Monty will not go up steps without us assisting him. He goes down fine. We are older and cannot lift him and he needs to make it up 6 steps to come inside. Also he will not jump up into the car and needs to be lifted. This has been going on for sometime, Vet has said no issues and we have tried just about everything. Any suggestions please.
Hi @Sue welcome to the forum, Since you've tried everything there is a risk I'm just re-stating something you have already attempted.. I would try putting three or 4 treats on the first step the first day. The second day put one on first step but 3 or 4 or the next step. And so on. Pretend you are not watching him. He may lack confidence, getting a friendly Lab who doesn't mind steps coming over. Let them play and then call the 'revealer' up the steps while they are both in high drive. As for the car, one can buy ramps for a dog. Start out with no incline. Just get him used to walking on it. Then increase incline by 5 degree onto a box. Lots of rewards if he makes it. Repetitions at that height. Then gradually increase incline after several sessions at each lower height by a few degrees onto taller and taller really steady boxes.
Do the Stairs have solid risers? Lots of dogs balk at going up open back stairs. Tilly and Cooper have been persuaded to go up open backs some times, but they don't like them. Cooper runs up and down normal stairs, and Tilly did when she was younger. Neither of them will walk on a grating if they can avoid it, and they will not go up grating stairs. Are the stairs carpeted or concrete. Most dogs I've been around don't like slick wood stairs, especially going down. One alternative to the ramps for cars, is to teach the dog to put his/her paws up, and lift her butt into the car. We have to do this with Tilly now. I'm 76, but it is not a problem for me to lift 1/2 of a Lab into our Subie.
That's where I'm at with my 8 month oldish Lab. He's jumped in the backseat before on his own, but I think it's a bit awkward for him to do. I feel like he's scared to land wrong or get hurt. He hasn't done it in a couple of months. I could tell he isn't comfortable doing it because I have tossed treats on the seat and he still doesn't jump in to get them. My pup eats anything so for him to not go for the treats, tells me he isn't comfortable doing it. So now I just lift his backside into the car after his two front paws are up. My girlfriend thinks I am babying him but I don't really care.
