Getting in SUV

[Ally Harney]

Harry is a great puppy.  He just gives me a hard time getting in car. He is huge so it is not physical. Plus he loves the car.

I got so frustrated with his antics, I started throwing a treat in car and then he would follow. Otherwise he wants me to lift him. So now I have to give him better treats to get him in car.

Just started a bad thing. ANy thoughts?

I have walked him back in house and did not take him but I don't thing sunk in.

[Tracey & Spike]

I might have some incite here. Spike was always great at getting in our vehicles. Both the suv and cars. All of a sudden he just quit jumping in and wanted us to lift him. He got to the point where he would actually run away from the car and wouldn't go near it unless we had a leash on him. Especially if he had his winter coat on.
It started when he stumbled and fell while jumping in the suv while wearing his coat. That's all it took.
We are currently working on it with him. We always go to the car with him on a leash. And we wait him out. We give him the cue to jump in but we let him do it on his terms. I drop his leash and put my hands out so I'm ready to grab him if he did fall. When he is in he gets the treat.
Doodles are smart. They remember. If Harry had something similar happen it might be why he's hesitant on jumping in.

[Linda, Charlie Brown and Beau]

He is probably just a little insecure about getting in - maybe it is an age thing.  Beau jumps right in.  Charlie on the other hand has shorter legs and he always put his front leg up on runner and I lift up his rear and help him in. Charlie also does want to jump down out of suv, and I really do not want him doing that either because it is so much stress on the front legs and chest.  So I just help him down.  I may invest in a ramp at some point. 

[Lisette Palmer]

My Charley, now 10 months old, has always had difficulty also. He gets his front paws in and then I just have to help with his rear legs. I think he is afraid of getting hurt. I had a discussion several months ago re: the same subject. I am not familiar enough with this to tell you how to go to that discussion but perhaps is you go to my name you can find it.  

[Pam Lawrence]

Jamie is 15 months old and still won't jump in the car. He is HUGE and I still have to boost him. Sometimes he will put his front legs on the seat so I just have to boost his rear end and other times I have to put his front paws in, too. He is very food motivated, so I have tried putting treats in the car and he still won't get in. He will usually do anything for treats. I have tried getting in the back seat and coaxing him, but that doesn't work either. Very frustrating since he weighs 70 pounds!!

[Cindy and Olive (Ollie)]

Aww Harry... Have you tried just showing him the treat-him jumping in - then give treat to him after? Maybe if you start luring him in, then give treat after he is already in, you can progress to treating intermittently, then eventually phasing it out with just praise. Seems like a slow process. Just a thought... Good luck! It is kind of an adorable problem to have :) if all else fails, get a ramp!

[Judith and Addie]

As a few others have mentioned, if he just started this behavior, first make certain that there is not a physical reason for it. Dogs don't do behavior just to be contrary or stubborn; they do it because they see a benefit. It could be pain avoidance, it could be insecurity, or any number of things. If it is not pain avoidance, try positive training for getting into the car. This could take some patience. If you are doing clicker training, click when he starts towards the car,and incrementally  as he approaches. If he sticks his head in, click/treat; if he puts a foot in, click/treat. You get the idea. 

My biggest problem with training like this (I think it is called shaping) is my lack of patience. And with puppies and children, patience is something usually needed in great supply.

Good luck with your beauty, Harry.

[Mary ann & Lincoln]

 Lincoln will jump right in the car, but the SUV is harder.  We have to give him a running start , not right at the door.  Then he gets in easily.  We back him up alittle and then tell him to get in the car and he will jump in.  

[Sarah Kuiper]

Oh my goodness I have the opposite problem! He would jump in just find but I have to lift him out! I'm not sure if he's being lazy or scared because he's jumped off higher things before. 

[Jessica, Loki and Moose]

Moose still is afraid to jump in my car and being that he is 28inches at the shoulders and 100lbs it's a problem! I have found that if the door on the other side of the car is open he will jump up no problem, if i roll the window down on the other side it works too. I wonder if it's that he thinks it's a dark closed in space and if the window/door are open on the other side it's not as scary? I'm not sure but I hope he out grows it! Every now and then I have to give his butt a little boost even though his head is at the level of the seat and if he stands up on his back legs he could probably roll himself in, lol. If I have a friend with me, one of us will stay on the side of the car with him, and the other will go on the other side of the car and call him to jump in and then he will jump in no problem, hopefully it's all starting to click for him!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Ned is small - 16 1/2" tall, 28 lbs. - but has always 'flown' into the back of the SUV.  He misjudged a few months ago and rebounded off (Poor guy!) and I had to lift him in for a while or let him get in the side door because he lost confidence in his ability to complete the jump.  He will jump in now - after dithering and getting into 'position' several times.  He also has changed his approach angle.  He will not attempt to jump from the position where he failed.