Ted is not happy to get in the car when we take him anywhere. He bucks and jumps and pulls and fights, until one of us has to pick him up and get him in. I'm sure there's an easier way of encouraging him in. Treats in front of his nose aren't working at the moment. I should say that once he's in the car he settles well - the odd whine, but often he will fall asleep. it's just that first sight of the car.... and he's off! Any tips?
Hi @Deejay50 where/how does Ted ride in the car (boot or back seat)? I've got an old relatively immobile lab and a pup, Maddie can't jump in and out of the boot so we use a ramp and Winnie the pup is now used to the ramp and waits to trot up or down it. Our car is a 4x4, the back is high so the ramp also stops the jolt on joints as they get out. The ramp has been great and even when we've only got Winnie we'll still us the ramp. If Ted's ok once in the car ( which is great) I guess it's about making the getting in OK. Before Winnie worked out how to get down stair/steps we had to pick her up, she hated being picked up and would try and avoid us, could it be that?
Hi and thanks for your comments. Ted sits on the back seat. He's OK at jumping down, but the getting in is something he wont even try without being lifted in. He is very agile so I guess it's not an inability to get in rather than a reluctance. I'm sure he'll get there in the end. Once he realises that at the end of the journey is a worthwhile pleasure - like a run off the lead, he'll probably react better. Meanwhile....
I like that idea and I'll certainly give it a go tomorrow when I next take him out. I'll let you know how the soup course goes !!
My new puppy disliked being picked up - perhaps we scared her, or picked her up in an uncomfortable way, obviously, without meaning to do so - it's so easy to make a mistake without noticing and then they get funny ideas in their heads. Anyway, this translated into not wanting to get into the car because she got picked up as we approached the car. I just had to stand by the car and drop treats car side of her and waited when she moved or even looked towards the treats, I marked this and dropped more treats, a little closer to the car....it took a long time to get near the car! Now she is a little bigger, I've trained 'front paws up' on the bumper, so I can just put my arm under her tummy and tip her in, which she much prefers to being lifted, so the problem is fading quite quickly now. I'd say you just have to have a lot of patience and not resort to just picking him up and putting him in the car if you can avoid it (I know, sometimes time pressure doesn't allow anything else, but if possible anyway).
My boy Zeke is just about 10 1/2 months now. I got him at around 9 weeks. I have been taking him everywhere in the Jeep since I got him so for him the Jeep is a cool place to get into. Getting him to get in on his own took a little time, and growth. From the first day he'd get a treat and a "good boy" once on the seat. As he grew I'd put his front paws on the edge of the floor and say "up" while giving his butt a nudge, always followed by a treat and good boy once he was in. Eventually he made it on his own. Zeke is a very food motivated dog which helps. Today he still gets a treat and good boy for jumping up into the Jeep, he loves the Jeep. If I am parked out front and take him out for a pee he does his business and then sits by the back door of the Jeep. He almost looks bummed out when I don't open the door and take him on another adventure.
I've had similar issues with Judy, I think I rushed her into car travel without making the car a nice, happy place to be. Our trainer suggested feeding her meals in the car and while I was initially sceptical about that, since Thursday she's gone from bolting down her food, then panting until she was let out to eating more slowly (today) and not showing signs of stress. I drove a very short distance with her this morning and will keep feeding her in there for now. If she knows her food bowl is in there, she jumps up herself onto the back seat and into the crate. My main difficulty now is containing her excitement to get to the car!
We've never let Holly jump out of the car as we want to control how and when she gets out. We always lift her out. Occasionally she gets over excited and tries to jump out (she succeeds, but not often) but we try to anticipate this and hold her collar. We allow her to jump in, in fact it can be a problem keeping her out as she associates the car with exciting walks.
Cooper has no problem getting INTO the car....problem is once the car is in motion.....he gets into the footwell and puts his head down until we get to our destination. Guess it's the motion that bothers him? He doesn't get sick or dribble from the mouth but I feel so bad for him feeling this way. I had dreams of going everywhere with him in the car but I certainly don't want him to be uncomfortable. We just don't take long trips. Long enough that a Kong will last him but that's about it. And he works that Kong in about ten minutes! I truly don't want to give him medication for this.....any suggestions?
A quick update on Ted and the car. This week, for the first time he jumped in willingly and waited for me to hook up his safety clip. Up until then he was showing signs of improving, no more full-on brakes as we approached the car, then allowing himself to be lifted in. Now he's more "oh, please, I can do this myself!" Also when we finish a journey I have to remind myself that I have him in the back seat. He's so quiet. My boy's growing up. That is until he meets people and dogs in the street...... and then it's showtime!
All very helpful stuff here as we have the same thing with Molly being very unwilling and seemingly anxious about getting into the car.
Thanks very interesting read I have a 9 month old who is very reluctant getting in too, happy once in and happy getting out. Going on a weekend road trip to the seaside this weekend which will be interesting as I will have to allow at least 30min to convince him to get in before we set off ! X
Dennis I have a 4 month old who is not keen on the car, either going for walks, or returning to the car following a walk. She's still at the stage where I will lift her in and out, but seems I sometimes have to lift and carry her from the front door. How did you eventually get Ted to be less reluctant. Did you feed him in the car and if so, how long for? Thanks
Hi Colm, it didn't really take Ted all that long in the end. A few high value treats, hot chicken and sausage convinced him that he was better of inside than outside the car. Jumping down afterwards always was easier, but I imagine your puppy might also need treats to persuade her down. You might consider doing the luring in with treats as a repeat exercise one morning or afternoon, until she understands. Practice and consistency will always pay off (having said that, you will see from other threads that Ted can frustrate the life out of me with some aspects of his behaviour) Good luck. I'm sure others will have some good ideas too.
Lilly is 6.5 years, and still gets a treat most times for getting in the car to stop me having to lift her in.......
