Having a dog in the car can be trying. Car trips freak a lot of dogs out. Some are so nervous that they will shake until you fear their bones will snap. Others whine or bark, stressed out and stressing you out. Some are just plain rowdy, jumping from back seat to front resulting in a dangerous situation for you and everyone else sharing the road with you. Keeping them in small traveling crates is no fun and while it will keep an unruly dog from leaping about, it won't solve the problem of a dog's fear or stress.

Wouldn't your life and your dog's be more pleasant if you could change that? Wouldn't you enjoy having a road trip buddy who's a fun travel companion with his head happily stuck out of the window letting the wind blow back his ears on the way to the dog park or the beach to play frisbee?

Sometimes you have to take your dog somewhere in the car: the vet or groomer or maybe to stay at a kennel or with a friend if you have to go out of town. This is often a big part of the problem of why dogs are afraid to go in the car. Something bad happens to them every time they do. That would freak anyone out over time.

You can help your dog overcome his fear. It takes a bit of time but it's well worth the effort for both of your sakes. Here are the steps to take:

1. Put him in the car with you without starting the engine. Sit there and pet him, snuggle, talking to him in a calm, happy voice for about 5 minutes.

2. Get out of the car, praise him and play with him for a while, something fun he enjoys.

3. Repeat the process. 5 minutes in the car, praise and play.

That's plenty for one day. Follow this plan once a day for several days in a row staying in the car a minute or two longer each time. It won't be effective if you let too much time lapse in between.

After he's begun staying calm and relaxed in the car, start the engine. Don't go anywhere, just let the engine run so he'll get comfortable with the vibrations and sound. Again, praise him and play with him afterwards and repeat once. You want to replace the bad associations with the car with good ones.

Once he's cool with that, go on a short trip around the block, then on longer trips, always praising him and playing with him afterwards. He will soon begin to look forward to being your road trip buddy!

If your dog already likes riding in the car but gets too hyper for it to be a pleasant experience for you, here's what to do:

1. Have him on a short leash and lead him to the car as though you're going somewhere. When he gets excited, tell him to "shhh" or "sit" and stand there, without opening the car door, until he's calm. Praise him when he is.

2. Open the door and let him jump in. Sit there until he's calm and sitting or lying on the seat. (He'll probably look at you like you're nuts, wondering why you're just sitting there without even starting the engine.) Praise him again when he's calm.

3. Start the engine but don't move unless or until he's still and calm. Praise again.

4. Drive around the block a few times, pulling over and stopping any time he gets rowdy or barks. Stay there for as long as it takes, then praise him and continue.

This usually works amazingly fast even with the rowdiest dogs. Dogs who enjoy riding in the car want to GO! That's their reward for behaving as you want and need them to.

Now that you've come this far, GO! Include your dog when you run quick errands to the drive-through at the bank or Burger King. He'll soon learn that car trips are fun and routine and you'll have a well trained car dog buddy forever.

Warning: Do not leave your dog in a hot, closed car ever, even for a few minutes. If your errands include shopping or otherwise having to leave the car, unless your dog can go with you, leave him at home for those trips.