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A little treat to get in the car. Short drive, happy endings (as you say) and repeat. Have the windows open a bit so the dog can smell interesting stuff. My puppy's second trip in the car was to the vets. It turned out okay as he loved every minute of the appointment. I have a small bed which remains in the car and he settles on that and waits to see what happens next.
Constable_Savage-
Yeah, we currently have full-bodied resistance to getting into the car and a highly-stressed panting once in it. I think maybe he actually gets car-sick as there have been a few sicky incidents, but he's managed longish journeys recently without sick so maybe not that. He palpably hates it and feel awful getting him in against his will. He seems to go back to his normal sunny self pretty soon out the other side and the last two trips (riverside getaway and my folks' place just outside Oxford) he's LOVED once he got there....
owl
Yes, and absolutely delighted with the decision after some long-ish drives over the weekend. Any recommendations for helping a big puppy get over his dislike of the car, however, will be much appreciated. I assume there's no trick and it's just a case of patient reinforcement, small local trips with happy outcomes and making as many happy associations with the car as possible. But, also hoping that there is a trick and someone can share it.