Simple question. When I take my 6 month old Sora out, he recently learned to jump out of the car (Chevy/Holden Trax) without whimpering and becoming frustrated and not needing to be lifted. (Getting stronger!) The Problem is I can't get him back into the car easily. I don't mean he can't make the jump (which he can't). I mean he gets angry that the excursion is over and avoids me. I used to put food on the ground then 'grab him' say 'Gotcha' and put him in. I then rewarded with high value treat... Labradors sure are smart , because now he is weary of the food and won't go for it, knowing I will grab him. He looks at it with contempt, and still stays away. Today it took me nearly 30 min to grab him. Any advice to get him into the car? I'm sure you all have some!
My trainer said that before my boy even knew the walk was over that I should start playing a game of find the treat. So I’d toss a treat ahead of us and say Find It. We’d do this all the way to the car with the last treat being tossed into the car and he’d jump in to find it. It worked well until he cottoned onto the trick. Then he’d refuse to jump into the car and lie down and roll over and refuse to budge. There were many times I was sure someone would think I was trying to steal a dog who was refusing to get into my car. I’ve just had a thought. I would park right at the most exciting part of the walk - tons of dogs racing around offlead. Just dawned on me that no dog would want to leave that!! Had I parked someone boring he’d most likely have got into the car more easily. Anyway he’s grown up now and things are easier.
Ah, six months old - the beginning of the cheeky monkey teenage period! I was always taught when doing a recall to (1) not recall 'lead-free' unless you were absolutely sure that the dog would come and (2) when the dog comes back, touch/hold the collar, treat and then let go again. I'd even say go a further step to properly clip on the lead and walk a few steps (working to longer on-lead sessions), then release again. This means your dog doesn't associate the recall/leash thing with going home. Sometimes it means going home, sometimes it just means a good treat and 30 seconds on lead before more play. The randomness is key so that your dog has a harder time predicting when the real 'go home' is going to happen. In your case, you may need to go back to some remedial basics on recall, then progress to playing the 'fake out game' with the car as well. So back to the car, treat and release, into the car, treat and release, etc. I'm assuming that the area where the car is at is safe for your dog off leash as it sounds like he's already off leash in the car area. I think I had it easier, as I'd park in busy parking areas so always clipped him into his leash/harness before exiting the park or off leash area. However, that could be something to try for you as well, even if it's not a safety thing, it could still help with the randomness aspect and maybe the on-lead end of the visit could help put your dog in a calmer mindset to go home. Sort of a softer transition between "hey I'm running around like a mad dog with my buddies" to "now I have to sit in the car calmly and head for home". I'm not a dog trainer by any stretch of the imagination, so take this with a grain of salt.
I don't think so, excellent advice I'd say. Totally agree with the random on lead off lead approach. I'm not a dog trainer either but it worked for me when Cassie exhibited some "I don't want to go home" behaviour.
We've always randomly put the lead back on, walked a little & released with all our dogs. They have never seen the lead as "end of fun". You could extend idea this to the car too, like Emily says. Good luck, it's just a little blip you have to get over.
I'd do all of the above, plus a real jackpot treat for getting in the car. Keir, six months old, is never keen to get back in. I make sure his lead is already on. Then, after he's got in the car (with some lively 'happy voice' persuasion) he gets some cat food out of a pouch - super high value and definitely increasing his desire to get in the car after a walk.
I too use the random put on lead as Harley started doing the same at about a year old. She's now 4 years old and I still put her lead on at random times and it's helped.
Same as above for us, random recalls with a play or treats and release to run free again. They still learn if you are near the car that being leashed at that point means back in the car but you can try different parking spots, if possible, and different leash up spots before you see the car. Many of us don't allow jumping in or out of the car. I don't, with my Cherokee. I boost in (treat on bumper, I boost his back end) and I lift out. Even when he weighed 82 pounds I could lift out. I've seen dogs slip badly in and out, on ice, snow and loose gravel. Plus I don't like the impact shock on the jump out and I don't like running off as soon as jumping out.
I have always thought that one walk off lead for a dog is great , three is heaven. So I have always mixed off lead walking and on lead walking during a walk. There is still some reluctance occasionally about being on the lead but as my dog never knows what is happening when this usually passes. I never wait until the end of a walk or play near the car and then put the lead on, it just gives the dog a pattern of behaviour. I have had problems with getting dogs into the camper van but find that playing recalls into and out without travelling seems to help. Having read the above it sounds like I know what I am doing. Believe me like all of the dog training it is trial and error and finding what works for you and your dog.
I’d say it’s the grabbing/lifting he doesn’t like and is trying to avoid, not so much the going home. What kind of car do you have and are you trying to get him into the boot (trunk) or back seat? Whichever you’re doing I’d change it, and teach him to go in by walking up a ramp or up a step. Teach him this at home before trying it in other places. Don’t make any move towards him that’ll make him think you’re going to touch him or pick him up.
