Dog:
“Ono” is an intact 18-month-old show quality
female Rottweiler
Problem:
Gets Car Sick
History: Car
Sick When Goes to Shows
Client stated she is the
breeder of Ono and has been breeding Rottweilers
for about 12 years.
She said that, when Ono
was about 4 months old she was in her van with
client on the way to a Match (which is a
‘practice’ dog show). There was a car on the
road that drifted into their lane (country road,
two lanes) and the client had to swerve and jam
on the breaks in order to avoid the oncoming
car. As a result, Ono’s crate tipped over and
she was very traumatized by this. Ever since
that time, she has been very anxious about
traveling in the van and will vomit about 5
minutes after they are on the road.
Client’s Perspective:
Client stated she wants to
help Ono overcome her carsickness/anxiety
because she is a show dog. Ono is now several
months older since this episode, but still gets
carsick.
What would Client like
to change in her dog?
Client stated she wants to
help Ono overcome her carsickness/anxiety
because she is a show dog. Ono is now several
months older since this episode, but still gets
carsick.
What does the Client
feel is the best quality in her dog?
Ono is a very sweet dog.
She is very affectionate, loves to play and
still acts like a puppy. Other than the
carsickness, she is a healthy, normal, young
Rottie female.
July 6, 2002:
My first of several
visits. Client brought Ono to my house in her
van. Ono vomited in the crate, even though the
distance traveled was only 15 miles. Client let
her out of the crate and allowed her to run and
play in my fenced in yard.
Ono is used to being
touched and having her teeth brushed. I started
doing some mouth work on her on the outside of
her lips (small Clouded Leopard touches). I then
moved to the inside of her mouth and did some
touches on her gums above her canines. She was
perfectly fine with this, so I progressed to
doing touches along her entire upper gumline. I
also did some ‘piano tuning’ on her tongue and
touched the roof of her mouth. She was a little
startled by this, but quickly settled. I showed
the client how to do mouth work on Ono.
I also put a tee shirt on
her. She didn’t seem to mind this at all. In
fact, the client said Ono was used to wearing a
blanket in the wintertime. She quickly responded
to wearing the tee shirt. I did Clouded Leopard
Touches on her body over the tee shirt and
showed client how to put the tee shirt on and
tie it correctly.
I continued doing only
mouth work and wearing the tee shirt and doing
touches on her body for two weeks. I allowed Ono
to play with my dogs so she would feel
comfortable with the shirt on. I also played
ball with her.
I then rapidly progressed
to putting a half wrap over the tee
shirt. I did this because she was a little
sensitive about having the wrap go under/around
her chest but seemed to accept the half wrap
when it was over the tee shirt. Again, I let her
play with my dogs, played ball with her and
introduced her to the balance lead.
The following week I
advanced to mouth work, tee shirt, and a full
body wrap. I had client use the balance leash.
We went over the obstacle course, paying
particular attention to the labyrinth and used a
wand. I also showed the client how to do Abalone
Lifts on Ono’s body, as well as Python lifts,
over the tee shirt and full body wrap.
I also encouraged Ono to
sit in the front seat of the van with a doggie
seat belt on. I showed client how she could do
mouth work and Clouded Leopard touches on Ono
while in the van. I asked client not to feed her
treats, but to allow Ono to chew on her favorite
bone (which had just a little bit of peanut
butter in it) in the seat. Ono then relaxed in
the car seat and chewed happily on her bone.
I suggested to client that
Ono ride in the passenger seat with a seat belt
on, rather than in the crate. I did this because
I felt it would be best for Ono to see out over
the dashboard, rather than be confined in a
crate during trips (Note: Ono is fine in
the crate when the van is not moving and loves
her crate).
I continued this method
for about 2 more weeks (mouth work, tee shirt,
full body wrap, sitting in passenger seat with
seat belt on, chewing on bone, etc.). I then
asked client if she would drive around the block
with Ono in the passenger seat strapped in. She
did this and Ono was fine.
The next week we did the
same procedure, but drove about 1 mile. The
following week we drove down to the center of
town (3 miles). Then to my vets office (5
miles). Finally, I asked her if she would come
to my house with Ono in the passenger seat, with
the tee shirt and full body wrap on – a distance
of 15 miles. I asked client to do about 5
minutes worth of mouth work and 5 minutes of
Clouded Leopard touches on Ono before
driving over.
Client did this and Ono
was perfectly fine. Since that time, Ono has
never gotten carsick again. In fact, just last
week she won her first point at a dog show!
