Dear Tee:

I realize I forgot to respond to your 1st message here from yesterday

“Is there a way to do something about it, have you looked it up? I do hope he gets used to the car and that his stomach settles..”- I just looked it up for the first time (I wonder why it didn’t occur to me before, thank you!):

* I am adding the info below not because I expect you to read it Tee 🙂. It’s how I process info (typing, editing info on the computer screen)

Copilot: 1. He is scared, not stubborn. The (3 events of vomiting) in the car scared him, and now he feels unsafe in several situations (car, walks, dog park, even the leash).

2. When he freezes or plants his feet, he is overwhelmed. Tail tucked + stiff body + looking at you = “I’m scared, please help me.”

3. Right now, the world feels too big for him. So he avoids: The car, Walks, The dog park, The leash- This is a normal fear response for a 6‑month‑old puppy.

What to do now 1. Keep life very calm for a few days- Only short potty trips. No long walks. No dog park. No car rides unless needed.

2. Rebuild his confidence slowly- Start with tiny steps: Leash on → treat → take it off, Step outside for 2 seconds → treat → go back inside, Walk only a few feet → treat → go home

3. Always use a leash outside- Even if he’s scared of it, it keeps him safe. But don’t force it — instead, make the leash positive again with treats and short, easy sessions.

4. Don’t take him to social events right now- Too much stimulation will make his fear worse.
Leaving him home for a short time is better and safer.

The big picture- Your beagle is a sensitive puppy going through a fear period. He needs: Safety, Predictability, Very small steps, No forcing, Lots of gentle encouragement

With time and slow, positive experiences, he can get back to enjoying walks, the car, and the world.

… When in the car again: face him forward or let him see out the window, safely secured in a crate or use a dog seatbelt (stability reduces nausea), crack a window for fresh air and pressure equalization, keep the car cool (heat worsens nausea), and no food 3–4 hours before the ride (Water is fine), have his favorite toy in the car, a pheromone spray (like Adaptil) on a blanket can help. If the problem continues regardless of these measures, there are safe anti‑nausea medications that a vet can prescribe.

Bogart isn’t just carsick- he’s now showing generalized anxiety. Puppies can spiral quickly: one bad experience → avoidance → more fear → shutdown. He is showing several classic signs of fear-based avoidance: Refusing to get in the car, Avoiding a dog park entirely, Whining on walks, and Suddenly refusing walks after previously doing well. It’s a puppy who’s overwhelmed and trying to avoid situations he now associates with discomfort or unpredictability.

What to do next (step-by-step) 1. Stop forcing him into any situation. Forcing confirms to him that: “This thing is scary.”, “I have no control.” 2. For the next 3–5 days: Keep things very low-stress, Short, easy potty walks only, No dog parks, No car rides unless absolutely necessary. This gives his nervous system a chance to settle.

3. Rebuild walks from scratch Right now, the walk itself is the trigger. Start tiny…

4. Reintroduce the car slowly- Right now the car = nausea + fear. Break it into micro-steps: Step 1: Walk near the car → treat → walk away. Step 2: Sit near the car with the door open → treat → leave… Move at his pace. If he freezes, backs up, or refuses, you went too fast.

5. Skip the dog park for now- Dog parks can be overwhelming even for confident dogs. For anxious dogs, they can be terrifying. Instead: Walk in quiet areas, Let him sniff, Let him choose the direction sometimes. Confidence grows through small wins, not big leaps.

How to help him when he freezes- 1. Don’t pull him or drag him- Pulling increases fear and teaches him that: “Walks are scary.”,
“I have no control.” Instead, we want him to feel safe and empowered.

2. Use the “pressure on, pressure off” method- Apply gentle leash pressure in the direction you want to go. The moment he shifts weight forward, even slightly → release pressure. Praise or treat. Repeat. You’re teaching him: “Moving forward makes the pressure go away.”

3. Reward any curiosity- If he: Looks around, Sniffs, Takes a step, Turns his head toward the direction you want …mark it with a calm “yes” and give a treat. Tiny wins build confidence.

4. Shorten the walk dramatically- Right now, long walks are too much…

5. Let him choose the direction sometimes- Giving him control reduces anxiety. Even letting him pick the first 10 feet of the walk can change his mindset.

6. Avoid overstimulating places for now- No dog parks, no busy streets, no long hikes. His nervous system needs a reset.

Why this is happening now- At 6 months, puppies often hit a fear period — a developmental stage where new or surprising things feel extra scary. Combine that with: Car sickness, Anxiety about the car, A stressful dog park experience.. and his brain is now generalizing fear to other situations, including walks. This is reversible, but it requires going slow.

What this body language means- Tail tucked: He’s feeling vulnerable and unsure of the environment. Body stiff- He’s bracing himself — a freeze response, not stubbornness.

What to do in the moment he freezes- 1. Get low and soften your body language, Kneel or crouch sideways to him (not facing head‑on), Speak softly. 2. Don’t pull the leash…

Leaving your beagle home alone for a short time is actually the safer and calmer option right now, even though he sometimes whines at the bathroom door. That whining is normal puppy clinginess, not true separation anxiety, and it doesn’t mean he can’t handle brief absences. A quiet, familiar home is far less stressful for him than a busy social event full of noise, people, and unpredictability.

In fact, short, calm absences (30-60 minutes): Build independence, Reduce clinginess, and Help prevent real separation anxiety from developing.

Back to your post, Tee:

“Alessa gave a great suggestion for the lower back: to wear a brace! Yes, it helps protect the lumbar spine, but as Alessa said, it should be warn only when needed, because otherwise the muscles atrophy.”- thank you. Actually I have a brace.

“What you can also do is the so-called core exercises for the spine, which strengthen the abdominal and back muscles, which in turn protect the spine (i.e. create a natural bracing effect).”- 🙏 I do that every other day

“Dear Anita, thank you so much for praying for me and my health! Yeah, chronic pain, coming from more sources, is no fun way to live. But as I said, I’m trying to think positively and not let my mind go to bad places.. so that only one arrow of suffering in present, not two 🙂”- I wish you didn’t have chronic pain at all but I’m glad you’re thinking positively. Whenever I feel pain, I get scared, and when I do, I think of you as my inspiration to think positively.

“Thank you for your heartfelt prayers! 🤍 I am praying for you too and for the calming down of Bogart’s anxiety (and stomach issues), so he can be one happy pup, and you one happy and satisfied dog Mom 😊”-

Thank you, Tee. If you didn’t bring it up, I wouldn’t have done the 2-3 hours research right above, so, Bogart 🐾 and I thank you 🫶

🤍 🙏 🐾 😊 🙏 🤍 Anita

Dear Alessa:

Thank you for the back brace advice. My lower back is still sore but since I no longer plan to pick Bogart up, I am hoping the soreness will heal with more time.

Thinking about you this Christmas Day (your time). Still Christmas Eve here. Hoping your Christmas Day is pleasant and that you’re not too busy and can relax.

🤍Anita

Thank you for your message, Tee, I’ll reply later!