Keeping dogs calm for car rides

[jenjen08]

Does anyone have any ideas on how can I can keep my dogs calm while taking long drives
(like vacation ect)
I have a boxer lab about 75lbs, a lab golden retriever 60lbs, and a corgi 35lbs
they absoultly hate going for car rides my corgi trys to climb in the front seat
they wine and bark the entire time. I keep them supplied with food and water the whole time and stop for bathroom breaks but that still isnt enough we have just discoved that there are things you can buy for cars to keep them in the backseat so were investing in one of those
but what can help us with the barking and wineing the entire drive?
all advice is appricated

[ginger899]

Dogs are not built to sit for hours in a car, but to run and be outside But sometimes they have to do what we want them to do! After all, they get free food! lol

There is some music which is designed to calm dogs (thunderstorms, separation anxiety, various things. I wonder if it would work for car rides?
Perhaps you could try it at home first, get them relaxed, so every time they hear that music, they will associate it with being relaxed.....it's worth a try...

You can find the music on You Tube. Just type in "relax my dog"

The website is http://www.relaxmydog.com

[LoveMyBostons]

When I take my dogs on vacation once per year (about a 4-5 hour drive), I give them benadryl beforehand. My guys are little (25-ish lbs) and they can each have 1 tablet.

I wouldn't give your dogs food during the trip in case they get carsick. Water yes, but no food until you arrive at your destination.

With the benadryl, my dogs sleep most of the trip. Otherwise they'd be up, walking around the backseat and getting antsy.

[Margot49]

They have any obedience training?  Start training each one individually to sit outside the car until you give a command to enter, reward.  Do the same when taking them out.  Put a dog in the car, close the door, get in and sit fir maybe 5 mins.  You can try working up to starting the engine, sit, then turn it off. If the dog behaves, reward.  Then do the same routine but maybe move the car up and down the driveway a couple of times, take the dog out, praise bad reward.  Work up to short trips around the neighborhood, etc.  now, to be honest, I've worked with individual dogs but not 3 at one time.  It really is not safe for you or the dogs to have them loose in the car.  They do sell dig safety attachments fir the cars, check on line.  You might try putting beds or a blanket in the car fir each one so they have their designated area.  I take it you are talking about a car barrier?  Good idea but they have to be very secure or your big dogs will knock them right down.  
Are they all whining?  Does one start it?  If so, work with that one first.  If you have one that seems to be escalating the situation, you might consider boarding that one.
Wow, hope some of this helps.  Do some research on the Internet or consult a trainer in your area.
I hate to say this cause I'll probably get jumped on, but fir long trips, you might ask your Vet for a low dose medication like Acepromazine.

[jenjen08]

No we are planning in a few months but I wasnt sure if there was anything I could do to get them used to car rides espally for long periods of time because I have no one to house sit so I have to take them with me so they are takin care of

[Margot49]

Oh boy.  Sounds like you have a lot of reconditioning to do.  I was so hoping you had a large vehicle to hold big crates. :-).
I don't have time now.  Try doing some searches on the Net as to training dogs to ride in cars.
Are you planning on going some place soon?

[jenjen08]

yes that are big.. I have a small car and they are crate trained but with the 2 bigger dogs their crates wouldnt fit in the back seat very well we try to take them often but that doesnt always go as planned because they will not sit down or stop barking the entire time