Okay, I lied. There isn’t one simple step. Click-bait? Sure, but I did it to make a point right away. There is no one simple, universal, quick fix for dealing with your pet’s vehicular travel anxiety.<\/p>\n
You may get lucky. One of my suggestions might work on the first try. Your pet may only need a little adjustment to reassure him or her.<\/p>\n
But set yourself up to expect to have to do some trial-and-error, some behavioral detective work, and that your pet may never entirely adjust to vehicle travel.<\/p>\n
If you set realistic expectations, and are willing to do the leg-work, then you very likely will get results you and your pet can live with.<\/p>\n
Any solution will come from figuring out the cause of your pet\u2019s anxiety. This can be complex. So sometimes it\u2019s easier to try easily accessible methods first and then delve into analyzing your pets psyche more if those things don\u2019t work.<\/p>\n
Sometimes the stress a pet is feeling is from over-stimulation while riding in a vehicle. Doing things like making sure you aren\u2019t playing loud music or talk-radio, or having loud conversations yourself, can be helpful. If road noise is overwhelming your pet, there are some music\/sound sources specifically designed to calm your pet, that could help mask road noise, but they are basically the same as for humans — white noise, rain sounds, ocean waves, soft music, etc.<\/p>\n
Additionally, you may want to block the view outside for your pets, particularly from the side windows where things whiz by quickly, or trucks and bridges pass by your pet\u2019s peripheral vision. Something as easy as putting a towel over the sides of the crate or carrier can work wonders.<\/p>\n
And speaking of crates or carriers, placing your pet in a tighter space that they are familiar with or actually like can also help. Putting your cat or dog in a carrier simply to take it into the car won\u2019t work, since it will only associate the crate or carrier with the unpleasant experience.<\/p>\n
You have to go through the entire process of familiarizing the pet with the container, and even getting them to feel it is their safe place or lair. Doing so is an entire article in itself, so for now, I\u2019ll just post these links on the subject.<\/p>\n
Dog:<\/p>\n