It’s that travel time of year. Many of us are just getting ready to go on vacation now or have recently come home and wished that we could have brought our dogs to enjoy all of the fun adventures right along with us. There are lots of things to consider though. First, how does your dog like car rides? Like mine, are they excited every time they get to go somewhere (anywhere) with you? Or like my friend, do they run the other way whenever the car door opens?
Recently, my friend adopted a very large (ok, maybe slightly overweight) 5 year old Newfoundland. The dog Max, who was much loved, had been helping his terminally ill Mom and wasn’t getting much exercise. And given the challenges of her illness, Max missed out on many of the playful, carefree experiences that make being a dog so special. His Mom was declining and decided to rehome him before she transitioned so she could have the comfort of knowing he would be well taken care of when she passed.
Now it was my friend’s turn to help Max step into this new chapter of his life. Together, they’re working on things like mastering stairs, enjoying the freedom of open fields, practicing leash manners, learning how to play, and slowly forming a bond and building a friendship with the other dog in the household.
Then one big hurdle remained. Max had little experience of good things happening when you get in a car. And when a 185 lb Newfie doesn’t want to get in a car, the result tends to be “No, I’m not going”. And he doesn’t.
But what about all of the fun he is missing? Rides to parks, beaches, visits with friends, and the ultimate treat, pup cups? And family vacations to my friend’s lake cottage. That’s when my friend reached out to me for help.
We started with a few reiki sessions to help Max feel more comfortable and relaxed as he adjusted to his new family. We slowly moved each session a little closer to the car until we were able to sit next to the car and even open the door. Max was a champ at this. He showed me how his only experiences in cars were when his Mom’s caregivers forced him into the car annually for his vet visits, and then that time when he left Mom for good. He had no positive reasons to ever want to get in a car again. Along with continuing reiki sessions, I made a few suggestions to my friend for things she could do between sessions.
I suggested that she explain clearly in detail to Max why she wants him to get in the car, where they are going, what to expect of the car ride and destination, and of course include treats. Items such as blankets with a familiar smell or a favorite stuffy or toy to bring with can help bring the comfort of home to the car. And be sure to confirm to Max that he was coming back home after the fun outings. The fact that her other dog likes the car helped immensely as the two of them continued to bond. I reminded her to remember what his minimal experience with a car might have entailed and to see his point of view. What do you think would help you if the shoe was on the other foot (paw)?
With the calming support of Reiki to relieve the stress he always associated with car rides and lots of work and encouragement from my friend, Max has gotten in the car and tolerated short car rides that include pup-cups and other tasty rewards. They haven’t made it to the cottage yet, but with love, support and reiki, they’ll soon be on their way— windows cracked open, breeze in Max’s jowls, and the promise of new memories waiting on the other side of the ride.
Leave Your Comment