Have just changed our car from a saloon to 4x4 in order to accommodate our v large RR but he can't step into the new vehicle as he did before.  We try to encourage him with treats but he absolutely refuses (it's like trying to get a horse into the box on a racetrack).  He's much too heavy to lift at 56kg.  Any ideas please?

Have you tried only feeding him in there and nowhere else? Put his dinner in the back, leave the back open and go away. If he wants his dinner he'll have to get in. ;) When he's finished he can get out when he wants - no pressure. :)

A ramp? We used one when we had a hatchback because I didn't want my young dogs jumping in and out and damaging their joints.

Thisis the one we used.

He's only 14 months and is wary of new experiences (he would never get into my son's car) but we didn't consider that he couldn't jump up.  It's not only that he won't - he just can't.  Unfortunately he's not at all motivated by food so I think we will have to try a ramp.  Does the ramp have to sit on the back seat when not in use? or does it fold up....  Tx for the help.

Hi, I have RRs too - could you explain what you mean by "he just can't" jump into the vehicle?  Also, what sort is it? 

Could he be put off because he is jumping up into a restricted space?  How about trying to put the back seats down (just to start) so he has a less restricted space to jump into?

We have a ramp for our Mastiff , and he uses it no problem
We got it at pets at home :)

He's not worried by a restricted space as he has sat quite happily on the back seat of our Modeo for the past year.  The new car is a CR-V and the cargo area is 2 ft off the ground.  Maybe he just doesn't want to get in but he did at first put his front paws up and his back leg was looking for purchase as he found when getting into the back of our Mondeo.  I am sure he could get in if he took a running jump but that's not always practical is it and I don't want to cause him damage. He has been limping today but I can't say what caused it.  We had an absolute fiasco today when he went to the vet.  I've ordered a ramp and will persevere with that.

We have a 4x4 one of my girls jumps in spring like my other girl can come out of agility training then insist we lift her into the Jeep she can do it but ..wont ! we think it is because when she was younger we lifted her in and she still expects it ....of course we oblige...:D

Hi,
we have a ford  ranger 4x4 and our dear dobe wouldn't jump in till the last couple of weekends! he is now 40k whixh on my own is a heavy weight to lift that high! just as I have thought about making a fold up ramp for him to get in, he has decided that it is ok and that he can jump in or at least get his front legs on making back legs easy to just lift in! but I have found that taking the back tail gate down (not sure if yours is the same design) and him jumping straight onto carpet rather than a metal plate easier as he doesn't slip so much. Now my hubby is away for a while, I needed to make sure he could do this as i can't do a physical lift on my own when he is struggling.... try taking your tail gate down if you can as thay have more grip if you see what I mean  or making the entrance easier for him to grip as they do tend to help if they can get front paws on!!

Our RR loves going in the car and will quite happily jump into the back of our 4x4, as will our male Weimaraner.  Our female Weimaraner is a different story though, so we end up putting her front legs in the car, then lifting her back end in.  The Great Danes are not too happy about going in the car either, so I dread trying to get them in when they are fully grown

Sorry - what's a RR

Rhodesian Ridgeback :)

Thanks! :-) :-)

Maybe it is an inherited trait as my RR  bitch would not dream of jumping into the back of my car I think she thinks she is too posh to jump! At 14 months and 41kg she is no small girl and stubborn is her middle name. I could always lend her to you as she is in season and I bet your boy would have no hesitation in jumping in to your 4x4!!(Last bit was a joke just incase anyone reading this has had a sense of humour bypass!). I am sure you can get ramps for them to walk up, perhaps then he may feel less intimidated if he could see where he was ment to go? Just a thought, let us know how you get on.Regards!

I hadn't realised that there were quite so many RR lovers out there!  Anyone else show??

My RR Mungo didn't like going in the car at first (anyone that has read anything about Mungo will know he doesn't like much at first! :D) i wondered if he couldn't jump up until he was clearing 5 bar gates!!

But we used to encourage him by speakling baby-talk and then practiced using a run-up so he could get some speed up and leap. Now he gets in with no probs. BTW we had a Mondeo so not quite the same jump as a 4x4!

