Driveway to van
A dog who hates the car: from the driveway to the Pup Van
Half the dogs who hate the car have only ever ridden it to the vet; the other half get sick. This page separates the two, sets out a plan you can run in a driveway, and explains why a different vehicle with a Dogtown handler at the wheel is often the fastest fix.
What is going on
What is going on: nausea, fear, or a car that has only ever gone somewhere bad
Start by watching the dog before the car moves. A dog that drools, yawns, licks its lips and vomits once the wheels turn is probably nauseous; motion sickness is common in puppies and often eases as they mature, and it is a vet conversation. A dog that trembles, pants and braces its legs against the door before the engine is on is frightened, and fear does not fade on its own.
The third case is the most common and the easiest to fix: a dog whose every car ride has ended at the vet. It is not afraid of the car; it is afraid of what the car predicts. The remedy, which the AKC's expert advice on car anxiety also gives, is to change what the car predicts by making most rides short, dull and followed by something the dog loves.
- Drooling, lip licking, yawning and vomiting once moving: likely nausea, so talk to your vet
- Trembling, panting and bracing before the engine starts: fear, which needs a plan
- A car that only ever goes to the vet: change the destination and the dog changes its mind
The plan
The plan, stage by stage: the parked car, the engine, the block, the good place, then Eastern Ave
Move on only when the dog relaxes. Stage one is the parked car with the doors open: in, a chew, out. Stage two is the engine on and the car going nowhere. Stage three is around the block and home. Stage four is a five-minute drive to somewhere good: Stage Fort Park, or the off-season beach on the right day. Only then does the car go to Dogtown, for a half day at $33.
The shortcut for many dogs is the Pup Van. It is not your car, it has never been to the vet, and a Dogtown handler is driving. Add it to a daycare or Academy booking for $10 each way inside the four towns and tell the front desk the dog is car-shy. For the evaluation itself we like to meet you as well as the dog, so plan to drive that once.
- 01
Stage one: the parked car, doors open, engine off, a chew eaten inside, then out
- 02
Stage two: engine running, car stationary, the same chew, then out
- 03
Stage three: once around the block and straight home, with a treat at the door
- 04
Stage four: a short drive to somewhere the dog loves, such as Stage Fort Park or the off-season beach
- 05
Stage five: the drive to Dogtown for a half day at $33, so the return ride comes within hours
- 06
Or: the Pup Van at $10 each way from the first daycare day, with the front desk told the dog is car-shy
Cape Ann specifics
The Cape Ann specifics: winding roads, a hot summer car, a good destination at Stage Fort, and a train that is no alternative
Cape Ann's roads do a car-sick dog no favors. Route 127 from Rockport or Manchester-by-the-Sea bends and stops the whole way, and the summer traffic on Route 128 into Gloucester sits in the sun. In July the AVMA's rule applies with no exceptions: never leave the dog in a parked car, because the temperature inside climbs faster than people believe.
The fenced Gloucester Dog Park at Stage Fort Park is a five-minute payoff for stage four, or use the beach calendar: Gloucester's beaches take dogs from October 1 to April 30 at the time of writing, Good Harbor on even-numbered days and Wingaersheek on odd. The Rockport line is not a workaround for a commuter, since the MBTA takes leashed dogs only off-peak, never 7 to 10 AM or 4 to 7 PM.
- Winding Route 127 and stop-start Route 128 make nausea worse; practice at quiet hours
- Never a dog left in a parked car in summer, per the AVMA
- Payoff destinations: the fenced dog park at Stage Fort, or the off-season beach on its dated schedule
What not to do
What not to do: force the dog in, drive to the vet as the first trip, feed a big meal first, or let it ride loose
Do not lift a frightened dog into the car and drive off; one ride like that undoes weeks. Do not make the first real trip after weeks of practice the vet or the groomer. Do not feed a large meal before a drive if nausea is part of the picture; your vet can advise on timing. And do not let the dog ride loose; a dog scrambling between seats is neither safe nor settling.
Do not give up after a bad ride. If the dog is not ready to drive to 210 Eastern Ave, tell the front desk, move the appointment, and keep working the driveway. Our trainers can help with the settle and the handling; Brave & Balanced, from $94 per session, is the confidence program for handling-sensitive dogs, and a Dogtown Academy day at $89 adds one-on-one trainer time.
At Dogtown
The van, the day and the trainer time
A different vehicle for the ride, a half day so the return comes soon, and Academy time for the settle.
Pick-up & drop-off
The Pup Van comes to you.
Pup Van pick-up and drop-off is available for $10 each way in the Rockport, Gloucester, Essex and Manchester-by-the-Sea area. Not in the area? Ask us for pricing.
- Rockport
- Gloucester
- Essex
- Manchester-by-the-Sea
Asked and answered
Questions people ask about this
Short, complete answers you can act on today. More in the full FAQ.
How do I know if my dog is car sick or scared of the car?
Will the Pup Van work if my dog hates my car?
Can my dog do the evaluation without me driving it there?
How long does it take to get a dog used to the car?
More questions? Read the full FAQ
Sources
Rules and dates change. We re-check every beach, licensing and ordinance page each spring and fall; the source above is the current word.
Keep reading
Next step
Let the van do the driving.
Book the free evaluation for a weekday morning, tell us your dog is car-shy, and add the Pup Van from the first daycare day.
- 01Free evaluationWeekdays 6:30 – 9:30 AM
- 02Book a dayOnline, in the app or by phone
- 03Play, rest, repeatReport card at pick-up
