The Bottom Line
Pros
- Comes with informative CD insert about when/how to use this music
- CD has a "Travel Prep" selection to prepare dogs before getting in car
- Several samples are available for preview on the vendor site
- Excellent behavioral modification tool
- A calm dog is a safer way to travel -- less distraction for the owner
Cons
- Classical music is hard to sing along to!
Description
- For the dogs with no discernible anxiety, simply start the CD at the start of the trip.
- For dogs will mild anxiety, play the Travel Prep at home until your dog is comfortable with traveling in the car.
- For dogs that have extreme anxiety, the authors recommend several steps in the behavior modification process (see below).
- For all cases, working in slow steps is the key, with plenty of positive reinforcement along the way.
- The authors recommend consulting a qualified animal behavior therapist if, after 10 days, your dog does not respond.
- While this CD was not designed to help with motion sickness, there is anecdotal evidence that it will help in some cases.
- Please do not stop or change motion sickness medication for your pet without consulting your vet first.
Guide Review - Through A Dog's Ear Driving Edition: Music to Calm Your Dog in the Car
Unlike the Through A Dog's Ear CD designed to calm dogs (and help with problems such as separation anxiety and noise phobias), this CD is a decidedly more uptempo selection of music. At 74:20 minutes in length, this CD offers a large selection of classical works, slowly building in tempo from track 1 to 12. The twenty minute "Travel Prep" medley is a soothing slower selection, designed to calm dogs prior to even getting in the car or to be listened to in the car, but before driving.
The CD insert offers excellent music "how to" information for each type of dog: 1) no discernible automobile anxiety issues, 2) mild automobile anxiety issues and 3) moderate to extreme automobile anxiety issues.
For dogs that have moderate to extreme anxiety, the authors recommend several steps, starting with playing Travel Prep at home, then work up to in the car with the motor off, gradually working up to the car idling but not moving, then finally very short trips around the block. A gradual process to calm your dog and encourage confidence in the car.
1Travel Industry Association: Domestic Travel Fast Facts – Travel Trends from "A to Z"
