Pet care: Curbing Barney鈥檚 road rage
Q: Our 5-year-old German shepherd, Barney, is nearly the most perfect pet except for when he goes for a ride in the car. Every time he sees a pedestrian or, even worse, another dog, he goes ballistic. He barks like he's the most vicious creature, ready to devour everything in his path. I think he enjoys being this badass. He's obedience-trained and has an AKC Good Citizen certificate.
Dr. Nichol: Ahem. This is a family newspaper. You could have described Barney as a bad rear end or perhaps a bad hiney. We'll let it go 鈥� this time. Although lunging and snarling at people and other dogs from the car is not consistent with good citizenship, it's a common canine behavior. Badly behaved humans usually just cuss and honk at other drivers.
Like my pets, Barney is loved like a human family member, but he actually belongs to a different species. He is not genetically programmed to travel in a box surrounded by glass. Many dogs enjoy this human contrivance while others react with intense frustration. Being confined by windows just doesn't compute for Barney. He badly needs to investigate those alien creatures and check their IDs before allowing them to pass. No amount of scolding, swatting, or water spraying can change him.
You could allow Barney out of your car at traffic lights, but that would be a very bad idea. Please don't do it. Instead, you can eliminate his ability to see the people and dogs who trigger him. Rather than covering your car's windows with black paint (another bad idea), you can have your good boy ride in a collapsible fabric crate. Close its windows on all sides, leaving the bottom 4 to 5 inches of its screened door open. This will keep Barney inside, feeling as though he's resting in his den in the wild. He'll only see the interior of your car. EliteField soft dog crates (Amazon) are available in different sizes. They're durable and easy to collapse and store.
Not every bad traveling dog needs the same management. Those who hide and drool or vomit have motion sickness. Trembling and hypervigilance usually indicate anxiety. Barney is different. He goes postal.
鈥� For help with behavior problems, you can sign up for a Zoom group conference at drjeffnichol.com.
Dr. Jeff Nichol is a residency trained veterinary behaviorist in sa国际传媒官网网页入口. He provides consultations by Zoom group and individually/in-person. Sign up for his weekly blog or post questions (drjeffnichol.com) or mail to 4000 Montgomery NE, sa国际传媒官网网页入口, NM, 87109.
