RAMADHAN & FIREWORKS

The Muslim fasting month begins tomorrow, and Thunderdogs Malaysia would like to take this opportunity to wish all our Muslim friends "Selamat Berpuasa".

At the same time, we would also like to gently remind everyone to keep their pets safe over the next couple of months. As we all know, we Malaysians love our fireworks and fireworks feature prominently in recent times in almost all celebrations.

Previously, fireworks were only set off during the Hari Raya celebrations. But this year, in some areas, the fireworks have already started even before the start of the fasting month.

Our pets, dogs, cats and other small animals, unfortunately do not appreciate fireworks and some get extremely frightened, confused and disoriented.

Keeping cats and dogs secure

• Make sure your dog or cat always has somewhere to hide if he or she wants to and has access to this place at all times. For example this could be under some furniture or in a cupboard.
• During firework seasons, walk dogs during daylight hours and keep cats and dogs indoors when fireworks are likely to be set off.
• At nightfall close windows and curtains and put on music to mask and muffle the sound of fireworks.
• If your pet shows any signs of fear try to ignore their behaviour. Leave them alone unless they are likely to harm themselves.
• Never punish or fuss over your pet when it's scared as this will only make things worse in the long run.
• Make sure your cat or dog is always kept in a safe and secure environment and can’t escape if there’s a sudden noise. Have your pet microchip-ed in case they do escape. This can help you identify your pet should someone find him/her.
• Consider getting a Thundershirt to help ease your pet's fears.

Just for dogs – before the firework season starts

Planning ahead can help your dog cope with the firework season.

Before the firework season starts provide your dog with a doggy safe haven, this should be a quiet area so choose one of the quietist rooms in your home. It should be a place where the animal feels it is in control, so don't interfere with it when it's in that area.

Train your dog to associate the area with positive experiences eg. by leaving toys there but not imposing yourself at any time. Use a variety of toys and swap them regularly, putting them away when not in use so that your dog doesn't become bored with them.

With time your dog can learn that this place is safe and enjoyable. So when fireworks happen it may choose to go here because it knows that when it is here, no harm will come to it and so it's more able to cope. It is important that your dog has access to its doggy safe haven at all times even when you’re not at home.

If you have a Thundershirt for your dog, put it on your dog before the fireworks start to help keep your dog calm when the fireworks do start.

Just for dogs – when the fireworks start

• Close any windows and black out the ‘doggy play area’ to remove any extra problems caused by flashing lights.
• Each evening before the fireworks begin, move your dog to the play area and provide toys and other things that they enjoy. Make sure that there are things for you to do too so that your dog isn't left alone.
• Ignore the firework noises yourself. Play with a toy to see if your dog wants to join in, but don’t force them to play.
• If you know a dog that isn't scared by noises and which gets on well with your dog, then keeping the two together during the evenings may help your dog to realise that there’s no need to be afraid.

Just for cats

• Make sure your cat has somewhere to hide if it wants to. For example this may be under some furniture or in a quiet corner.
• Don’t try and tempt your cat out as this will cause it to become more stressed.

Don’t forget small animals

• If your pets live outside, partly cover cages, pens and aviaries with blankets so that one area is well sound-proofed. Make sure that your pet is still able to look out.
• Provide lots of extra bedding so your pet has something to burrow in.

WIN A THUNDERSHIRT RESULTS

The Win a Thundershirt competition has been won by JJ the Shih Tzu with 426 votes! Congratulations JJ and Lillian Ee. We will be contacting you shortly to arrange for your Thundershirt to be delivered to you!

Name: JJ
Sex: Male
Age: 4 years
Breed: Shih Tzu
Owner: Lillian Ee

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Thunderdogs Malaysia would also like to thank the finalists for their participation and in making the competition a success. Thunderdogs Malaysia will be sending you a RM 10 discount voucher code which can be used when you purchase a Thundershirt from us.

We would also like to thank everyone who voted for your favourite dog! Please do tell your friends about the Thundershirt and how it can help resolve anxiety problems in dogs.

