Train Your Dog to be in the Car

• 1). Get your dog comfortable just being in the car. Because of the anxiety associated with the car, start out by sitting with the dog in the back seat. Praise the dog and give it encouragement. Give the dog its favorite toy or treat to further induce a comfortable, happy association with the car. Repeat this process over a period of several days to a week.
  
  
• 2). Get the dog comfortable moving in the car. Take the dog for a slow ride around the block. It helps to have someone in the car that the dog is familiar with and likes well, in addition to the driver. Don't take any sharp turns. Make the ride short, nice and easy. Repeat this process over the course of a few days.
  
  
• 3). Take the dog to a happy place. Take the dog on a trip to a park to play. Once the dog has had a positive experience from the car ride and is comfortable with being in the car, the carsickness should abate.
  
  

Practical Measures/Medicine to Prevent Sickness

• 1). Control the food your dog eats. Some pets will function better in a ride if their stomach is empty. Others will be happier with a small meal. You have to experiment with your dog to see what it likes. But be sure not to let the dog eat a big meal before a car trip.
  
  
• 2). Take rest breaks often. Let the dog get out of the car and move, bend its legs and be on solid ground.
  
  
• 3). Experiment with seating. Some dogs prefer the back seat, others the front seat. Take rides with the dog to see what it does better with. Compare signs of anxiousness in the dog-- such as yelping, crying, moving around as if it wants to get out--vs. signs of calm and contentment.
  
  
• 4). Experiment with having the windows down. Some dogs enjoy sticking their out of a moving car. At the very least, crack the window open to give the dog some fresh air during the ride and put it in a position to see out the window.
  
  
• 5). Give him medicine. Talk to your vet about possible medication. The dog won't need to be medicated every time he gets in the car, just until he gets comfortable with car rides. Dimenhydramine works for pets as well as humans. Medium to large dogs should be given 25 to 50 milligrams an hour before riding. Smaller dogs should be given 12.5 milligrams.