Climb in the car!

[laurelheebsh]

I've noticed a few other members post recently about their dogs refusing to climb into the car. Chubs has started doing this recently, and it is very frustrating! My husband and I each have a sedan (not high off the ground or anything) and he used to get into the backseats just fine. We know he is able to get up, because he certainly doesn't have any trouble climbing onto the couch or chairs at home ;-)
We tried getting him a small stool to get up, and of course tried one of us going to the other side of the back seat with a treat, but most of the time Chubs refuses to jump into the car. So then we (usually I) have to lift him the extra few inches. Which isn't fun when he is wet and muddy from the dog park! Does anybody have any other ideas on getting him into the car by himself?

 

[mizbritt]

I have the same problem! Jake has NEVER jumped up in the vehicle. He absolutely refuses; he plants his feet and just looks at me. Granted, we have a jeep, so it is a little higher off the ground... but he never has a problem jumping this high for any other reason. I'd love to know how to get him in the vehicle!!

 

[caruse]

I have a jeep as well but Laila never has never had a problem jumping into the seat...but then Frazier on the other hand does jump into the seat when he feels like it and other times I have to lift his bum up to get in!! Selective jumping I guess...
Barbaralovicon

 

[LILYLARUE]

I recently bought a crossover, specifically for my dogs. I found the two had no problem, but the staffy just refused. She has no problem jumping on my bed which is higher than the bed of the new car. I think I figured it out.

Cars are like a table to them. There is no support under that table (the underside of the bumper). If she can't make it, I think she doesn't feel like she can save herself from just falling down since there is nothing to support her if she doesn't quite make it. If her back feet dont get the bumper just right, they end up sliding under and she would fall on her back. I think she's pretty smart thinking ahead. I had to think of a way for her to feel confident that she could make it.

To prove this theory, I hung a beach towel so the one end was in the bed and it hung down over the bumper to the ground. She couldn't see the underside of the car and it looked like the support was there if she didn't make it. The first jump ~ She made it fine with a lot of confidence. The second and third time, she made it again. Then I removed the towel and she hesitated before she jumped. I had to reassure her and hold her harness so she felt supported and she did great! Made it the first time without the towel. Now it isn't an issue at all. She jumps with all the confidence of super man!!!

As the dogs get older, maybe their confidence in their own back legs diminishes. Look at it from their perspective. Sit down on the ground and look at the space you are trying to get them to go into. It actually looks scarey with all the bumpers, siderails, door handles, door jam, all in the way. They have no idea of their size. The have to build that confidence up that they can actually fit in that hole and without injury. If you look at it that way, it may help you to see where you can give them that confidence to jump right in. Standing in the doorway, supporting their back or belly or just a hand on their shoulders may help too. Some dogs just aren't that easy to adjust to new things. You may have to try all kinds of techniques and really off the wall ideas to make it comfortable for them to feel more confident.

Sometimes you have to simplify the mind to understand dogs. And sometimes getting on their level helps you understand how they see things.

 

[laurelheebsh]

we just discovered last night that he is much more likely to jump in when he isn't wearing his harness! We wonder if it might pull a weird way and make him less likely to jump. So from now on, we'll try to put the harness on after we get where we're going.

 

[tbone]

I am just laughing at poor Chubs, sorry Sometimes I wish I still had a sedan, then maybe I wouldn't have to "back-load" Smoke like I do!

The SUV that I have isn't a huge one, and he used to be able to jump in the back (until he blew up like a blimp) Anyhow, he will put his front paws on the floor board and then I have to get behind him, grab his back legs, lift AND push him into the seat. It's quite a site I'm sure- really fun when we go anywhere that other people can witness this. Oh well, he is losing weight, so hopefully he will be jumping his big butt in the seat again.

The "more" embarrassing part is that I have to do this with my lil Izzy too... this is learned behavior on her part from watching Smoke. Since she was a stray, no one knows how she lived before I got her, but I know that being caught by animal control is not the best way to start off car rides! She does the same thing Smoke does... stands there with front paws on the floor boards and waits for me to put her in. She is MORE than capable of jumping in, but won't.

Just had to throw my 2 cents in :D

 

[chrystel]

my little Snatch is very agile and always jumps in the trunk (I have a VW Golf GTI - hatchback)

Oxford.. on the other hand... need a lot of encouragement.. even though he is twice as tall as Snatch!
I say "hop" and Snatch jumps in there.
Then i'm lik e"come Oxford! HOP!! (same command than in agility, where he has no problem jumping thourght tire and all...)
and then again "come on oxy.... HOP HOP!!!! you can do it! come on! Hop!!!!!"

He is super hesitant... but he does it. then i give him treats and hugs and all... If I start helping him, he will stop even trying! - and i have no intention to carry a 70lbs+ dog everyday


Snatch must be so embarrased by his little brother

 

[marygailk]

Delilah, one year old Tuesday, can jump into our pickup with no problem, but she balks at jumping into the lower minivan. She's getting better, but it's so funny because we know she can do it.