Name: Niji Momiji Boey,
Sex: Male
Age: 1 years +
Breed: Pembroke Welsh Corgi
Owner: Stephanie Boey

Dog's name: QQ
Sex: Female
Age : 3 years old
Breed : Crocker spaniel mixed shih tzu
Owner: Grace Koh

Name: Medusa
Sex: Female
Age: 12
Breed: Shih Tzu
Owner: Ginny Khoo

Name: Alfie
Sex: Male
Age: 4 years
Breed: Jack Russell Terrier
Owner: Lina Ng

HOW TO DEAL WITH SEPARATION ANXIETY

Training Programme for Relieving Separation Anxiety

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Here is an extract from Nicole Wilde's Don't Leave Me! Step-by-Step Help for Your Dog's Separation Anxiety  which provides her suggested training programme for when a Thundershirt alone may not be enough.

Nicole Wilde (CPDT) is the author of nine books, a popular columnist in major magazines including Modern Dog Magazine, and sought after speaker. She also teaches seminars and workshops around the country and internationally. For more information about Nicole and her published works, please visit www.phantompub.com.

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Relieving Separation Anxiety
By Nicole Wilde, CPDT

Separation anxiety can be a very challenging problem emotionally for both dogs and their owners. When owners are absent, some dogs experience mild anxiety which may manifest as barking, whining, pacing, or destruction. Others will begin drooling, trembling, and may even defecate. In extreme cases, dogs can injure themselves by clawing at doorways, trying to jump through windows, or self-mutilating when crated.

In mild to moderate cases, the Thundershirt alone may be enough to calm an anxious canine. Put a Thundershirt on your dog ten to fifteen minutes before you leave, and give him an exciting chew item such as a stuffed Kong. Because you don’t want your dog to associate these things only with your departures, be sure to first put a Thundershirt on your dog at other times, such as when playing, eating a meal, or when enjoying a wonderful chewie in your presence.

What if the Thundershirt alone does not solve your dog’s separation issue? First, in the rare case that the anxiety is extreme as mentioned above, consult with a behaviorist as well as your veterinarian, as your dog may require medication in conjunction with behavior modification.

For mild to moderate separation anxiety, a trainer or behavior specialist can help, but for now, here are a few tips:

1. If your dog is left alone when you go to work during the week, make it a habit to take him for a long walk before you leave. The more pleasantly tired out your dog is, the less likely there is to be anxiety.

2. Leave something with your scent on it, such as a sweatshirt you’ve been wearing or a towel rubbed under your arms, in your dog’s resting area. Your scent will provide comfort. (This is one reason so many dogs get into the laundry when their owners are gone!)

3. Be sure your dog has something to chew on or engage in that will keep him busy for at least thirty to forty-five minutes after you’re gone. Excavating a well-stuffed Kong®, for example, will keep your dog busy and by the time he’s done, he’ll be tired out and will hopefully take a nap.

4. Practice short separations. Leave the house for 10 minutes, then come right back. The next time, go for 15 minutes. Build up the time you’re gone, but also, make it unpredictable. So you might leave for 10 minutes, then 15 minutes, then 5 minutes, then 15 minutes again, slowly building up to longer time spent away.

5. Your emotions affect your dog. Keep your comings and goings friendly but low-key.

A STORM IS COMING?

 

For many of you, your dogs are a source of joy, happiness and comfort. But for some of you, there are times when you are completely at a loss with what to do with your dog during a thunderstorm.

Dogs that are fearful of thunderstorms will usually become agitated and fearful, and some will become very clingy. For some dogs, the fear of thunderstorms is so great, that they start to drool and salivate, pant heavily, and some may even urinate or defecate. Some dogs very well behaved dogs may even become destructive if left to endure the storm on their own.

Dogs that are very fearful during thunderstorms will usually display the signs mentioned above long before the storm arrives. And when they do, most owners have no idea why they are behaving in that manner when there doesn't seem to any sign of a storm. But of course, more often than not, the storm will eventually arrive, maybe even an hour or two later.

So how do dogs know that a storm is on the way? Most people attribute a dog's ability to "predict" storms as "sixth sense". But in reality, it is because dogs are alot more sensitive to a number of things in the environment, such as drops in barometric pressure (the pressure of the atmosphere) than humans.

A drop in pressure usually means that the conditions are suitable for a thunderstorm to develop. Dogs that are fearful of thunderstorms will soon associate this drop in pressure with the arrival of a thunderstorm.

Additionally, the static charge in the atmosphere changes prior to a storm, and our dogs are able to pick up this change well before the storm arrives.

As we all know, dogs have a very sharp sense of hearing and can hear things at frequencies that we humans cannot. The subtle vibrations and low rumbles of thunder that we are unable to feel or hear, can be felt and heard by our dogs.

