Why Is My Dog Panting in the Car? Seven Valuable Tips for a More Comfortable Ride
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When you’re in the car with your dog, you probably think a lot about how to keep them safe and comfortable.
It is pretty common for a dog to start panting while in the car even when it isn’t hot. Panting can mean a lot of different things, but it is definitely something to pay attention to. If your dog is panting heavily or cannot stop panting or shaking it could be a sign of discomfort or distress.
In this post, we will give you some tips on what to do when your dog is panting in the car, and what might make your next drive or road trip a great one!
If you need a rental car for your trip with your dog, check out Discover Cars
Why do dogs pant in the car?
Dogs pant to help lower their body temperature and to help return their body to a more calm state. Panting can either be a response to the temperature around them OR it can be a response to their own internal experience (excitement, discomfort, anxiety). Deciding what to do about your dog panting in the car really depends on what they are reacting to.
These are 5 reasons your dog might pant while driving in your car
1) Dogs pant when they are excited or happy
One of the most common reasons a dog pants is because they are just excited. For our dogs, a trip in the car usually means something amazing is about to happen. They are just hyped about the possibility of an adventure. They are panting eagerly for the car doors to open like the pearly gates to a dog park, hike, or favorite field. When dogs get excited, their hearts beat faster, and they breathe more quickly. Panting helps to cool them down and keep their body temperature at a healthy level.
Dogs also pant when they are happy. There isn’t anything quite like that relaxed, wide dog grin that they get when in the middle of something they really enjoy. Those are the moments we live for.
Sometimes, though they can be overstimulated or TOO excited. If they can’t calm themselves down, their body stays amped up, and on longer trips, they can dehydrate and exhaust themselves. Some of the same skills for dealing with anxiety will also help if your dog gets too hyped in the car.
2) Your dog might be panting because they feel anxious or upset
Dogs also pant when they are feeling anxious or upset because panting is their way of coping with what they are feeling. They can become anxious or upset due to various reasons, such as loud noises, a new environment, or changes in their routine.
If they have not spent much time in the car, it could be because the car is still unfamiliar and uncomfortable for them. Does a car ride often take them to a “bad place”, like a vet visit? Your dog might be worried about where you are taking them.
Anxious panting is a sign that the dog is trying to calm down and regulate their body. When you see your dog panting and you know they are feeling anxious or upset, you can try to calm them down and make them feel safe and comfortable. Catching the signs of anxiety early is helpful.
You can shift what they experience and help build positive associations with the car. For dogs that keep having stressful experiences every time they get in the car, it might get harder and harder for them to trust the car and to think about the car positively.
Beyond calming them in the moment, there is a lot you can do to help make the car your dog’s happy place. You can help them learn to relax in unfamiliar places or experiences. Those skills carry far beyond the car and help your pup handle themselves in other new and strange environments.
3) Dogs pant because they are too hot
You definitely want to watch out for how to keep a dog cool in the car. If the car is warm or stuffy or the sun is shining on them, then they are probably trying to cool down. Dogs don’t have sweat glands like humans, so panting is one of the ways they can release heat and cool down. When a dog pants, it allows cool air to circulate over the moist surfaces inside its mouth and nose. This helps to cool them down.
So when your dog is panting a lot in the car, and you think it is because they are hot, then you will definitely want to do something like a cooling mat to help cool them down. Without air conditioning, cars can get insanely hot, very quickly even in the middle of winter. Use good ventilation and temperature controls when the car is running.
When the car is not running, this can be a dangerous place for your dog. It is best to keep your precious companion with you. This is especially true when you are in desert climates like Joshua Tree or the tropics like Puerto Rico.
Some cars like a Tesla and their “dog mode” have climate controls that work even when you aren’t in the car. These can be a literal lifesaver and incredibly convenient. Even with those though, it is best to monitor the car in case something unexpected happens.
4) Dogs pant because they are thirsty
Since dogs pant for a lot of different reasons and panting uses moisture, it is one big chicken and egg circle. Panting can make your dog pant, with all that work cooling and calming themselves they are making themselves dehydrated! Your dog might just need a break for some water.
5) Dogs might pant when they are feeling car sick
Dogs pant when they are feeling car sick because they are feeling distressed and nauseous. Car sickness is a common condition among dogs and it can cause them to feel queasy, anxious, and sometimes even throw up. When a dog is feeling car sick, they may pant excessively, drool, or have a dazed expression. The panting helps the dog to regulate their breathing and calm down, but it’s important to address the underlying cause of the car sickness to make them comfortable.
