Change in travelling behavior

[wizard]

For many years my basenjis would ride in the passenger seat in a car harness. Gossy also started out this way but became increasingly unsettled - jumping around and trying to climb unto my arm, etc. So she now rides in a kennel (I have a small pickup with an extended cab so can only fit one soft-side kennel behind the seat). But she is even worse than before - howling, screaming, crying, shreaking like a banshee-tasmanian devil - and still bouncing around in the kennel. I do redirect the heater so more of it goes her way when its cold out and open the wing windows for her in the summer. It's not funny and can at times be distracting to me - I'm not so sure I want to travel long distances with her any more. She does calm down significantly when we return from wherever we went but going is a different story. Lately I've tossed some treats in the kennel either before she gets in or afterward but sometimes she just ignores them (and this is a super food-oriented doggie). Any suggestions on getting her to calm down?

[tanza]

You have a boy now also, right? Where is he, home or also in the car?

[svdreamer]

With the kennel behind the seat, do you mean on the floor? Can she see out the window? I know if I transport any of my chihuahuas in an enclosed kennel on the floor, they scream and shake, but if I put it up on the seat and belt it in so they can look out the window, they do better. Also I get a lot of car sickness if they are down there, too.

[wizard]

If one's traveling the other has to stay home (only 1 kennel fits in my vehicle).
I did build a little platform behind the seats but the kennel is still below window level and there's only a narrow space between the seats so not much visibility forward either - perhaps that's the problem.

[tanza]

@wizard:

If one's traveling the other has to stay home (only 1 kennel fits in my vehicle).
I did build a little platform behind the seats but the kennel is still below window level and there's only a narrow space between the seats so not much visibility forward either - perhaps that's the problem.

Did this start or get worse after you got the boy?

[wizard]

It started several months before the second dog arrived.
Maybe the lack of visibility is the issue - I raised the platform yesterday so the kennel sits a little higher (though maybe not high enough) so we'll see tonight (of course it will be dark out and cold so probably not a good test).