Of course, it is also said that dogs can smell a storm approaching. Their noses are highly sensitive as they have been estimated to have 125 million (and several times that) sensory cells within their noses compared to humans which have an estimated range of 5-10 million cells .

Because of this, they can detect chemical concentrations in the low parts-per-million range. Lightning ionizes air with the formation of ozone – which has a characteristic metallic smell. Perhaps dogs detect this odor, or some other odor associated with the storm.

For those of you who may have dogs who are fearful of thunderstorms, the Thundershirt could well be your solution to their anxiety.

From the very first usage of a Thundershirt, your dog is likely to see a significant reduction of all symptoms of storm anxiety. Behaviors such as chewing, problem barking, whining, urination, and hiding under the furniture or destroying it disappear in many dogs immediately during the first use of the Thundershirt.

The Thundershirt is there for your dog through storm anxiety, and takes the place of expensive training or anxiety drugs with dangerous side effects. Simply follow our easy directions to put the Thundershirt on your dog and observe the results (...and you can try it for other situations where your dog experiences anxiety, too! The Thundershirt is proven effective for a range of dog fears).

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ORDER YOUR THUNDERSHIRT TODAY

**NOTE: Thundershirt US does not deliver to Malaysia, so place your orders today...
 

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Price: RM150 (including delivery within Peninsular Malaysia)
Sizes Available: XS, S, M, L & XL
Colour: Heather Grey

To order your Thundershirt for your dog, please drop an email to:

natasha@thunderdogsmalaysia.com

Please include the following information in your email:

Your Name:

Address:
Phone No:

Dog Breed:
Chest Measurement:
Size Required:

Payment information will be sent to you, and your Thundershirt will be put in the post within 3 working days of receipt of payment. Please ensure that there will be someone to collect the Thundershirt at the address provided as your Thundershirt will be sent via PosLaju

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Note: The money back guarantee is not applicable in Malaysia

FINALISTS FOR WIN A THUNDERSHIRT COMPETITION

Here are the finalists for the WIN A THUNDERSHIRT competition.

Please visit our Thunderdogs Malaysia Facebook page to vote for your favourite dog.

The dog with the most votes at the end of 15 July will win a Thundershirt worth RM148 from Thunderdogs Malaysia. In the mean time, we would like to wish all finalists the best of luck!

How to vote:

1. Voters must LIKE our Thunderdogs Malaysia Facebook page.
2. Select the picture on our Thunderdogs Malaysia Facebook page and LIKE the picture.
3. If you share the picture, remember to post the voting rules above. LIKEs of the picture on your own Facebook page will not be considered.

Name: Niji Momiji Boey,
Sex: Male
Age: 1 years +
Breed: Pembroke Welsh Corgi
Owner: Stephanie Boey

Dog's name: QQ
Sex: Female
Age : 3 years old
Breed : Crocker spaniel mixed shih tzu
Owner: Grace Koh

Name: Alfie
Sex: Male
Age: 4 years
Breed: Jack Russell Terrier
Owner: Lina Ng

Name: Medusa
Sex: Female
Age: 12
Breed: Shih Tzu
Owner: Ginny Khoo

Name: JJ
Sex: Male
Age: 4 years
Breed: Shih Tzu
Owner: Lillian Ee

WIN A THUNDERSHIRT COMPETITION

Is your dog afraid of thunderstorms? Loud noises? Car rides? Does your dog suffer from separation anxiety? Does your dog bark incessantly? All of these issues points to anxiety in your dog.

The Thundershirt is a proven, safe, effective and drug free solution to your dog's anxiety. Make your dog a Thunderdog - calm & fearless by winning a Thundershirt for your dog today. Competition details as follows:

How to submit your entry:

