Training to 'Load up' in the Suburban

[texanmom4]

Okay, Ruger is pushing 60# and is tall. He will jump up in the car (cargo area of the Suburban), front legs only. We always end up having to lift him in. We have tried different approaches to this. I have even been on the inside back seat, treat in hand, calling him to 'load up' and he wags his tail and stretches, but no back legs or jump. He 'can' jump when he wants to, trust me ; ) He does love the car once he is inside it.

We totally forgot how we trained our GRs to do it. (It has been 15 years) What are your ideas to train him to 'load up'?

[Debbie and Thomas]

Our 85 pounder kind of steps into the car when he is in the mood, but often we have to boost up his rear end. Lately, he just kind of stands there and has to be talked into getting in. He loves going "uppies in the car" so we just don't get it.

[Laura & Chewie]

Chewie (22 lbs) has jumped into the SUV (and out), but 99% of the time he waits for me to put him in and out. He loves the car, but has to be really excited before "making the leap".

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

Get Ruger's tastiest treat. Put Ruger in a sit/waitabout three "Ruger steps" away from the back of the car. Show Ruger the treat. Tease him a little. He cannot break the sit. Put the treat all the way in the car, so Ruger has to go all the way in. When he is just dying to have the treat, say okay. When he is all the way in and scarfing say "good boy Ruger" Be very careful to give no praise or correction ( except to keep the hold or wait- this assumes he alread knows, sit and wait for a treat)


Ruger isn't being stubborn he is being doodle smart. One day, one time or even maybe everytime, "Good boy Ruger" has been said at the exact time you lifted his feet into the car. He thinks it's strange you want to lift his back feet in for him. But he wants to make you happy. This is the downside of smart doodles. Sometimes it is pretty hard for us to be smarter!

Note: if a dog is halfway into a car - that is front feet in car and back feet on ground, it is all but impossible for him to jump in. Some very agile or very powerful dogs can, but it isn't easy. To have much success jumping in the dog needs to put most of his weight back onto his hocks and push up and forward. Lead or encourage a "stuck" dog to get out of car and back a little bit from the car to give him a fair chance.

[Wendy]

Motta and Miley won't jump in either. Motta is 75 lbs now so it's getting pretty hard to boost him in the back of the minivan twice a day!! I am looking for a ramp on craigslist....

[Linda,Yankee & Finn]

Yankee wouldn't jump in either even though he was totally capable. He did the same thing, front feet only. I tried treats but that didn't work. I don't remember when he finally started jumping in by himself but he was well over a year old. Now I have Finn who is 50 lbs but still too short to jump in the back of my Flex. I am just teaching him to put his front legs up because my back is killing me.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Ned (27 pounds) can jump in our Volvo XC 90 so I am sure that Ruger can also. How about someone inside holding a treat for him to want to get in. Also maybe he needs to get a bit of a running start? Stand back a few feet with the door open.

[Adina P]

Thule will jump in or out of any vehicle--with enthusiasm!

Rosco is a bit (sometimes a lot) apprehensive of jumping into most vehicles. He's not a jumper though. He doesn't even like jumping up on the couch those times I invite him up. I have to coax and coax and put one paw up and gently pull on his collar. After I traded in my Beetle for a four door Jetta...he really took a loooong time to get in the backseat. Thule on the other hand is ready to jump in or out before I even open the door--wearing a seatbelt or NOT!

[Kelli, Fenway, & Dustin Pedroia]

My labradoodle just springs right in but my big boy, the goldendoodle, does this exact same thing. He does a little better and sometimes will get a running jump to get in the cargo area, but will not jump in the backseat for anything. I think I've created the monster partly b/c I do lift him up and never did do this with my labradoodle, but I had a car when she was still a baby so I can't say for sure if this would have been a problem for her. Interested to see answers to this.