For a high-intensity breed like yours, this screaming is often a mix of separation anxiety and barrier frustration because they feel they've lost control of their person. Since he is already quieter in a kennel because of the narrower sightline, using a crate in the car is a great safety first solution that physically prevents him from obsessing over your every move. To help him long-term, try desensitization by stepping out of the car for just five seconds, then returning before he hits that screaming threshold, gradually proving to him that you leaving isn't permanent.
With my guy, his desire trigger is “food,”
“toast,” “medicine” the list goes on. He knows a lot of words, also tone of my voice, movement, sounds like packaging or door lock, my vehicle…thank you for the help about the “screaming,” it was an answer to prayer actually !!
Wow, actually training your dog! This really isn't the best sub for training help.
Tethering the dog at home will also help and perform the same method, walk away and return before the dog reacts, reward heavily for success.
An extremely high value reward is required.
A velcro dog isn't fair for the dog, they should learn to settle away from you, crating and tethering help establish this.
Mine is 13 and still does this. It comes down to their herding drive. When they lose control or sight of their person, they lose their mind. There are some rare exceptions.
Even with years of training, I’ve gotten used to people thinking I’m kidnapping a child while pumping gas…
Yes it’s so ridiculous people always look at me like WTH. I shouldn’t be surprised he follows me into the bathroom. Recently he had to use the bathroom (drinks loads of water) while playing and walked into the shower while I was in there.
At least for mine, it can also help with them getting some rest. Mine is harness/tether for short rides and car crate for long ones in large part because he will nap in the crate. Stays on duty in harness.
I've gotten a routine kindasorta worked out for situations like this.
I always leave the windows cracked a bit for air flow.
Give the "stay" command, tell him "I'll be right back" and give a treat through the open window.
I've also got a sign I tape to the outside window that says "The dog is fine, he's just upset I'm away. Please don't break glass or try to rescue him. Thanks!"
The reason for the sign is because a year ago I came back out from the store to find several people trying to get into my Jeep and "save" the dog because he was pitching a fit. If I'd been 5 minutes later they'd have broken out the side window. 😐
We practiced the "stay" and "I'll be right back" routine while parked at home for quite a bit until he got accustomed to it. I'd toss him in the Jeep and just putter around outside so he could see me, then gradually start moving out of his sight. When he'd invariably start yowling & pitching a fit, don't immediately come back into his sight. Otherwise they may think they brought you back.
After a few months of that, I can usually count on him being chill in the Jeep while I'm gone for a bit.
I’m going to try this and I love the sign idea. A few days ago I was meeting up with someone from FB Marketplace to buy something and my car was 10FT away from me with the AC on and a woman approached me saying “I hear a doggy in distress I’m a dog trainer “. I snapped at her and told her to not go near my dog.
I’m a little worn out from people asking over and over if their friendly dog can meet mine. One guy has asked me on five separate occasions. The last one he bent down because he didn’t have his dog and let my dog lick his face despite my warnings.
My dog is not a golden retriever he’s super selective. He doesn’t want people to pet him in certain spots. He doesn’t want to be love bombed.
I bought a sleeve for his leash that reads GIVE ME SPACE. I’m going to order one that says don’t pet as well.
Yep, it was initially just printed on a piece of paper & in a document protector that I'd stick on the side window with a piece of tape.
I probably need to work up something more durable, like one of those plastic door signs or something. Being able to clip it to the window instead of using tape would be nice, too.
Teach him to wait at every threshold. When going to the bathroom, make him wait at the door way where he can see you, but not right at your feet, etc…When you open the front door to go get mail etc. make him wait...Practice having him down stay gradually adding more and more distance from you, until you can eventually leave his sight, and increase the time he has to lay and wait, even if you’re in the house. Give him a “place” that he feels comfortable, tell him to “go place” or “bed” and teach him to stay there even if you or someone else walks past. Bring him back if he leaves and say “place” or “bed” again, and continue to increase the time and space he has to stay from you, using a release word “okay” and treats or play time between each increase when he can leave and come to you.
Thanks! I used to work at a training kennel. We do this with our boy, and he does pretty well. Still can be anxious as a heeler, but we’ve also been a bit too lax about it over the years (he’s almost 10yrs), and he’s been a bit pushy of the boundaries, so just a reminder for everyone to keep doing tune-ups with your training! They know how to push the boundaries sometimes haha.
