Lab & Car Entry

[pattygelbrich]

Good morning. I'm hoping to get ideas how to train Sophie to get into the car confidently! I want her to be with me and go places together... That's the goal.... Here is the current reality: She gets close to the car, goes flat on the ground like, "Nope, I'm not moving. I hate the car."

Age: 2.5

Car: Standard size SUV, Tahoe. Entering through the tailgate - it is quite high in the newer model Tahoe's. So, we've tried entering through the back side door. Car has two bucket seats in back side doors. They do not lift up to make more room. I have moved the front passenger seat up to make more room in back for entry.

History: Nothing has gone wrong in the car, no problem with a car, no fall, no accident, no loud noises... As a pup, we would pick her up and put her in, not wanting to encourage jumping on puppy joints and hips. For a period of time, she had ear infections (multiple) and abscess on head, both requiring multiple vet visits for unpleasant things. My husband passed away and during his illness there were multiple car rides to the kennel, and it was such a difficult time for all (including her).

 

What I've tried:

*Treats and more treats

*Entering through side door

*Lots of positives and cheese (her fav). High value treats.

*Bought a ramp (it has been fairly successful with shaping, but still takes much time and many treats)

*Every time I get her in car, we go for a drive and get a pup patty at a local burger place (trying to get her to think cars mean good things)

 

So, how do I turn this all around and build a happy, confident dog whose excited to go for a car ride, jumps right in and is ready to go have adventures?

Edited January 11, 2020 by pattygelbrich

[JMFS]

Oh wow, you have really put in the work! Each thing I was thinking to offer you already tried. I have one question - does she get in easily (no physical challenges)? I can't wait to see Adrienne wrap her brain around this one. :) Pets and scratches to Sophie!

[Adrienne Farricelli]

Hello and welcome to the forums,

Yes, I agree it would be important to rule out any pain/joint issues. Also, does she seem to be fine once she is in your SUV or does she panic for all the car ride? Trying to find out if she's just intimidated by climbing in or the whole stimulus package of riding in it and going places.

 

This brings me back to sweet memories of a client of mine who was getting tired of lifting her Lab mix up to get her into her truck and we enlisted Einstein (my Rottweiler) to help out.

 

Have you ever tried using another dog to help her? Many times we underestimate the strong influence other dogs may have on our dogs' behaviors. If she has a favorite play mate who loves going on car rides and gets well along with your dog, it may sometimes help her just watching him/her go in and out of a vehicle to show that there is nothing to fear.

 

Also, it may help to shape jumping up in case this is what she finds more challenging. You can find an article and video on how I did it here, but of course, practice this only if you are sure your dog doesn't have any joint/spinal issues or a conformation that somehow makes it hard for her to jump.

https://www.braintraining4dogs.com/members/archive/fear-getting-car/

 

What really helped this dog for me was to push the back seats back so that she directly jumped on the floor of the vehicle rather than the seat. I don't know if you tried this already, but thought to point it out.