Is Your Dog Refusing to get into the car?
Prevent car anxiety – 7 tips to make car rides fun and familiar
1. Create a happy place in the car: desensitize your dog with treats, toys, and play
The best and safest way is to use a travel crate!
The easiest way for the car to be a happy place is if your pup is already comfortable and sleeps well in their travel crate. We cover this in detail below, and it is the simplest, safest way for your dog to relax.
If you need to crate train from the beginning, click here to read a step-by-step guide.
If they are ok in the crate, but still have trouble in the car? The next step is to help them feel at home in the car.
You can work with them to learn that the car is interesting, fun, and safe. Use positive reinforcement and desensitize them to the car. You can do this by using treats, toys, and their favorite games. Work your way from outside the car to the inside.
Outside the Car
You can place a treat or toy far from the car and gradually decrease the distance between your dog and the car. Once your dog is comfortable eating the treat or playing with the toy while close to the car, you can try placing the treat or toy on the car seat and rewarding your dog for approaching the car. You will want to use similar techniques to help your pup get used to a ramp or stairs.
Inside the car
You can place your dog’s food bowl on the car seat and feed them their meals while they’re inside the car. You can also try playing fetch or tug-of-war with your dog inside the car using a toy or treat as a reward. As your dog becomes more comfortable with being inside the car, you can start the car’s engine and practice short trips around the block.
Be patient, and start slow
Many dogs will get comfortable quickly. For those who don’t, see if you can spot what exactly it is that is bothering your dog about the car and spend extra love and care around that area. If your dog still has a hard time, we recommend you work with a dog trainer who specializes in desensitization. It can really make a difference.
2. What to do if your dog is panting because they are too excited in the car
If your dog gets so hyped up in the car that they are wearing themselves out, getting stressed, or maybe even destructive, then the car has become too stimulating for them. Desensitization can help tone down their energy level. If your dog learns that sometimes the car is for play, and sometimes for “work” then they don’t necessarily need to go on auto-hype the minute they get in the car. Being in a crate will help them to stay calm compared to the dog that is running back and forth between the windows getting amped up.
Here are some ways to help an excited dog relax in the car
Step 1: Crate train your dog before traveling with your dog (yes, this is a repeat suggestion! It’s really useful!)
Step 2: Make times when the car is just used for dog “work”. Make it a power training session by teaching lots of valuable skills for the road trips ahead. Here are a few things to practice that will really help your dog on the road:
Skills for calmly getting into the car, staying in the car, riding comfortably, and then getting out
- Before the dog gets in the car, have them “stay” while you open doors, do things around the car
- Release them from their stay and have them “up” into their crate.
- Have them do another “stay” with the car door and crate doors open.
- Close the crate, if they aren’t already laying down you can do a “down stay”. As they get better at the stay, spend longer and longer time doing nothing while they stay (like checking an email or something)
- Open the crate and have them remain in the “down stay”. This one is really good for their safety so they don’t bolt into parking lots or streets.
- Close the crate door. If they are more relaxed, this is a good time for a quick drive around the block.
- Return to the exact spot you started (again, boooring, that’s the point!). Do another “stay” and open the crate door
- Use “release” or some other release word to allow them to get out of the crate
- Repeat! Use lots of little rewards and verbal encouragement all the way. Even though it is low-energy “work”, it can still be an interesting, positive way to bond with your dog.
Step 3: Go on very short pointless trips that just end with you right back at home (yep, boooring, you’re doing great!)
Step 4: Get into the car with your dog a couple of times a day for quick play or training sessions (no driving)
Step 5: Be careful with visual excitement and free movement. (Yes, another reason crates are great!). Dogs can get really amped up when they see and feel so much motion.
Step 6: Crack open the windows a little to bring fresh air and new smells in for your dog. A lot of dogs react with curiosity to new smells. It can be a calming way to focus their attention, but for some dogs, it might be too exciting. Try different things like this to see what works best for you.
3. Ideas if your dog is panting or shaking because they are anxious in the car
You probably know the signs of stress or anxiety in your dog. For our dogs, there are a few strong signs. They cower, lick their chops nervously, shake, have wide eyes, or show the whites of their eyes. Usually, they are doing a few of these at the same time. Denver, our Norwich terrier also likes to pace in circles.
