car rides

[Sarina]

How to get Andy doodle into car?  He is not wanting to climb in himself but love the ride.  He is getting to big to lift.  We have tried the treats from putting on the seat to one of us holding them up for him to see from the other door.  One of us even will get into the back seat hoping he will join us on his own to no avail.   Any suggestions???

[Judy, Meg & Polly Wolly Doodle]

We don't have that problem so I don't know if this will work, just another thing to try.  Meg can NOT resist a squeaky toy, if it squeaks and I toss it she is going after it no matter what.  Could you practice getting her excited by having both doors open and tossing a favorite toy in and out of the car (the car should not be turned on for practice), it may make her forget why she does not want to jump in on her own.  Maybe each time you toss the toy in you could say "in", if you use a clicker this would be an appropriate time to re-enforce.  Good luck.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Put a leash on him - lead him to the car with an open back door - place his front paws on the seat - hoist his rear end up into the seat - that's how we do it.  I find if I'm only hoisting the rear it's no problem with my Standard Doodle even though I'm not particularly strong.

[Dee & Chloe]

I have the same problem with Chloe and have tried all kinds of things. I always try to get her to go in first with a treat or something else but I end up hoisting her like Jane does. I am interested in any new ideas that I too will try!! I have had  people stop to ask if I needed help when they see me trying to persuade her to go in, thinking I cannot lift her. I do put her front paws on the seat and then lift her rear end in!

[Leigh & Allie]

I have seen fold out stairs on some websites. Just a thought.

[Deanna & Desi & Cori]

We're "hoisters" too.  Even though Sedona can easily jump up onto our bed, which is about the same height as the car's back seat, she WILL NOT jump into the car.  She probably "knows" that a failed attempt could be disastrous, so she won't even try.  

[Sheila & Finnley]

WOW, until I read this I thought Finnley was either the laziest or dumbest doodle for not wanting to climb into the car ! She flies onto the bed like she has wings when she wants to though ! She always wants to go for the ride, but only wants to put her front paws onto the seat. Of course that leaves me hoisting up her back end to get the rest of her in ! She has started getting a little (very little) better if I pull her leash forward and tell her "up". On days when I am in more of a hurry though, I just pick her butt up myself, and yes it is getting a tad heavy ! LOL If she gets any bigger (she is 7 months and about 55 lbs) I'm gonna have to get one of these !

[Laurie, Wally & Charlotte]

Have you tried using a ramp?  That wouldn't involve any jumping in or out -- just a thought.

[Hailey and Oliver]

I agree with the squeaky toy idea.  My doodle loves them and does everything he can to rip them to shreds.  

[L.M.]

For those of you talking about your 50ish pound doodles not jumping in...stop complaining!  (lol just kidding)...My 95 pounder refuses to jump in the car....you should see the stares we get when we hoist him in our Honda Element....I physically can't lift him anymore so I have to travel with my husband when we bring the dogs out.  My "smaller" doodle who is about 50 pounds is also beginning to refuse to jump in herself.  Honestly, I don't think any treats will work....mine, at least, have always seemed very nervous/anxious about jumping in the car.  We will be looking into some type of ramp for them eventually...or we considered traveling with a milk crate type thing that they could at least step on to get in.  We also have a 7 month old son so extra storage space in the car is limited!! 

[Ginny Nightingale]

Why is there an attachment about Florida doodles on this discussion? Or does no one else see that--well, anyway, my dogs FLY into the car and I didn't realize that others had this problem--Rio jumps so high, he hits his head on the ceiling of the car!!! But when I groom a doodle, I use the front paws up and then life the rear for my bigger "clients" and it really does work--as I lift the hind end, they push up with their front paws and support some of the weight. 

[Sarina]

opps re: the attachment. i tried to attach a pic of Andy.

 

[BG and Gavin]

Gavin hit his head jumping in through the hatch of my smaller SUV when he was a pup and ever since, no way no how will he jump in.  After hoisting, bribing, and trying to bully him in, still no luck on him doing it on his own.  I saw a trainer on TV one day who addressed the exact same problem and he said you don't have to make them do it the way you want, let them try it a different way.  So I did.  I moved the front passenger seat all the way forward so Gavin could first step onto the floor of the back seat, then to the seat and then over to the folded down seat where he stretches out to be strapped in.  He then got so he did not have to use the floor anymore and could jump straight onto the seat.  Its funny though, he can leap up into DH's large pickup that sits up very high in a single bound.  I seriously doubt that I could get him to go in through the rear driver side door.  Funny creatures.  Try rearranging the seats and try a different door.