Whether it’s loading into the car for the first time or loading into a new car, any dog may have some fear or hesitation with this process. We’re going to give you some tips and tricks on how to get your pup to load up for you.
It’s best to practice loading up a few times before actually taking your pup out on a trip. This will help him get used to it before having the added stress of traveling in the car.
Begin by having your pup on a slip lead and walking them towards the vehicle. We’ll start with loading up from the side of the car. Open the door and allow them to investigate. If your dog is not inclined to go near the open door, then you can try placing a few treats on the bottom inside of the door where you would step up to get in. Encourage them to step up by putting a little forward pressure on the leash. Also reward with treats even if your pup only manages to get their front paws up onto the car. This encouragement will help motivate them to go further. Another way to help your dog get over their hesitation is by getting into the car yourself and attempting to encourage them to get in that way. You can continue creating tension on that leash. Once they go where you want them to, the tension should be released. Most younger pups will climb onto the floor of the car, but you can encourage them with treats and leash pressure to get up onto the seat. If you have a very young pup who might have a hard time reaching the doorway, you can try using a ramp. Using some tension on the leash in the direction you want them to go and by using treats, you should be able to get your pup to walk up the ramp.
Once your pup has successfully gotten into the car, now it’s time to help them figure out how to get back out. If you’re inside the car with your pup, it’s best to climb out and encourage your dog to do the same. You can use tension on the leash as well as treats for encouragement. For some dogs, it might be less intimidating to climb back down onto the floorboard and jump out from there as opposed to jumping directly from the seat to the ground, so you can direct them with leash pressure to jump down on onto the floor if they hesitate to jump down from the seat. Praise and reward them at each successful step.
Practicing this technique multiple times will help your pup to become more confident loading up and getting out of the car. You’ll notice that your pup will get quicker each time you do it. Also practice this with you on the outside of the car, encouraging them to get in by themselves.
If you prefer to load your dog into the back of your vehicle, it’s a similar process. Since the back of the vehicle is a little higher, you’ll want to climb inside and encourage your pup to follow. A ramp may be useful in this situation also. By creating the same leash pressure as before and offering treats, you should be able to coax them into climbing up. You can then climb out and encourage your pup to jump down using tension on the leash in a downward direction, as well as treats. Be sure to praise and reward your dog when they successfully load up and get out of the car.
If your dog is very reluctant to get in the car at all, it would be beneficial to feed them a meal in the car while you’re sitting in there with them. You’ll of course need to pick up and put your dog in there, but associating the car with food will help it to become a more positive space and could go a long way towards helping your dog get over any fear of getting in the car.
It’s important to remember that every dog is different. Some may begin doing this with ease the first time you start practicing, and other dogs may take several practice sessions before they’re comfortable getting in and out of a vehicle. Patience is very important whenever you’re teaching your dog to do new things.
