Easy Ways to get your Pet into the Car

Car travel can be stressful for your pet, especially if it is something that they are not used to. Of course your pet will have to get in a car at some point, whether it is to go to the veterinarian or a groomer like Doggie DoLit tle or just for a drive around. Some may go willingly and may love it (think of all the dogs that you see sticking their heads out of the car windows) and some may not. There are a few things that you can do to make their trip to Doggie DoLittle more enjoyable or at least less stressful.

Cats and their carrier

Cats in a way are easier. All you have to do is to get them into their carrier and off you go. Of course getting them into the carrier can be a job in and of itself. Many do not like the carrier and associate it with an unpleasant thing like a trip to the vet’s office, even cats who only have to do it once a year. They remember and of course nothing you can say will convince them that it is for their own good.
Some owners leave the carrier out and make it as comfortable as possible. The cat sleeps in it and is comfortable being in it. For the rest it is a good idea to put the carrier out a day or so beforehand so that they can get used to it. When the time comes position it with the open door facing upwards. Corral the cat and place them in the carrier rear end first and let gravity take over. Some find that wrapping a towel around the cat makes them much easier to handle and gives their human much more control.

Dogs

Dogs can be more complicated but they can be easier as well. Some dogs will hop right into the car or truck and off you go. For everyone else there are some things that you can do to help make a ride in the car more enjoyable.
A dog will not want to get into a car usually because they find it unpleasant, they get nothing out of it or when out they simply don’t want to go home. To make the car more enjoyable they can be given something to eat or something to chew on, which will make the trip much more pleasant. Most rides in the car are to get exercise and over time they will come to associate a car ride with the positive activity of getting exercise and car rides will become easier.
If the dog does not want to get into the car that may require their human to actually pick them up. With some breeds of dogs that is easier said than done and not all dogs will tolerate this. Not all dogs are able to jump as well, especially older dogs and puppies so what do you do? There are ramps that are available that a dog can be lead or coaxed up which makes this task much easier.

Now you have them in the car

Riding in a car is not something that every dog or cat does every day. They may be scared of this which can lead to aggressive behavior or excessive whining. Motion sickness is also a common occurrence, especially with older dogs. The best thing that can be done is to get them used to traveling in a car as early in life as possible. This can also be done without ever starting the car as you can feed your dog meals in the car to get them to associate it with positive activities. The more regular car travelers they are the easier it is to cope. Medication for motion sickness is also available so speak to your veterinarian about that or a product like CBD oil can be used to help alleviate some of the symptoms.
For cats they should remain in their carrier which should also be secured with a seatbelt. You can put a blanket in the carrier so they will be more comfortable but chances are they will be stressed. Most cats do not like traveling even the short distance to the vet or the groomer. They will probably claw at the cage or moan and this could last until you arrive at your destination. Chances are that they will be much quieter on the way back, it’s almost like they know they’re going back home.
Remember as well that your pet should stay away from you while you are driving. It is illegal in some states to drive with a pet on your lap and in some states you can be fined for improperly transporting a pet. If a pet causes a crash it falls under distracted driving and you will be on the hook for it. Keeping a pet in their carrier or crate is the best way to go. Also remember not to leave them in the car unattended as they can succumb to heat stroke in as little as ten minutes.
If you are having trouble getting your pet into the car to bring them to Doggie DoLittle for a grooming session (or anywhere else for that matter) we hope that these ideas help in some small way. We want their grooming session to be a positive experience both for the pet and their human and hopefully that will make it easier to get them into the car when the next session rolls around.

References:
https://www.adoptapet.com/blog/how-to-get-an-unwilling-cat-into-a-carrier/
https://www.cesarsway.com/dog-care/travel/safe-ways-to-transport-your-dog-in-your-car
https://www.tripswithpets.com/twp-blog/pet-travel-tips-for-the-car
https://thehappypuppysite.com/my-dog-wont-get-in-the-car/
http://www.allfelinehospital.com/traveling-with-your-cat.pml