1. Like our Thunderdogs Malaysia page on Facebook.
2. Submit your competition entry to natasha@thunderdogsmalaysia.com with the following details:
• Email subject: WIN A THUNDERSHIRT
• A high resolution photo of your dog
• Your dog's name, sex, age and breed
• A short 100 word or less description of why your dog needs a Thundershirt AND
• A 2 minute video depicting your dog's anxiety issues (optional)
• Your Name
• Your Address
• Your Phone Number
3. Entries are to be submitted between 6-8 July 2012. Any entries received after the closing date will not be entertained. 
4. Entries that do not comply with the requirements stipulated above will not be considered.
5. The best entries will be selected by Thunderdogs Malaysia and the pictures of these dogs will be published on our Thunderdogs Malaysia Facebook page on 10 July 2012. Thunderdogs Malaysia's decisions are final and non-negotiable.
6. Voting begins on 11 July 2012 and ends on 15 July 2012.
7. The picture with the most votes on our Facebook page will win a Thundershirt.
8. The winning dog will be announced on 16 July 2012. Thunderdogs Malaysia's decisions are final and non-negotiable.
9. The dog in the picture must be yours or a rescued dog in your care and you must have the rights to use the picture. The competition is meant to help dogs with anxiety issues. Thunderdogs Malaysia will not allow any nasty or negative comments on any of the pictures and they will be removed immediately without warning. If nasty comments continues, that person will be banned from Thunderdogs Malaysia's page without notice. 
10. Only dogs residing within Malaysia are eligible for this competition, and only ONE entry is allowed per dog.

How to vote:

1. Voters must LIKE our Thunderdogs Malaysia Facebook page.
2. Select the picture on our Thunderdogs Malaysia Facebook page and LIKE the picture.
3. If you share the picture, remember to post the voting rules above. LIKEs of the picture on your own Facebook page will not be considered.

DOES THE THUNDERSHIRT WORK?

ORDER YOUR THUNDERSHIRT TODAY

**NOTE: Thundershirt US does not deliver to Malaysia, so place your orders today...

Bark! Bark! Bark!

by Jenn Merritt, CPDT, 
www.bluedogk9.com

Dogs bark.  Some are naturally more vocal than others, depending on breed type, personality, and their environment.  Every bark is a communication of some type.  Barks can communicate many things including fear, concern, and boredom.  Sometimes, barking can become compulsive or excessive to an owner’s (or neighbors!) ears.  Although there often is no “quick fix” for excessive barking, learning how to properly and humanely manage your dog’s barking can be a simple process and can keep you and your dog in your neighbor’s good graces.

First…What Not To Do!

Excessive barking can be a real nuisance and owners often try to correct the act of barking WITHOUT addressing the underlying causes. Using an aversive method to reduce barking is a “no win” strategy, particularly if the barking is at all stress related.   Yelling at a dog for barking can actually bring the dog more attention or teach the dog to simply bark when you are not around.

Using so-called “anti-bark” shock or spray collars are never effective in the long term and can actually do more harm than good.  Dogs who are shocked for barking tend to be the same dogs that develop cautiousness or aggressive behaviors towards things that make them bark.   Even the citronella discharge collars are ineffective at resolving barking issues over the long term.  I’ve even heard of dogs barking continuously to discharge the entire citronella pack in short order.  As much as these things seem like a good idea, none of them address what is really causing the dog to bark in the first place.

Now…What To Try First

Sometimes the easiest underlying causes of excessive barking to address are overall stress and/or arousal.  Being bored, lonely, or frustrated for some dogs is torture and excessive barking can be an outlet for them. Applying a Thundershirt^TM pressure wrap can be highly effective with dogs that are stressed or over-aroused.   Thundershirt’s gentle pressure on the dog’s torso calms the dog and brings attention away from the environment.  Also, make sure that you are providing your dog with enough physical and mental activities to keep their bodies and minds healthy.  Long walks, games, running around, and healthy things to chew are essential outlets for every dog’s well being.

Become a Bark Detective

The next step to bark reduction is figuring out why the dog is barking in the first place.  Is your dog barking at you for attention?  Barking at a stranger walking past your home?  Barking at the cat when it enters the room?  Barking because they are in the yard outside all day long?  Once you narrow down why the barking is occurring, we can take steps to reduce it.

Attention Seeking

Many dogs learn that barking gets them attention from their humans, as a way to initiate a game or simple acknowledgement.  The best strategy for eliminating this type of barking is to make sure that your dog learns that barking at you turns attention off.  If your dog barks at you, you look away, don’t say a word, walk out of the room and when they are quiet for even a short period time, then you pay attention to them.  You may need to repeat this many, many times before your dog learns the new rules.

Visual Cues/Alert Barking/Environmental Factors

Many dogs are barking at something or stimulated by their environment to bark.  This is not a situation where we want to completely eliminate the barking, just reduce it.  After all, if someone is standing outside your house, don’t you want to know?   There are several strategies worth trying.  First, teach your dog that every time they bark at something, you acknowledge it and then distract them with another activity.  “Oh yes, I see that man passing the house.  Thank you for letting me know.  Let’s go over here and get your ball.  That was so great that you stopped barking.”   Interrupting the barking at just the right time can help take the dog “off duty”.

