anxiety is mainly caused through stress not motion or balance problems. It has been estimated that 95% of carsickness and anxiety cases are related to stress normally caused on that first journey when the puppy is first taken from the litter to your home.

This has to be one of the most traumatic times in a dog's life, when it is separated from its littermates. Suddenly it's on it's own without the comfort of the mother or siblings and the first thing we do is put it in a car. Therefore it is not altogether surprising that future car journeys can induce fear and stress sometimes resulting in the dog being sick or anxious

The solution is relatively easy. Firstly with the engine switched off feed the dog it's meals in the car, you can sit in with it during this time after a day or so feed the dog with the engine running then run the car round the block a day after that

If the dog is carsick calculate how long it takes for the dog to become sick and find a place to exercise the dog that you can drive to it before the dog becomes physically sick.

If possible have someone in the car that can feed titbits to the dog. But do not sympathise with the dog as this will only fuel the fear Keep him distracted by titbits and play during the journey to the park. Then do all the things you normally do play ball, run, hide etc. You don't have to stay long just long enough for the dog to enjoy itself. On the journey home do the same thing as on the way out, distracting the dog from the journey itself.

If possible repeat several times a day. Once the dog is happy and even eager to go in the car then lengthen the journey to approaching the time when the dog was normally sick, then gradually increase the journey to 35/40 minute. If there are no signs of distress then you probably have the problem sorted.

Repetition is the key to these types of problems, overcoming the dog's initial stress and fear little by little till it takes away the original concern that was causing the sickness/anxiety.

You can also use Dr Bach's Rescue Remedy and Scullcap and Valerian see my website for more details. Sometimes natural ginger can also help.

This article was written by ©Stan Rawlinson (The Original Doglistener).
A professional full time Dog Behaviourist and Obedience Trainer.
You can visit his website at www.doglistener.co.uk for more articles and training information.