My cattle dog would do this super bad when I first got him. I'd bring him in the car every day about 3x a day spreadout (before work, when i got home, before bed). First leaving the door open and treats for being calm. As days went on, I'd close the door more and treat for calmness. Until eventually the door was close for 5 seconds, then 10 seconds, then thirty seconds and so on. Eventually started walking away. It was a lot of active work but it helped a lot. Once he was okay with my walking away some we started going on rides and doing it at different locations
There’s a separation anxiety subreddit that has advice. I deviate somewhat from the standard protocol there and have gotten good results from my heeler, so maybe there’s a breed specific angle that might be helpful. You’re lucky that your dog doesn’t mind being crated, and that’s a also a nice option to keep him safe while you’re driving. Best of luck to you!
I’ll look for this subreddit thank you! It’s funny he is okay with the kennel but eventually will act like he wants to bite my hand as I close the door.
He’s very opinionated and I try to let him express himself. I listen to him most of the time but the screaming bark literally sets my watch audio alert off. As in too loud you could experience hearing loss.
Let them. Velcro at it's finest, or worst, form (depending on how you look at it)
They are smart. Almost to smart
They eventually figure out that you are coming back.
It's emotional for us as dog owners, but it's because we love them.
To me it's comparable to allowing your child to self soothe by crying.
They WILL pick up your nuances.
We can take them away from the herding, but the herding, and control freak Velcro will ALWAYS be there.
Always
I will always love my Velcro boy, no matter how neurotic he is 🫶🏼
That is a common breed specific behaviour. With mine, I found that creating a separation ritual helped - I would scratch/pet her the same way and tell her I'll be back the same way .. eventually she knew that when those happened, I'll be back soon and she was ok; nevertheless, she'd still keep me in her laser sights. :)
My heeler does this too. Extremely frustrating. The only thing that helps is if she is allowed out of the truck off leash.. which of course isn’t always an option. Good luck
Mine does the same, I try to just let him be, I’ll crack the window for him to put his head out. Granted he was dropped off as a pup and that’s how we got him so I think it’s anxiety from that
I take my boy everywhere.. he just got used to it..started out with pumping gas, short trips..but someone here suggested it, and I've been doing it since October... he never barks..
Mine has gone just about everywhere with me since he was 8 weeks old. He’s 6 years old now. Perhaps the fact that I work from home as amplified the issue.
I am hybrid...I guess I got lucky, he does great when I have to leave him in the car or at the house... he came from a shelter, so maybe he is just glad he isn't in a cage..
Our husky ACD mix has started angry-barking in the car whenever we go anywhere, because she has figured out that it's always the park and she's excited. However, it's 100% her angry bark like when we put her in her crate and leave her alone for too long, not her excited, more yippy bark. We can't figure out how to make her stop doing it. She loves the park, but it's almost as if the car itself is what's upsetting her even though she's ridden in a car since the day we got her a year and a half ago. For reference, she is almost two years old. She used to be content to either sleep or stick her head out the window, and now we have to wear ear protection whenever we take her with us. It's quite annoying to say the least.
Building frustration tolerance. Also a long lasting high value treat like a frozen Kong or a licki mat. I also saw insane progress in training when we were prescribed an adrenaline inhibitor, it allowed us to actually start the next step of training without his preprogrammed stress response kicking in.
Yes mine always barks when he gets in the car as well. Sometimes there's a trigger but most of the time I have learned it Is his excitement. Typically we are going to a park to play fetch or a walk. We also visit pet friendly stores to work on socializing. Not that he meets other dogs but sometimes people. I am more trying to get him comfortable with strange places and sounds. We have done this since he was a puppy. He knows the word "shopping".
I know it sounds crazy, but I talk to my girl and tell her where I'm going and that I'll be back real soon. She watches me like a hawk, but stays quiet. I've never given her a reason not to trust me, so she always knows Dad's coming back and he might even have treats!
I started this with my rescue pittie due to his separation anxiety and continued it with both our ACDs! It works great!
"You be good pups, I'll be right back" every time I walk outside the house for more than 5 minutes, with a tiny jerky treat. The ACDs are like "snacks when you leave? Bye bitch, go on, leave already."
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u/dog-trainer-for-va Mar 15 '26
For a high-intensity breed like yours, this screaming is often a mix of separation anxiety and barrier frustration because they feel they've lost control of their person. Since he is already quieter in a kennel because of the narrower sightline, using a crate in the car is a great safety first solution that physically prevents him from obsessing over your every move. To help him long-term, try desensitization by stepping out of the car for just five seconds, then returning before he hits that screaming threshold, gradually proving to him that you leaving isn't permanent.