Also, it is easy enough to reduce the visual stimulation with a barrier or blinds.  I’ve worked with several dogs that would stand on top of a piece of furniture that was placed next to a window, creating a prime location for over-aroused, barking fits at passersby.  By simply moving the furniture away from the windows, we were able to reduce the behavior.    If your dog is outside barking at people, bring them inside or give them something else to do in the yard.  Being outside with nothing to do can be a recipe for excessive barking.  Changing the environment can make a big difference.

Remember…Time and Patience

Teaching your dog to react differently to situations that stimulate them to bark is a process.  You must be consistent over time and not give up if your dog doesn’t respond immediately.  Be patient and help your dog understand what you do want them to do. If your dog’s barking continues to be a problem, enlist the help of a reward based, professional dog trainer.

Jenn Merritt, CPDT-KA
Certified Professional Dog Trainer
Tellington TTouch Companion Animal Practitioner
APDT Professional Member
Blue Dog Creature Coaching
Efland, NC

PROBLEM BARKING

*The money back guarantee is not applicable in Malaysia

Thundershirt is the simplest solution for fixing excessive barking. Thundershirt’s gentle, constant pressure has a tremendous calming effect, and this calming effect may be all you need to eliminate the problem barking. Or if necessary for your dog’s particular issue, Thundershirt can be an important part of a simple training program. See below for more information. But please don’t shock or spray your dog for problem barking… in most cases that will only bring about bigger problems!!!

Problem Barking FAQ

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Below are some of the most frequently asked questions about using Thundershirt for problem barking. If you have any other questions you would like to ask, please contact us.

• If Thundershirt alone doesn’t resolve my dog’s symptoms, what training do you recommend?

  As mentioned above, a Thundershirt alone may be sufficient for your dog. But if not, we definitely recommend adding some simple training exercises with the use of your Thundershirt. See above for details on the training programs.
  

• For what types of problem barking will Thundershirt work?

  For many dogs, Thundershirt is effective for a wide variety of problem barking causes. Those causes include stress, boredom, over-arousal, fear, reactivity towards other dogs or people, and reactivity towards passing cars.
  

• How tight is “too tight”?

  Thundershirt should only have comfortable pressure on your dog. How do you judge “comfortable”? You should be able to easily slip you fingers under the Thundershirt. For the next straps, they should only be gently stretched… no pressure is needed around the front chest area; the benefit from Thundershirt comes from the pressure around the torso behind the front legs. When securing the torso straps, you should be stretching the fabric, but it does not require any strenuous force.
  

• Can I wash and dry Thundershirt?

  Thundershirt is made out of durable, washable fabric. When necessary, Thundershirt may be washed in a regular cycle using regular laundry detergent and cold water. Hang to dry.
  

• How long can my dog wear Thundershirt?

  Thundershirt is comfortable and safe to wear for extended periods without owner supervision.
  

• Is Thundershirt a good solution if my dog is deaf or blind?

  In many cases, yes! Deafness or blindness can cause some dogs to become “problem barkers”. They may be barking due to fear, boredom, loneliness or some other issue. But we have seen terrific results with Thundershirt for these cases.
  

• Will my dog eventually no longer need Thundershirt for problem barking?

  That’s very possible. As your dog learns to react to what stimulates her “problem barking” in a different manner through the use of Thundershirt and any training you undertake, she may no longer need Thundershirt’s help to calm down. Over time, your dog may be able to be a welcome and quieter member of the family all on her own!
 

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ORDER YOUR THUNDERSHIRT TODAY

**NOTE: Thundershirt US does not deliver to Malaysia. So place your orders NOW!!!

TRAVEL ANXIETY

Depending on the severity of your dog’s travel anxiety, a Thundershirt alone may be enough to solve your issues.

The use of Thundershirt alone has eliminated or significantly reduced symptoms such as severe shaking, panting, excitability, barking and even vomiting.

But there are also easy steps you can take to further help your dog to be a happy traveler. See below for a training program and training video. We have also provided answers to a variety of common questions for travel anxiety.




