If you have ever had a dog with car sickness, you know how heartbreaking it can be.

Maybe your puppy drools so much their bed is soaked. Maybe they whine, shake, or throw up. Or maybe they just look at you with those wide eyes and flattened ears that say, “Please don’t do this to me.”

I went through that exact experience with my dog This! when she was a young puppy. She would drool so much it looked like bubbles forming in her mouth. Her crate would be soaked, and she looked miserable. Anyone who has experienced motion sickness themselves knows it is not just nausea. It is disorientation.

And when our dogs feel that way every time they get in the car, something else begins to happen.

They start to associate the car with feeling sick.

So the real goal is not just preventing nausea. The goal is changing how the dog feels about the car.

Why Puppies Often Get Car Sick

Many puppies experience motion sickness because their inner ear, the system responsible for balance, is still developing. As that system matures, some dogs grow out of the problem.

But not all of them do.

And even if the physical motion sickness improves, a dog may already have developed a negative emotional response to the car. If every car ride has meant feeling sick, the dog begins to anticipate that awful feeling the moment they see the vehicle.

This is what we call a Conditioned Emotional Response (CER).

So instead of trying to simply “get through” the car ride, I focused on changing that emotional response entirely.

A Quick Note About Car Safety

Before we get into the training plan, I want to mention something important about traveling with dogs. My dogs always ride in crates in the car for safety. Just like seat belts protect us, a properly secured crate helps keep dogs safe during travel.

Step 1: Make Getting Into the Car a Game

The first thing I changed was how my puppy got into the car.

Because I drive an SUV, I had always lifted her up and placed her inside. That created uncertainty before the car even started moving.

So I became what I jokingly call a “human canine booster seat.”

I sat on the edge of the car and encouraged her to jump onto my lap and then into the car. We repeated this over and over like a game. Jump in, jump out, earn cookies.

Suddenly the car became something fun.

Instead of hesitating, she started thinking, “Wait, I want to get in there.”

Step 2: Build Positive Associations First

For the first week we did not drive anywhere at all.

She would jump into the car, go into her crate, and I would sit in the driver’s seat without turning the car on. Then I would say something exciting like, “Let’s go play Frisbee.”

Out she would come, and we would go play.

At the very beginning, I even had my other dog at the time, Tater Salad, jump in the car too. He already loved car rides, and I wanted my puppy to borrow a little confidence from him.

The car ride itself was not happening yet. But the car predicted something wonderful.

This is the heart of counterconditioning. Pairing something previously unpleasant with something the dog absolutely loves.

Step 3: Introduce Motion Slowly

After a week of successful car games, I turned the car on and simply sat there for a moment.

No driving.

Just music and cookies.

I always checked her chin for drool when she got out because that was the earliest sign that nausea might be starting.

When that went well, I began with the smallest possible drive. Down the driveway and back.

Then we played again.

Gradually, I increased the distance. First a short drive down the driveway, then the trip to the mailbox, and eventually short rides into town.

Each successful ride built confidence.

Step 4: Watch Your Dog Closely

One day I pushed a little too far and drove about two kilometers to pick up the mail.

When I opened the crate, I saw the signs immediately. Slightly flattened ears and glassy eyes. There was not much drool, but I knew she was starting to feel it.

So instead of panicking, I let her out and we played Frisbee in the field for a while.

Then we went home.

No big setback. No stress.

Just information that told me where her comfort limit currently was.

Step 5: Pair Car Rides With Amazing Experiences

As the rides became easier, I started adding destinations she would love. Sometimes we stopped so she could sniff around a pet store. Other times I parked at the grocery store and delivered cookies through the crate door. The goal was simple. The car predicted something good.

Something else changed too.

Early in the process she refused treats in the car. That is a common sign that a dog is stressed or anticipating nausea.

The day she started eating cookies in the car again was a huge milestone.

It told me her emotional state had changed.

The Big Picture for Any Dog with Car Sickness

If your dog with car sickness sees the car and immediately refuses to get in, it is important to slow everything down.

You may need to make a commitment not to take the dog anywhere until you rebuild that positive emotional response.

Start with tiny steps:

  • Getting into the car.
  • Sitting in the car.
  • Short drives.
  • Amazing rewards afterward.

Your dog does not need to love the car immediately. They just need enough positive experiences to start rewriting their expectations.

And when that shift happens, it is magical.

Today I Am Grateful

Today I’m grateful for my dog This!, who is no longer that little puppy struggling in the car but is now a happy, confident traveler. Looking back on those early days reminds me how much our dogs rely on us to help them navigate experiences that feel overwhelming or confusing.

Moments like that are powerful reminders that when something is not working for our dogs, slowing down and changing the picture can make all the difference.

I’m also grateful for the trust our dogs place in us. When we take the time to listen to what they are telling us and adjust our training with patience and kindness, we help them feel safe again.

And seeing a dog go from flat ears and worry to bright eyes and excitement is one of the most rewarding parts of sharing our lives with them.

P.S. If you’re raising a puppy right now, you might also enjoy this blog where I share a few common puppy training mistakes and what to do instead. It can help set both you and your puppy up for success from the start: New Puppy? Here’s How to Prevent Bad Habits Before They Start