Veterinary behavior expert Dr. E’Lise Christensen and professional dog trainer Michelle Mullins provide their insights on how to deal with a dog that goes crazy in the car.

In a recent VetVine Behavior Q&A - Ask the Experts session Dr. E'Lise Christensenand professional dog trainer Michelle Mullins answered audience questions including this oneon how to deal with the dog that goes nuts in the car.

Why do some dogs bark and lunge at people and dogs when confined inside the car? There are several possibilities for this reactive behavior to develop. For example, genetic protection gene, learned behavior, fearful response to stimuli, unpleasant association within the car, or just poor emotional control to name a few.

I would advise you to do really strong boundary training with the car: put him on a leash, go to the car, make him wait, unlock the alarm (he will probably break the sit), make him sit again, open the door, if he goes nuts close the door, repeat all theses steps until he is calm, and then put him into the car.

Dog goes nuts in car. Our 1.5 year old goldendoodle has loved going for rides since he was a puppy. At some time, possibly right after he was fixed, he developed aggressive behavior whenever a family member enters the car after putting him in the back or when we return to our car after stepping out to get the mail or run in and out of a store.