Can anyone help?  My lab who is now 18mths old will not jump into the boot of the car to go out.  He is really good in the car and loves being in there.  We have had him since he was 11weeks old and use to lift him into the car so that he didn't hurt himself jumping in and out of the car when he was younger.  He jumps out of the car okay and will jump up onto benches etc of the same height of the boot, but when we go out he crouches right down on the floor waiting to be picked up.  Have we made a rod for our own backs now, by lifting into the car?

1. Lead Lab out to car

2. Put tasty treat at the back of the boot

3. Watch Lab jump in at *n* rate of knots?

:D :D :D

(Worked for my Malamute)

Did exactly the same with our lab - but then like you got to the point where lifting in the back of landrover was no long an option - I tried the treat thing and got in and sat in the back called to him "in" when he jumped in, just praised him loads.  He soon got the idea now I have to ask him to wait as he is so eager to get in, I thought he was going to end up bashing his head as I opened the door ; ) 

HTH

Tried this with his favourite treats but no luck even tried a cooked chicken!!!! Still no joy.

Life is different in houndworld ....... :D

1. Lead sighthound to jeep

2. Put tasty treat at the back of the boot

3. Watch hound place front feet in boot, snake in long neck and grab tasty treat OR

3a. Watch hound place front feet in boot and completely ignore tasty treat

4. Watch hound as she looks expectantly over her shoulder at you

5. Swear at hound

6. Repeat Steps 2 - 5 several times

7. Lift hound's hind legs into jeep

8. Admire hound's self-satisfied grin

10. Repeat Step 5

11. Drive to destination

12. Let hound out

13. Watch hound race away, effortlessly bounding over mind bending obstacles in her path

14. Call hound back

15. Repeat Step 5

16. Repeat Steps 14 & 15 until hound is tired and comes back of her own accord OR

16a. Look at photo of hound (best way to recall a hound is with a photo!) until she is tired and comes back of her own accord

17. Repeat Steps 1 - 10

15. Drive home

I had to laugh when I read this as I was writing the same post approx 1 year ago for  my dalmatian.
I tried every treat going and it didn't work.
Here's how I did it.
I  don't know if you have them but we have black recycling boxes from the council which are approx 40inches in height.
Stage 1.
I turned the box upside down to make a platform and got the dog used to jumping on it in the house (with loads of treats and fuss).
Stage 2.
Once she had mastered this I then placed it against the setee and she would climb onto the box then onto the setee. (with loads of fuss and treats)
Once she realised what it was I wanted her to do she used to miss the box and jump directly onto the chair.
Stage 3.
I took the box with me when I took her out to the park. In the car park after her walk I placed the box below the boot and she would jump up on the box (loads of treats)
Stage 4.
I carried on taking the box for a couple of days and eventually getting her front paws on the edge of the boot (loads of treats)
Stage 5.
I then started to help her get into the boot by pushing her back end in gently  (loads of praise and treats)
I think you can see where this is going. She eventually done it. I was ecstatic, no more carrying wet muddy dog into the car. Her treat was chicken that day.
Once she realised what I wanted her to do she did it.
Good luck, be patient it's worth it.

Great stuff! Have been thinking about how to get round this myself with a sturdy 9month old lab. I just can just about lift her but am thinking I don't fancy doing it for the next x years and am loathe to pay out £60 - £100 for a dog ramp that she may/may not use! Will up the ante with treats, she's been very interested in cheese just recently so I think that might be the one!

Make sure you try it BEFORE she has her dinner ..if she is hungry it is far more likely to succeed :D

No need to spend money - I pulled up at the field the other day behind an old couple who got out the car and brought out a small coffee type table.  I was intrigued so I just sat and waited until they opened the back door of their car and an old lab hobbled out onto the table and then the ground.  Then off they went for walkies.  Awwww :D

CG

Wondered about this. I dont want to have to worry about a ramp.Gemma is 7 1/2 and I have just bought an estate car as she couldnt get into my hatch back. Sje still cant get into my estate so wondered whwt I could do to help her. She can get out ok!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Willl try a milk crate and see what happens!!!!!!!
Lea :)

Thanks for all the replies on this I will try with the box.

Hi There

Have you had his checked hips checked out at the vets as this could be a sign of him suffering from pain when jumping.

The majority of the time MB my youngest Lab who has severe HD waits for one of us to lift her in and out of the car !

It may have nothing to do with it but maybe worth checking out !

Lucy
xx

Spooky - we have EXACTLY the same history with our 12-month lab; loves the car but won't jump in. The only difference is that after encouraging him every time a couple of months ago with treats etc. he did start jumping in on the command 'in' and we thought we'd cracked it. Silly us! Now he's just as bad as he was before...

Car ramp [llink http://www.scottsofstow.co.uk/ProductDetails.aspx?language=en-GB&product=DogRamp&catName=PetProducts]link[/link]

It is definitely worth getting hips checked out just in case. You never know and the dog could seem quite healthy.

Lindsay
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