Home › Dog barking in the car

Dog Barking in the Car: Why It Happens and How to Calm It

Updated October 31, 2026 · General information, not veterinary advice

Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never changes what we recommend. How we make money.

Why dogs bark in the car

• Things going by. Karen London says dogs most often react to people and other dogs, but also to vehicles, cyclists, cats and skateboarders.
• Feeling trapped. She says the car's confined space may make barking more likely and more intense: the dog may feel trapped and be more reactive.
• Different feelings. Vetstreet says the barking can stem from fear, frustration and sometimes just plain fun.
• It seems to work. Vetstreet says dogs learn from the result: the barking seems to make the other dog or person leave, so the dog repeats it.

Step 1: restrain and limit the view

1. Restrain your dog in the back seat. Vetstreet says this reduces driver distraction and protects the dog in a crash.
2. Choose a harness or crate. Vetstreet describes a harness that fastens to the seat belt and limits how far the dog can roam, or a crate. It says soft-sided or hard-sided crates should be strapped down.
3. Cut down the view. Vetstreet says a crate allows only limited vision outside the car, cutting down on barking. Karen London suggests a crate covered with a blanket if your dog is comfortable in one.
4. Give a job. Karen London suggests teaching your dog to lie down in the car with an occupying item such as a stuffed Kong, and practicing while the car is parked. Vetstreet also suggests a stuffed Kong or other chew toy.
5. Optional aids. Vetstreet suggests a pheromone spray in the crate. Karen London says a ThunderCap obscures a dog's vision without blocking it entirely and should be introduced before it is used in the car. Neither page says how well these work for every dog.

Step 2: change how your dog feels about the triggers

1. List the triggers and find what your dog loves, such as treats or a toy (Karen London).
2. Start in a parked car, where things are more stable. Pair each trigger with treats and upbeat talk (Karen London).
3. Treat whether or not your dog barks. She says receiving the treats is not contingent on the dog's behavior.
4. Make it harder bit by bit. She says to raise the trigger intensity gradually, then add motion, starting with short drives with two people, one driving and one offering treats.

What not to do

• Do not try to train while driving. Vetstreet calls it unrealistic and unsafe.
• Do not give your dog free run of the car. Vetstreet says restraint gives the best chance of protecting a dog in a crash and keeping it from fleeing an accident scene.
• Do not skip the restraint out of guilt (Vetstreet).

Neither page gives advice on when to see a vet or trainer. If your dog is very frightened, seems sick in the car, or the barking looks aggressive, ask your vet or a certified trainer for help in person. For the same habit at home, see barking at other dogs and barking at the door. This guide is general information, not medical advice.

Common questions

Why does my dog bark in the car?

Vetstreet says it can stem from fear, frustration and sometimes just plain fun. Karen London says dogs mostly react to people and other dogs but also to vehicles, cyclists, cats and skateboarders, and the car's confined space may make barking more likely and more intense because the dog feels trapped.

Can I train my dog while I am driving?

No. Vetstreet calls training while driving unrealistic and unsafe. Karen London's plan starts in a parked car and adds motion later, using short drives with two people, one driving and one offering treats.

Should my dog be loose in the car?

Vetstreet says not to give a dog free run of the car. It recommends restraint in the back seat, either a harness that fastens to the seat belt or a crate that is strapped down. It says restraint reduces driver distraction and gives the best chance of protecting the dog in a crash.

Should I yell when my dog barks in the car?

Neither page recommends it. Vetstreet explains that dogs learn from the result of barking. Karen London's plan rewards the dog for seeing a trigger whether or not it barks, so the dog learns the trigger predicts good things.

What if my dog is barking because of car sickness?

Neither page we opened discusses motion sickness. If your dog drools, vomits or seems unwell in the car, talk to your vet.

Related guides

• Barking at other dogs
• Barking at the door
• Humane dog training collars