Hello, I am a new member and have a 6 month chocolate labrador. I have been taking her in the car since socialisation began, initially I would pick her up and get her in and out. I am still picking her up to get her in and try to coax her out with a little assistance, I was worrying about her joints with jumping in and out as it seems quite high (boot). The problem is she is now getting quite heavy and I don't want to hurt her getting her out (that's the most problematic) but she is scared to jump out; she has jumped out a couple of times indepdently but I am not sure whether she should be doing this now or not as don't want her to hurt herself. I use lots of treats and encouragement but she keeps sitting back down to say please as if I have a magic way of getting her out all the time she is wagging her tail but not sure what to do (or is worrried) so stands up and looks like she will try and then sits down again. I had another car and it was easier to help her but I've had to get a temporary car and the recess in the boot is higher. I hope that makes sense! Any advice appreciated!
Hi and welcome to the forum. Personally I would avoid having a 6 month old jumping in or out of the car, to reduce stress and impact on their joints, and would lift in and out still. I invested in a ramp when Juno was around 5-6 months and trained her to walk up and down the ramp to get in/out of the car.
That's great advice, thankyou, I will keep lifting her until I can find a suitable ramp as I'm petite and she is growing rapidly! I'll have a look for the ramps, are they called anything specific?
I honestly can't be bothered to faff around with a ramp - I'm on a tight schedule to get my dog out for a good off lead run before I go to work and I want him in and out of the car with the minimum of fuss. I also do not want him jumping though (I do, time to time, let him jump in to my not too high Volvo car when he is very muddy!). To get in, I trained "paws up" - he puts his paws on the bumper of my Volvo, or on the tailgate of my landrover. I put my arm under his tummy and 'tip' him in. To get out, I trained him to lean forwards - on my volvo to step out with his front paws on the bumper cover, in my landrover just to stretch forward (this was dead easy by just holding a treat in the right place) - and I tuck one arm between his front legs, the other under his tummy and quickly lift him to the ground. I'm a weakling, and he is 30kgs, and I have no problems. Best of luck with it.
This is our ramp - brilliant for pupsters It can be opened and closed with one hand. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Trixie-Pet-R...ds=trixie+ramp
I realised I haven't quite answered your question....first, I never have my dog jump out of a car onto concrete or hard ground. I always lift him out. I do ask my dog to jump in training, but I see no good reason to have a dog jump onto concrete. I also see no good reason to ask a dog to do a standing jump into a high car such as a landrover etc. even though I might ask for a running jump that is higher in training. My dog did used to be reluctant to come out of the car. He doesn't love being lifted down. I just kept at it with hugely tempting treats. At one time, I used a bench so he could walk out straight onto the bench. I just put a load of roast duck at the end of the bench and waited. I did have to stand there for several minutes, but the power of roast duck overcame his reluctance. I then did away with the bench. The bench I used was an aluminium work bench that painters and decorators will use, and I covered the top of it in non slip rubber doormats, because I didn't want him slipping and becoming alarmed. This all sounds a dreadful fuss, but it wasn't really - it took about a month to do, and now we are in and out in seconds, no fuss.
Like Mags I've used the Trixie ramp with no problems. Took me around 5 minutes to train Juno to walk up and down the ramp on the kitchen floor and around 2 minutes to transfer that to in and out of the car.
Thanks for all your help, it does feel a bit akward trying to help her out, she doesn't look too impressed! Like you JulieT I can manage to get her out best when her paws are on the tailgate/bumper, otherwise it's too tricky to manoeuvre a good position/lift. I think she can tell I am feeling a bit nervous though hence why she looks worried! It's nice just to know that I am not completely mad still lifting/helping her out! I think I need to also explore some nice tasty 'special' treats as she has become used to the training treats so need a bit of incentive! The ramp looks great and I can see its on offer at the moment, my step mum could also borrow it because she has a 13 year old labrador who has arthritis and it's problematic getting her in the car for vet trips. I'm not sure how confident she would be with it as her eyesight has deteriorated but it might be worth exploring for the necessary trips. Boogie, that picture is adorable!
A good option for a old doggie. For an old dog I might try to put some reflective tape or paint white strips down the inner sides or something.. just to make the edges more visible.
Good suggestion from Rachael. I also stand on one side of the ramp before asking Juno to walk up which dates from training with treats . Interestingly she won't go up the ramp if I stand on 'wrong' side until I walk round
I don't allow jumping in or out. I've seen dogs, my own, slip on loose gravel or snow on the jump in and hit something on the car and end up hanging part way out. I boost in and lift out. Even when Oban once got up to 82 pounds I could still lift him out. I found the ramp awkward and fiddly and it took up a lot of space but if I couldn't lift it would be a ramp for us. Once he's out he must SIT till I release him. I Hate to see him charge off as soon as he gets out as if leaving me is what he's been waiting to do. Plus some times it could be dangerous and if I think it really might be dangerous he'll be on leash.
Juno's lead is a,ways out on in the car while she sits and waits to be told she can come out so she is always under control with no worries about possible dangers. She is allowed off lead once we are away from cars/parking/roads etc. and on return she is clipped back on lead before reaching vehicles
