Car-ming Dog Treats | Pet Travel Anxiety

Whether we want to take our dogs on a fully fledged road trip holiday or simply take them with us to the pub for a Sunday walk and roast - being able to travel with your pup in the car opens up lots of exciting fun adventuring opportunities.

However, our pets might not be as excited about all these car adventures as their owners. In fact, in our latest research* 37% of drivers said that their dogs are nervous travellers and 1 in 4 (25%) drivers said their dogs are prone to travel sickness.

With so many of the nation's dogs suffering from travel anxiety - and nervous pups being more prone to car sickness - it got us thinking about how we can make car journeys a more enjoyable experience for our pets, with a new delicious incentive…

Introducing: Auto Trader's Car-ming Dog Treats

We have created a dog-friendly alternative to the classic Simpkins travel sweets that many of us remember for our childhood car trips. The best bit? Our Car-ming Dog Treats have been formulated specifically to calm dog travel anxieties and ease car sickness.

Why? Our research revealed over half (55%) of dog owners say they try to avoid taking their dog on long car journeys - with 18% saying they have stopped taking their dog on car journeys all together all because of their pet's travel anxiety.

As over a third (34%) of dog owners say they don't know how to cure travel sickness in their dog, we have crafted the Car-ming Dog Treats to help avoid upset stomachs. We have specially formulated the travel snacks, using ingredients that help calm our dogs' stomachs and minds, so you and your pet can enjoy a more relaxed car ride.

Register your interest to be among the first to sample Auto Trader's new dog treats! Full details of the treats and how you can request a free sample are below. But it is on a first-come-first-serve basis, so be quick!

We worked closely with the guidance of Dr Ian Stroud and dog food manufacturers to create car snacks that help our four-legged friends to enjoy their automotive journey that little bit more.

The tasty-yet-helpful treats contain the following ingredients and Dr Stroud explains the benefits:

Ingredients

Chicken (45%): Naturally increases Serotonin which is a feel-good neurotransmitter chemical in the brain.
Pumpkin (35%): Pumpkin is a great source of soluble fibre which aids digestion and helps to settle an upset tummy.
Egg (13%): Packed with protein and easy to digest.
Skullcap Herb (5%): Helps to bind to GABA receptors and naturally reduces anxiety in pets, without causing drowsiness.
Mistletoe Extract and Gentian Extract (<0.5%): Some chemicals in these types of extracts also interact with the serotonin receptors and may provide relief from nausea and vomiting in some dogs.

Curing Car Sickness In Dogs

Our survey also found that 25% of dog owners admit they are not familiar with symptoms of travel sickness in their dog and don't understand the cause. So, we collaborated with Dr Ian Stroud MRCVS, Director at Pet People Vets to help explain why so many dogs struggle with car journeys:

Dogs get car sick for a variety of reasons, much like people! And it is something I get asked about quite often by my clients.

The main causes include:

Motion sensitivity - Some dogs are just more sensitive than others, the movement affects the inner ear leading to nausea and vomiting.
Anxiety and stress - Dogs that are anxious or stressed about car rides are more likely to experience motion sickness.
Poor ventilation - Hot and stuffy cars can increase the likelihood of sickness.
Unable to see the road - Dogs become disorientated if they can't see outside of the car.
Eating too much or too little - Dogs that have a very full stomach or an empty stomach are more likely to feel nauseous.

How To Get The Treats

We have a limited number of delicious Car-ming Dog Treats for pets to try. To be in with a chance of being the first to try our free sample, simply fill out the form below to register your interest.

This application form will close 31st January 2024 and those who are amongst the first to apply will be contacted shortly after.

Car Sickness Tips

Whether you're trying to protect the seats of your leased car, or have just had your car freshly cleaned, travelling with an uneasy dog can make drivers feel nervous too. As well as giving them a treat which helps to calm their stomachs, Dr Ian Stroud shares more expert tips on how to prevent car sickness in dogs:

Gradual exposure: Start with just treats in the car and then build up from very short journeys to longer trips. This will help them to get used to your car and how any movement feels.
Ensure you maintain a good airflow in the car or crack open a window to avoid your pet overheating.
Allow vision: Ensure your dog is able to look out of the car window and orientate themselves, whilst still being safely restrained.
Food: Feed your dog a small, light, high-protein meal one to two hours before a trip in the car.

If your dog is really struggling, then consult your vet. There are some excellent medications that can help doggies when the above advice is not working well enough.

The Breeds Most Prone To Car Sickness

Our research also investigated which dog breeds experience car sickness the most, with Boxers being revealed as the dog breed most prone to travel illness; 50% of Boxer owners admitted that their pets have car sickness trouble.

Two Border breeds complete the top three dogs who experience car sickness the most. Border Terriers come in second place with 43% of their owners agreeing that they struggle with car journeys and Border Collies are in third.

The top 10 list is predominantly made up of larger dog breeds, with the only small breeds being Dachshunds in fifth place (33%) and Pugs in seventh place (30%).

	Breed	% who have experienced car sickness
#1	Boxer	50%
#2	Border Terrier	43%
#3	Border Collie	40%
#4	Bulldog	36%
#5	Dachshund	33%
#6	Beagle	30%
#7	Pug	30%
#8	Golden Retriever	29%
#9	Staffordshire Bull Terrier	28%
#10	Labrador Retriever	26%

Read more dog travel information in our Canine Car Report, which reveals which dog breeds make great road trip companions, and how to effectively and thoroughly remove any doggy hairs and stains from your car.

Important Information

*Survey: Survey conducted in October 2023 by Censuswide. 506 respondents (who were both drivers and owned dogs).

Car-ming Dog Treats: Manufactured by Robin Collective. Created in October 2023 with an expiration date of 1st February 2024. Note: Auto Trader do not take any responsibility for pet owners using this product incorrectly and all users should follow the daily recommended maximum amount.

Daily recommended maximum amount (as stated on the treat tin) is 5 treats per 5kg dog weight.

Ingredients used are chicken (45%), pumpkin (35%), egg (13%), skullcap herb (5%), valerian root extract (1%), mistletoe extract and gentian extract (<0.5%).

Recipe creation, treat production and product liability with Robin Collective, London Great Britain.

Treats tested on a small sample of dogs (October 2023)

Expert vet: Dr Ian Stroud MRCVS. Director at Pet People Vets, London.

For any queries about the treats, please contact: Robin Collective, 5 Empson St, London E3 3LT

Introducing... Auto Trader's Limited Edition Car-Ming Dog Treats