Handling Barking Problems while Driving

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     If you are going on a long drive and you want to enjoy the company of your dog, you better have nerves of steel otherwise driving with a barking dog can drive you nuts. Your dog thinks it is his duty to keep all dangers away from his territory, which is the car at this point of time. He will bark at all the cars and people on the road and at every still and moving object that he sees from the window. It virtually means you will have to put up with nonstop barking all the way.

From a moving car, the dog will see a new thing every moment and the barking will go on and on and on.

No one can tolerate that much noise for long. So, the most natural reaction is that you shout at him to get him to quiet down. But, nothing could be worse than this in this scenario; it is like adding fuel to fire. Besides adding to the noise pollution, you are, inadvertently of course, encouraging your dog to make more noise. Your yelling gives him the impression that you also feel the same way and that raises the levels of his anxiety. The end result is that now you have to handle a virtual bedlam while trying to concentrate on the road at the same time.

This is in no way trying to discourage you from taking your dog with you when you are going on a holiday. In fact, you can reduce your dog's continuous barking with a little bit of training and patience. The following tips will guide you all the way when you are out for a drive:

1. It is always best to start with yourself. Try becoming a role model for your dog. Be very conscious that when your dog barks you will not lose you calm and start shouting at him. It will take some effort but a little preparation can go a long way in coming to that level of patience. For instance, play some soft music that will soothe your nerves. Slowly caress his head and talk to him soothingly while he is barking. Dogs are intelligent and sensitive; they take cues from their masters. If you are calm and collected, your dog feels safe and sound. Soon your dog will turn his head toward you to enjoy more of the attention, and of course, there is no reason for barking any more.

2. If your dog does not respond to love, you might have to take to a more drastic training technique. Just pour some water on him and give your command firmly when he barks and he will immediately stop whatever he is doing. Eventually, the command alone will have the same effect.

3. Another simple solution is to use a small crate that restricts his movements. This will prevent him from seeing out of the window and cut out all the stimulants for barking excessively. This is a perfect way to keep small to medium-sized dogs quiet while you're driving.