Answer to ridgielover yes I show my bitch, used to show my male rr but he decided enough was enough so is retired. He did quite well though and got many firsts both at open/champ shows now we concentrate on our mad bitch! She is stunning and could not have wished for such a fantastic specimen we have been truly blessed and could not speak highly enough of her breeders. 

Hi - many thanks for all the replies.  Jennifer -  my boy is 14 months also (they could get married!) and he weighs in at 56kg.  With his paws up I can't possibly lift his rear end he is far too heavy.  It was a job for both my husband and I to manhandle him yesterday.  He has been very quiet today so I think he got awfully stressed what with the vet and then the fiasco.  I have ordered a ramp now and I have been told this will be slow going also getting him used to it.  By the way.... another question please.  He's been limping since yesterday and we thought we had hurt him in some way with the manhandling but I notice today that his rear paw is very sore and on closer inspection I notice his pad is quite badly torn.  Does this mean another trip to the vet or will it heal itself.  I have put aloe vera on it fo the time being.....

Yes Aloe vera gelly will be great for his paw not only is aloe vera is is a natural antiseptic but will aid the healing process aswell. I stock FLP products and I use all of them on my dogs and my family. My bitch as she is very heavy boned is on pure aloe vera drinking gell just to help her young joints as it helps to maintain healthy connective tissues and joint function. As he is quite heavy I would be very carefull about his shoulders when he jumps down from your car as you don't want to put too much stress on his joints. The ramp is a very sensible option. Here is my email if you need anymore advice enquires@tsavoridgebacks.co.uk ,where did you get your boy from? My two are from Nyassa & Mwani and I could not ask for better temperaments which I feel is extremely important.Regards J

Thanks for the advice jennifer - I will look at the FLP products.  This is our first Ridgeback and having read alot about them I know you have to be careful with their joints. I will try the aloe vera drinking gell - how much and how often?  We had great difficulty finding a boy last year and got him from a breeder in Brighton.  He was part of a first litter for his breeder and we have certainly struck lucky; he has a wonderful temperament and is a handsome specimen.  Everyone we meet comments on his looks, his coat and his condition.  There are many champions in his pedigree.  Mwenga and Janak on his dam's side and Shabani on his Sire's side.  We have no intention to show or breed from him so his pedigree is not that important to us.  Are you a breeder yourself?

Well we plan to breed our bitch but depends on hip scores etc..she has got 18 champions in her 5 generation ped many international so we are very protective of her as you can imagine. We have never bred before but have own the breed for sometime. If you want i can send you info on the FLP products and what vets say about them etc...remember only FLP is 100% aloe vera. Drink measure I would suggest 60ml morning and night but introduce it gradually as you would do with any thing they have not had before. Forever Freedom is slightly more expensive but contains added glucosamine & chondroitin also vit C and MSM. Well i am away to get dragged around a forrest by one moody bitch and a very H--NY male ridgeback! Regards J.

Would be grateful for the info.  My e-mail is bluefuchsia@yahoo.co.uk.  Tx.

Hi there. Would it be possible to have some info on the aloe vera drinking gell as well?  I have a 13 week old RR dog and want to do the best for him, especially whilst he is growing at such a tremendous rate :-)
Thanks,
Helen (h_l_fletcher@hotmail.com)

I posted on here about 12 months ago with exactly the same problem. I drive a Toyota Landcruiser and my rough collie refused for three years to even attempt to jump in. This became a huge issue because I developed back problems and could no longer lift him in: desperate times called for desperate measures! I gave him a very small dinner one night and then no breakfast the next morning, around 5pm I started to fry a lrge piece of steak in butter and garlic, chopped it in to good size pieces and then fed him quite a large piece which he devoured. Brought some out to the car and lifted him in to get it. Needless to say he was very enthusiastic. Small dinner, no breakfast the next day and reheated the steak in the micro wave, gave him a small piece to whet his appetite and then back out to the jeep. Made him wait as he does for his dinner and then when I threw in the steak he has almost there before it!!! Never had a problem since but regularly use high value treats to reinforce and huge fuss every day.
May seem excessive but it really was worth it, just read my previous post to see.