Dear Dogcharmer,
I am afraid of going deaf, and hope you can help prevent that.
My 2-year-old Lab, Sam, barks nonstop in the back of the station wagon, the moment I turn the key in the ignition. Since most times our drives end at some beach, I doubt he is angry back there, but rather encouraging me to hit the gas pedal; or maybe telling me excitedly, “I think I know where we are going this time,” or “Did you see this? There was another dog on the street, and there, a squirrel; you missed it.”
I have tried special treats like a pig’s ear to keep him occupied. When Sam has chewed
that up — in two minutes — he will complain again. I tried more complicated food puzzles, but he is too excited to stay with them for more than five minutes.
He happily jumps into the back of the car whenever the door is open, so it is not a room per se he is trying to avoid.
Please advise before I start cutting back on trips with my dog, which would be a shame, because he really loves to go out on an adventure.
Kindest regards,
Angela
Dear Angela,
Nothing like that sense of euphoria you get taking a drive with your dog to the beach, on the perfect crisp fall day with the windows down and the trees in full bloom and the radio blasting. Except when the state of euphoria is shattered by the acoustic trauma of the big dog in the back seat screaming his incessant barking in your ear.
Many dogs bark when they’re excited. My poodle, Paula, still occasionally embarrasses me by jumping straight up in the air and barking in her excitement at seeing a dog she likes to play with. When a dog barks way too much, I refer to it as being overly verbal. So Sam is verbal, and you have it right, Angela. He’s barking in the car because he does love the adventures, but dogs being the creatures of habit that they are, in your car, he’s got a habit. He’s a “bark junkie.”
So it’s time for him to go into rehab, which will consist of learning the meaning of “Quiet!” and his attention being effectively redirected in the car. The pig’s ear is the right idea, but the wrong redirection tool. Try getting three sterilized hollow marrow bones at least 6 inches long at the pet store. Wedge a piece of meat in one, cheese in the second one, and peanut butter in the third. The people food is pushed to the middle of the inside of the bone so Sam can’t get it out, but is extremely interested. Make sure it’s the only time he has access to people food. As for the “quiet,” get a good spray bottle that sprays a stream, not a mist. After all, we’re looking to startle him, not give him a facial. As soon as you turn the engine on, leave it in Park, and if he barks, squirt him right between the eyes as you firmly say “Quiet.” There’s a good chance he’ll get startled and shut up, at which point you say “Good boy” and hand him one or two of the food-laden bones. The moment he starts working on them, you start driving. If the water doesn’t work, there are plenty of other things we can do, but let’s start with the spray bottle. If it works, he’ll cease and desist when he sees you reaching for the bottle.
Good luck,
The Dogcharmer
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