Our friends at MINI are absolutely barking mad about dogs. And with more UK families welcoming dogs into their lives over these past few years, they thought: how can we help ensure every journey you take with your pup is a feel-good, stress-free experience.
That’s why they teamed up with the canine behaviour experts at Dogs Trust to put together the ‘Travel Happy Challenge’. With the help of Dr Jenna Kiddie, Head of Canine Behaviour at Dogs Trust, MINI created a four-step guide that shows dog owners how easy it is to make every car trip a fun experience.
From introducing your dog to car travel early on, to teaching them to be the paw-fect passenger, follow these simple steps and you’ll be on the road together in no time. Once you’ve got the hang of it, share your success snaps on social using #MINITravelHappy.
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FOUR LEGS, MEET FOUR WHEELS.
Before hitting the road, it’s important to let your dog get comfortable around your car. Open up the doors and boot, and encourage them to have a good sniff around so they can get familiar with your vehicle’s scent. When they’re calm and paying attention to you, toss a tasty reward to help build positive associations with the car.
Then encourage them to settle down next to the car – it’s a good behaviour to teach from the very beginning. They’ll soon learn that waiting quietly will get them inside, where more treats and good-times await.
GET READY TO EMBARK.
Once they’re comfortable around your vehicle, invite them to hop in and out of the car at their leisure. If they’ve got little legs or are older dogs that may struggle with mobility, they might need an extra hand from you. You can tell your dog’s a happy traveller when they’re comfortable in their space in the car and settle easily. .
Shaking, panting and pulling away from the car can be signs they’re distressed. They might be anxious about car journeys because they associate it with a previous bad experience – so once they feel comfortable try to take some short trips purely for fun to exciting places nearby such as the beach or park.
Watch out for signs of over-stimulation and stress. Wagging tails and panting can show excitement or anxiety, but other negative tells include excessive yawning, tucked tails, lip-licking and whining.
THREE-POINT TURN.
Your dog should have enough space to do a “three-point turn” in your car. This means they should have plenty of room to stand up, turn around comfortably, and lie back down in their area of the car. This freedom to get comfy helps keep them calm while you’re driving.
You might want to use a guard or crate to keep your hound safe and sound – and avoid any distractions for the driver when you’re on the move.
TREAT TIME.
It’s important to help your dog build paw-sitive associations with the inside of the car. A much-loved blanket or cushion, full of familiar smells, can help your dog feel calm and relaxed. You should also use your pup’s favourite treats to reward them for simply being in the car. Tasty snacks let them know that the back of a MINI is a pretty great place to be!
For more travel tips, expert advice and handy accessories, head to the MINI Dogs Hub.
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