How to Improve Your Dog’s Travel Anxiety

12/10/18

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When most of us imagine a dog inside of a moving car, we visualize a happy and content canine (with a lolling tongue and a big, goofy smile) sticking his or her head out the window and taking in the sights and smells of the open road. However, not every dog enjoys riding in a vehicle. Travel anxiety is a common condition in dogs, and it can make the process of getting your pet to the veterinarian or visiting a distant location incredibly challenging and stressful. At Canna Companion, our mission is to keep your companions healthy, safe and happy. So today, we’ll be discussing a few simple techniques you can use to improve your dog’s travel anxiety.

1. Teach Your Dog to Associate Car Rides With Fun Activities

One of the primary reasons why dogs become anxious in the car is because they associate your vehicle with negative experiences. Fortunately, we can alter your dog’s perception by teaching them that jumping inside of your car can result in positive things happening to them.

To begin, use treats or toys to get your dog into the parked car with leash on and windows down. From there, spend a few minutes inside with them, and help them relax with a few snacks and pets, then calmly end the counter-conditioning session before your dog becomes anxious. If your dog starts to panic or anxiously pace around the car, ignore the behavior and sit quietly until they calm down, then cut the session off and let them out.  While it’s difficult to ignore our beloved companions when they are stressed, any attention during such an emotional state reinforces the situation.  It is best to ignore such behavior, provided they are not harming themselves or others, and to reward calm behavior as soon as it’s observed. After a few attempts, your canine should be perfectly comfortable inside of your stationary vehicle for extended periods of time.

OK, here comes the hard part. The next time your dog is lounging out in the car, hop into the driver’s seat and start it up, but don’t take the vehicle out of park. Ideally, your dog will barely react and continue to relax or chomp on his or her toys. If they begin to become anxious, sit quietly and patiently, perhaps putting on some soothing music. Once they’re calm, reward your dog with pets and turn the engine off; session complete.  Once your dog is comfortable with this routine, extend the training and take a slow and easy drive around the block for about three minutes or so. As soon as you make it back home, be sure to reward their good behavior with a shower of praise and snacks. Over time, your dog will start to associate his or her trips in the car with affection and tasty treats. Keep this up and your pup shouldn’t have any more problems with car rides.

Note: Once your dog can reliably handle short rides, you can reward them by visiting dog parks, lakes, houses with other animals or any other locations that they’ll enjoy.

2. Exercise and Cage Your Dog Before Each Travel Session

According to Cesar Millan, one of the most important steps when traveling with a dog is to wear them out with exercise. When canines burn through all of their energy, they become sleepy, calm and much less likely to panic during travel. The next time you want or need to take your dog on a ride, go for a short run or a long walk with them first. That way, they’ll be focused on resting and recovering from their workout instead of worrying about being in the car.

Cesar also recommends crating your dog during travel, stating that comfortable dog cages can actually make them feel more secure. Furthermore, crated dogs won’t be able to look out of all the windows and get worked up by taking in all of those potentially distressing visuals. You might feel like a bad owner for locking your canine in a cage, but many dogs prefer small, safe spaces to lie down in rather than an open seat or car floor. Remember, our canine friends are only one step away from their wild brethren who often prefer earthen dens for their homes, and a crate is just a different form of den.

Note: If you do elect to use a cage for your dog’s traveling adventures, make sure that it’s full of entertaining distractions (like chew toys or their favorite stuffed animal).

3. Invest in High-Quality Hemp Supplements

Canna Companion is a special blend of hemp that’s designed to optimize the health benefits of cannabis while negating the “high-inducing” capacity of THC. Unlike marijuana products, hemp supplements made from the seeds and mature stalks of cannabis plants, can be purchased and used legally in any part of the United States. At Canna Companion, we use only the highest quality hemp in our products. Our expert team of veterinary professionals works tirelessly to ensure the plants we use meet our strict quality standards and are free of pesticides and chemicals. Because our hemp contains a smaller amount of CBD and THC compared to marijuana, your pet will receive all of the benefits of the cannabis plant without the risk of feeling high.

Canna Companion can be used to support your dog’s immune system, maintain their GI tract, protect their joints from the discomfort of normal daily activities and encourage a relaxed and calm demeanor. When regularly administered, our supplements can assist your canine in managing and overcoming the anxiety they feel during travel while supporting their long-term health. Our hemp supplements also maintain healthy neurological function, making them an excellent tool to support the health of your canine’s body and mind throughout every stage of their life.

Purchase Canna Companion for Your Dog Today

If you’re interested in purchasing Canna Companion for your canine, then be sure to visit our online shop. Our Whole Plant Hemp Oil and Regular Strength capsule formulations will provide a perfect ratio of CBD and THC for most pets, but we also offer Extra Strength products for even more powerful results and end of life comfort. Regardless of which product you choose for your dog, you will typically start to see results within three to five days (with significant effects in ten to fourteen days).

Last but not least, be sure to call or message us today if you have any other questions about Canna Companion or aren’t sure which supplements will work best for your dog.

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