Relieving Travel-Related Anxiety
By Jenn Merritt, CPDT

Shaking, panting, drooling, nausea, hyper-arousal with lunging at cars, or bikes or people. Sound like a fun car trip? Unfortunately, all are symptoms of travel anxiety, a common problem for dogs. Some dogs develop travel anxieties over time, while others have them from puppyhood. But with just a little time and effort, and the right tools, you can bring the joys of travel to your dog.

If you are preparing to bring a new puppy into your home, see the section below on positive prevention. But if you are reading this article, you likely already have a dog that suffers from travel anxiety. First off, if the issues have been going on for some time, it is likely going to take some time to alter your dog’s responses to travel. But here are some simple steps to calmer, gentler travel. And you may very well see at least some improvement very quickly!

Signs of Stress
It is important to learn to recognize when your dog is becoming stressed. Most of us know that vocalizations and vomiting can be common occurrences when dogs become stressed in a vehicle. But more subtle signs of stress can include yawning, shaking off, lip licking, dilated pupils, panting, lifting a front paw and excessive salivation. Identifying stress signs early can help the process of helping your dog overcome her stress.

It’s a Wrap - Thundershirt
The first step is to help your dog feel safe and reduce her overall anxiety/arousal levels while being around and in the car. Try a pressure wrap like the Thundershirt which can instantly reduce arousal, nervousness and anxiety by applying constant, gentle pressure on the dog’s body. This pressure has a calming effect on a dog’s nervous system, and can refocus a dog to concentrate on their bodies instead of their environment. Apply the Thundershirt at varying intervals prior to and/or during the below exercises, sometimes 5 minutes prior to a car experience, sometimes more and less. 

New Associations
The goal is to get your dog to associate positive experiences with being around, inside, and while riding in the car. If the only time your dog goes for a car ride is to go to the vet, she will likely associate the car ride with not-so-pleasant experiences (and understandably so!).

Below are just a few of the simple things you can do linking the car to something positive (food!). How your dog responds to food can tell you how your dog is feeling. Most dogs that are feeling stress will refuse food, so if your dog is eating, she is OK.

If all goes well, you can progress through the steps as your dog demonstrates she is comfortable, which may be just a few sessions over several days. If you are seeing stress signs, you may need to take a step backward until your dog relaxes:

1. If your dog is nervous just being near the car, start by hand feeding meals beside the car, each meal moving the bowl closer to, then inside the car with the doors open. Ask your dog for simple commands as you move around the car, rewarding for correct responses. We want to get and keep them thinking.

2. Next, sit with your dog in the car, feed a meal, relax, and don’t go anywhere. Close the car doors for a moment.

3. With each meal, spend a little more time in the car. You may want to introduce a crate or travel carrier at this point, putting a stuffed Kong or other food stuffed toy in the crate or with your dog in the back seat.

4. Next, start the car and sit for a moment (but don’t go anywhere yet). As long as your dog is relaxed, drive up and down in the driveway a few times or drive around the block.

5. Each meal, lengthen the trip, trying to think of fun destinations you can go to regularly. Short, enjoyable field trips should become part of your routine.  

Safe Containment
Regardless of your dog’s travel related behavior issue, every dog should ride while safely contained. The type of containment can play a role in your dog’s travel related behaviors.

For over-aroused dogs, try a plastic travel crate instead of a wire crate. This blocks some of the dog’s visual field, giving them less to look at and less to be aroused by. Nervous dogs may also benefit from a plastic vs. wire kennel.  

Start At the Beginning -- Positive Prevention for New Puppies
If you are bringing a new puppy into your home, following some simple steps can go a long way to avoiding travel-related anxieties. When puppies are exposed to repeated positive associations from a very early age, many car-related behavior issues can be avoided all together.

Beginning with the very first time you bring your puppy home, make car rides pleasant, calm experiences. If you are lucky to be adopting your puppy from a conscientious breeder, then your puppy likely will have already been exposed to pleasant car rides.

But the first car ride home with a new family can be stressful for any puppy, so plan on making it a positive trip. Have someone gently hold the puppy (not the person driving!) and feed a few high-value treats (e.g. XXXX) or introduce a toy, such as a stuffed Kong, so your puppy can concentrate on something other than the car ride.

After you arrive home, make a habit of feeding your new puppy some of her meals in the car from a stuffed Kong or other puzzle toy with the car parked in the driveway. If all goes well, start the car and drive around the block. Introduce your puppy to a travel crate, puppy seat belt or other containment so she can ride safely in the car. Make riding in the car something that happens all the time.

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