Getting Mack Into The Car

[macksowner]

Mack doesnt go in the car often and when he does its a 10 minute battle. I have to bribe him with treats. Once he's in, he's fine. Just after advice on best way to get him in without stressing him out too much.

[InspectorRex]

If you find an answer let me know. My girls loathe the car but once at the destination they are fine( I had been ill for most of this year so they have not been in the car much)

[Gomez the Norfolk]

Probably not the best method, but I open the door and throw a treat into the footwell of the backseat, then I say "UP" - he follows that treat like lightning!

I say it's not the best because it involves always having a treat, and without a treat, I can say "UP" till I'm blue in the face and he won't go... then again, Gomez is very easy to pick up and put in the car!

Having said all of this, once he is in the car he is very happy looking out the window -

Edited September 11, 2007 by Gomez the Norfolk

[Guest Steph & Bam]

When I first got my boy, Bam, he was scared of cars, but would go anywhere with me, so I used to get in the car first and tell him 'In' while patting the seat. It worked like a charm, I'd sit next to him at first, then eased him into the idea of me sitting in the front seat. He loves the car now. No treats involved, just lots of patience and cuddles!! It worked for me.

ETA: Oh, I also just used to get him into the car, then get him out, without going anywhere, so he wouldn't think that getting into the car means that we're actually going anywhere.

Edited September 12, 2007 by Steph & Bam

[InspectorRex]

Contact Erny here on DOL- Erny helped heaps with my older girl , now just have to do it all again with her daughter who has missed alot of early training due to me being in and out of hospital since Christmas.

There may be other methods too that other ppl might like to share

[Poodle wrangler]

There's nothing "wrong" with bribing him with treats. I don't like being a food dispensing machine, either, but it's a means to an end and preferable to manhandling him in there. If he loves squeaky toys, you can use that instead. Leave it in there.

Trick with treats/toys is to start giving them only intermittently, but only when he's getting in for you properly all the time WITH treats. He should learn over time that car=fun times ahead.

Can't say I've ever had a problem with my dogs. The mini poodle has snuck in the car and hidden in the footwell (black dog, black carpet and seats). He's had a few unexpectedly boring trips to BiLo .

[sidoney]

My dogs love going in the car no matter where we are going. It's the variable ratio reinforcement schedule - sometimes they just go for a drive, sometimes they get to go to a park or (more often) the horse paddock (lots of area and birds and water and bunnies and horse poo to roll in and eat and stuff).

When younger, Cedar used to feel sick and vomit when in the car, and she didn't want to get in at all. What worked for us what lots of getting in and out for rewards, lots of going for very short trips (this helped with the feeling sick, meant she could go in the car, and go fun places, and arrive before feeling sick). I think feeling sick was made worse by anxiety over feeling sick. Once she was less anxious about car rides, she was able to go further without being sick.

He doesn't drool or anything when in the car? That can mean he's feeling a bit sick.

Anyway, assuming that you don't have our problem, of your dog feeling sick, I'd be doing lots of getting into the car without going anywhere. Say ten in and out in one session, once a day. Then you could take him for a drive on the eighth, or the sixth, or the tenth, or the first, and so on. He doesn't know just when he's going for a drive. Drive him to the dog park for a while - give him a fun destination - won't take him long to associate the car with going places.

Also my lot like the window down just a bit, so they can smell the smells as they go along. Makes it more interesting for them.

[macksowner]

Thankyou everyone. Mack went in the car this morning and he wasn't too bad. My OH had to use an anzac bicky to get him in But whatever works Once in he was ok. He sat with his butt on the back seat and head resting on the centre console. Didnt look too comfy tho But all went well and will prob start taking him to fun places. Poor boy had to go to vets ;)

[Guest Steph & Bam]

Thankyou everyone. Mack went in the car this morning and he wasn't too bad. My OH had to use an anzac bicky to get him in But whatever works Once in he was ok. He sat with his butt on the back seat and head resting on the centre console. Didnt look too comfy tho But all went well and will prob start taking him to fun places. Poor boy had to go to vets

Bam did the same thing when I first sat in the front of the car! I'm sure Mack will be fine in time. Just takes some getting used to!

[macksowner]

Mack went in the car again today cause had to go back to the vets Had to bribe him again, but once secured in he was fine He travelled with butt on the seat and head on console again

[RealityBites]

My boy will jump into anyone's car if the door is open! He thinks they are great! But again, the only time I have him in the car is when I am taking HIM somewhere, i.e beach, or park, or to friends places. He even LOVES the vets. so every car trip is great fun for him I live on property and he rides in the car while I go round feeding horses. He has even learnt to jump in through the open windows of my ute which I was NOT impressed th, but he certainly loves the car

[The Mack]

Maybe get into the habit of driving him to the park now and again? might start associating the car right with something positive like that. Mack here is overly keen to hop into the car simply because he thinks its leading to the park.