If your dog always seems anxious in the car, start with crate training and desensitization to help to reduce anxiety. If they continue, then your dog might actually be in some kind of discomfort, like car sickness. While we briefly touch on car sickness here, you probably want to bring in a vet to help.
If your pup is normally a good traveler and they start behaving anxiously, then it is probably some form of physical discomfort. It is probably a good time to find a place to stop for a bathroom break and pit stop. If your dog is hesitant about going in new places, it can be helpful to teach them to pee on command. If they ate before getting into the car, they might be feeling nauseous. Taking a quick pause can help them move around and shake off what’s bothering them
You also probably know what triggers can freak your dog out. Loud motorcycles, big bumps in the road, sirens, etc…there are a lot of things going on while driving. To help them relax it might help to give them some small treats or something to chew on. If they can’t calm themselves down, it might be time to stop the car for a little so they can walk and shake off the anxiety.
4. Use crate training to help your dog settle down and feel safe
Next time you are at an event with lots of dogs, pay attention to what the professional handlers, trainers, and breeders use in their cars and vans. Crates. There are alternatives to crates if your car does not have enough space (more on that shortly). Tested crates and travel restraints help create safety and familiarity for your dog in the car, and we highly, highly recommend using them.
Create safety and comfort by securing a good travel crate in the car
5) Provide a safe and comfortable environment in the car
It works best to crate train your dog from the time they are a puppy. However, if you haven’t started yet, the second best time is now. Crate training will likely take a little bit of time, so if you know you have car trips coming up, include this bonding time with your pet ASAP.
Getting your dog familiar with and comfortable for extended periods of time in their crate can take some time and patience. It is worth it! Crate training is a great skill for your dog to be safe, healthy, and happy in the car and beyond.
We have a great introduction to crate training that we included in our guide for flying with a dog. The basics are the same because crate training starts with the crate at home. It is useful no matter how you are traveling later!
What is the easiest way to transport a dog in a car?
We purchased both the harness and soft carrier for our terriers because they are one of the few products out there that are crash tested. We love them because they hit the sweet spot between ease of use, versatility, taking up small amounts of space in the car, and safety. They definitely cost more than other crates and harnesses, but it’s worth the extra money for our dogs’ safety.
Best for small dogs – Sleepypod Air
For Denver, we use the Sleepypod Air. One of my favorite things about this crate is we can leave it strapped into the seatbelt system of the car permanently, so it’s super easy to zip him in and out. We don’t have to redo all the buckles for each trip.
The seatbelt and buckle system help to keep the carrier secure should we get in an accident. For Denver in particular I think it is really helpful for him to be enclosed because he can be an anxious dog. So it reduces stimulating sights and movements. He settles down in the crate pretty quickly once the car gets moving.
Best Harness for medium & large dogs – Sleepypod Clickit
We use the SleepyPod harness for Sam because he is too big (23 lbs) for any of the crash-tested soft carriers. He can comfortably sit and lie down. The seatbelt goes through multiple straps. This helps to absorb impact if there is a crash or a sudden stop.
For the harness especially, it takes a little more time to get Sam strapped in. It would certainly be even easier for him to just jump in the car and go. Please don’t do this. This is not a safe option. In many places, it is even illegal and can lead to fines.
It might also be why your dog is panting so much! If your dog is free to move about the car it can be very stimulating for them with all that movement. It is also very unstable. Your precious companion is totally unprotected if you have to slam on the brakes. Or worse, imagine another car slamming into you. Most drivers will be in multiple accidents over their lifetime. We hate even thinking about one of your most loved companions loose in the car at that terrible moment.
Where to put the pet carrier in the car
Carriers are built for different parts of the car. The most common place for a car crate is to be secured in the cargo area (trunk) of your car or truck. All crash-tested travel crates with high safety ratings have a method to secure the crate in the cargo area or seat. Most of them use straps to secure them into the cargo anchors.
How to secure the dog crate in the car or SUV
Airplane crates (under seat carriers & under plane crates), house crates, and car crates are all different and serve different purposes. Carefully consider what type of crate is best to use in the car
Make sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions. If the crate is not secured like it was designed, you could lose the safety benefits that you got it for! No carriers or harnesses are designed for the front seat. Airbags are great for us but were not designed for dogs.
Both the SleepyPod harness and soft crate were designed to be secured to the rear seatbelts. Most hard shell crates are designed to be anchored to the seat or in the rear cargo area using the cargo/child seat anchors. Again, you’ll want to follow the manufacturer’s instructions to make sure you have secured the crate correctly.
