Windshield Wipeout
Calling “shotgun” first when you see your car in the parking is about as old a tradition as any. We all want that passenger seat to ourselves to avoid the frustration of sharing the tight space in the back, and more importantly, to get those scenic road trip views.
A dog recently decided to join his handler on a trip on her vehicle and what happened next is pretty amusing. The adorable pooch was instantly baffled by the screeching sound of the windshield wipers cleaning the front glass.
The doggo, confused at what he just witnessed, instantly recoiled away from the wipers to try and find comfort elsewhere. What the doggy probably thought was, “Why are these chewy sticks coming at me and why can’t I bite them?”
Buckle Your Seatbelt
As our furry friend tries to divulge what he just saw with his eyes, the canine looks around to reassurance from the driver. Of course, he wants to feel safe from something he doesn’t quite understand.
This is completely normal for dogs who are just learning how mechanisms in the real world operate. They could easily confuse a large piece of rock for a dangerous threat and suddenly act up just cause their instincts put them on the fringe.
Our ride-or-die buddy is definitely going on a ride this time. His eyes are wide with curiosity as he studies each swinging movement of the wipers. There are so many things entering his mind that he just can’t keep still.
At one point, the doggo motions to the seats behind him to try and signal that he’s just about done with it all!
It’s Going To Be A Bumpy Ride
Well, that’s enough of a party for this big guy. His handler finally decided to place him in the backseat where he clearly looks more at ease with himself. It’s odd for a German Shepherd of all breeds to feel a lack of confidence when it comes to these things, however, it’s not totally unusual.
Dogs are situational creatures that need a lot of behavioral corrections in specific scenarios for them to understand the full picture. The use of positive reinforcement with either verbal praise or food luring can definitely help to increase a pup’s confidence in what they do.
In this case, for instance, the handler would initially not react to the dog’s insecurity. This lets the dog know that the scenario is neither a good thing or bad thing, but just a thing. Once calm and collected, then you can proceed to verbally praise the dog for doing a great job in keeping calm.
Finally, adding a little treat on top with all the good words will cement a positive, everlasting memory in your best friend’s brain; allowing them to always associate those moments as something that will be rewarding.
The passenger seat isn’t what its cracked out to be for some of us. Clearly, the thrill of the rush got to this doggo after realizing just how much action can occur up at the front. He’ll learn one day, and when he does, he’ll realize just what the huge buzz about the front seat is all about.
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