Can I use a seatbelt or a car harness for my dog?
Only if that is how it was designed! Safety harnesses and only a few carriers are actually designed and crash-tested using a seatbelt! Most crates and carriers are not made for use with seatbelts. If the crate is not secured with straps, it can get damaged. Then the crate and/or the dog can become dangerous flying objects during a sudden stop or accident.
When you are looking for the best carrier or harness for your pet, you can look at the manual or instructions to see if it uses the seatbelt or not before you decide which one is best for you and your dog.
Can you cure a dog of car sickness?
6) What to do if your dog is panting because they don’t feel good
Car sickness is definitely something to talk with your vet about. There might be a connection between their anxiety and motion sickness. A lot of the previous suggestions might work with an anxious dog, and desensitizing them to the car could help, but it might not be the full picture.
If the actual motion of the car is part of the problem, part of their anxiety might come from a very real worry about getting sick the minute the car starts moving! All the training in the world won’t be of much use.
Comfort (emotional and physical) may reduce motion sickness in the car
Many of the tips to desensitize your dog to car rides might help with anxiety and negative emotions your dog might have around the car. This could go a long way to getting them used to and comfortable in the car.
Our dog Denver can be totally calm, but then he tends to start panting and scratching in his carrier when the roads get too windy or there are jerky motions due to stop-and-go traffic. It seems to really help to really pay attention to smoothing out the motion of the car. Slowing down to take the corners more easily and accelerating and braking as gently and smoothly as possible.
It also helps sometimes to crack open the window so that there is fresh air and new smells coming in to give the dogs something else to focus on.
Give them a small bland breakfast to keep any queasiness down.
Work with your vet to find what might best help your dog
When you are working with your vet, it will help them a lot to know as much as possible about what is going on with your dog if they regularly have trouble in the car.
What specifically might be making your dog sick in the car?
You can be on the lookout to see what specific events might be causing them distress and how they show that they are upset. These can be useful in working with your vet to figure out what might be most useful for your dog.
How does your dog tell you they are sick?
| – Drooling – Panting – Pacing – Whining – Vomiting | – Swallowing – Lip-licking – Hunched back or other changed body posture – Lips pulled back and tight facial muscles – Wide eyes |
What happened before they got car sick? Make a mental note of anything unusual. Look for patterns that might give you clues. Once you figure out what might be causing the problem, you can make some changes to give a better experience for your dog in the car.
| – Loud Noise – Sudden Movement – Windy Road | – Jerks and Bumps on the Road – Just ate a meal (what food specifically?) |
Basics for your dog’s health and comfort in the car: breaks, food, water, and temperature controls
7) Make sure your dog’s basic needs are met
How to keep a dog cool in the car
Keep the car at a comfortable temperature. If you have a dog that gets hot easily, don’t give them blankets. In the summer, you can even put down a cooling mat. One tip that works for cars and planes is to freeze the water in the water bowl that’s attached to the crate before setting off. That way your dog can stay hydrated without water sloshing everywhere.
Take breaks to keep yourself and your dog fresh, alert, and comfortable
Dogs can actually hold their bathroom needs for longer than you would expect. However, they will probably be more comfortable if you stop at least every few hours to stretch everyone’s legs. Humans tend to stop at gas stations for their pit stops. Gas stations and fast food joints aren’t always ideal for dogs because they tend to be asphalt parking lots, but even just a little strip of dead grass can do in a pinch.
Another popular place to stop is a Lowe’s or Home Depot since owners can get a break without having to leave the dog in the car. Your dog will probably be happy if they find something good to smell.
How much should you feed your dog before and during the trip?
Another way to improve their physical comfort is to not feed your pups before or during the drive. For longer drives, this might not be possible, but most trips are just a couple of hours so not having anything rumbling around in their stomach could help reduce nausea. It can be worth breaking this suggestion to provide treats when training.
Wrapping up: when your dog is panting in the car
Dogs pant during both positive and negative experiences. Sometimes they might be feeling joy and excitement. Other times they could be feeling anxious or even sick. As a pet parent, you want the best for your family, so put on the role of a detective to figure out what your pup might need. It might be as simple as using a harness to help your dog settle. Or it might be more complicated, and you’ll need support from a vet or a behaviorist.
Whatever it is, you will figure it out because there are so many wonderful places to explore and journeys to go on together.
If you want to know more about what our community members have to say about their experiences traveling with pets to specific places, check out our ever-growing Countries page.
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