New 18 month puppy afraid to get into car

[josiejoe]

My new practically perfect puppy Josie is afraid to enter my car-actually the garage too. She is a beautiful rescue who came directly from a breeder and is great with everything so far except getting into my car. I've had her for exactly for 2 weeks. Everything is new for her-the dryer buzzer, traffic, playing with toys, my cats, windsocks, men carrying bags, sheets being folded. She shys away but rallies and comes back to check it out. I realize she probably has not had much experience in cars. Once there she is OK and watches out the window. When I try to get her into the car, she collapses on the ground, I end up dragging, pulling (yes I know this is not OK-that's why I am writing). I am experienced with labs but have never had a dog who didn't jump at the chance to GO!
So far--I have tugged and ultimately picked her up in order to get where we need to go. So I am limiting the car trips for the moment.
-Taken my reading and drink and sat in the backseat of the car in the garage.Then I threw treats into the garage luring her closer and closer. I left the back car door open with lots of treats inside. She did come to find me and worked her way closer ending up putting paws on the car floor and stretched herself way across the car to get the furthest treat w/o entering the car. My goal is to desensitize her over time and make the car the most wonderful place to go. She was interested the 1st and 2nd times. Today I sat in the car, did the treat routine. She never even came to find me. I fell asleep in the car!
-Tried a milk crate as a step into the car. Nothing.

I know this will be a process and I am willing to work on this-just don't want to be using a wrong strategy. I do think I need to make the treat more exciting and will try hot dogs tomorrow. And I need advice on dealing with the collapsing, please. I will start obedience training in a few weeks -if I can get her in the car to go there.
Thanks for any ideas.
Jeanne

[deidra]

Do you know her history? It could be something bad happened to her in the past that dealt with a vehicle. Is she food motivated or play motivated? Just have her sit by the garage and treat her. Then move it into the garage and have her sit and then treat and keep doing it untill she feels comfortable. Also you could start putting her food in the garage so she feels comfortable in it. With the collopsing it is from fear just plain fear. Some dogs like my dog Tank bolt while others just freeze. Now do not treat when she is very fearfull. Let her no she can trust you and be safe around you. When you go on car rides were do you go? If you always go to the vet she thinks " if I get in that car I am going to be jabbed with things". If you take her to a park it is car=fun,fun and more fun.

Now that, that is all over think you for rescuing

[josiejoe]

Well, in the 2 weeks I've had her, it has been fun fun fun-and she has been great. No vet yet. She came from a breeder who could not breed her because of a minor elbow issue. She was adopted for a week or so but didn't get along with the family's older dog so she was returned to the breeder who was doing the fostering for the rescue.I guess the back and forth could have been an issue. She was loved and cared for very well by the breeder. She has so much going for her-I've had rescue dogs with so many problems-she has none of that-this is it so far in the 2 weeks I've had her. I will be patient and remember how lucky I am

I like the idea of actually feeding her in the garage-good idea!-I'll work up to it and maybe even eat in the car. Good out of the box idea- I appreciate it!

[SharonaZamboni]

Sounds like you got pretty close! It could take a very long time to get used to the car. Does she enjoy the actual riding? Gotta say, my old dog would go years without a car ride! Not that she didn't enjoy it, we just didn't take her places.
Bean likes and behaves perfectly in the car, goes everywhere, but won't jump in. No idea why.

[josiejoe]

I think saying she is enjoying it would be pushing it. She doesn't whine or pant excessively seem upset. She sits by the window and looks out.
It's the getting her in the car which is a challenge. On the upside, she has no problem being left at home-happy to get in her crate when I go out for errands. Happy to get in there at night. A really different experience than my past dogs.

How do you get Bean in the car-do you pick Bean up ? I am dealing with Josie just collapsing also-total dead weight. Any ideas about that?
I do know I will plan ahead and go as slow as I can. Thx for your comments.

[SharonaZamboni]

I have to admit, I still pick him up! He doesn't seem fearful, he just stands still and won't get in. At least he's not full grown dead weight! Well, he sometimes gets in if I'm trying to clean the car or something...not when I want him to. Maybe if you hide some food under the seats and act like you're finding really cool treats? Exclaiming really squeaky to yourself how awesome this hot dog slice is...
Bean just recently started to get out when I tell him to, but occasionally wants to stay in the car. He seems to think it's a giant mobile crate. If he's sleepy and comfortable, less likely to get out without prompting.

Is Josie 18 weeks or 18 months? I've gotten a bit confused.

[SharonaZamboni]

Oh- is the car always in the garage when you try? Maybe the smells are intimidating? My car's always outside.

[dek]

Koivu also won't get in the car by himself. For awhile I was having similar problem with him not wanting to go into the garage, but it's a bit better now. No magic trick, just kept doing it. I put his harness on in the house and then walk him to the garage door. For a while I was having to crouch down to get him to come to me to be petted and then moving further and further.
As for getting him in the car, he now puts his front feet up and I lift his hindquarters. He has not done the collapse on the garage floor bit, but he has done that in the house and to be honest I just lifted part of him up until he got up and then marched him to the door. I also half dragged him a couple times - I know it wasn't the best method, but if he wasn't responding to the niceness and I needed to get to work......he's 80 lbs, too big for me to carry.
Not sure why our dogs don't run and jump into the car like the other dogs Mine always ends up at someplace nice when he gets in (dogpark, swimming, daycare etc). As I said, he has gotten better, but it's still a bit of a slow, thoughtful, walk to the car.

[Belles mom]

Try moving the car outside of the garage, garages can really stink to a dog. Also, try opening up all the doors of the car, so that it is not quite such an enclosed space. If she has elbow issues, maybe it is uncomfortable for her to jump in? What kind of car (low to the ground or a truck/van)? Can you call the breeder and she if she had any issues witht eh dog getting into a car?

[josiejoe]

Progress report-Josie 18 months
This Am I fed Josie in the garage -We came strolling briskly through the open garage door right after a walk. There was her food bowl in the garage!! She was surprised but it didn't stop her from eating. Tonight she followed me out there while I was carrying her bowl. She finished a handful of kibble and water in the garage again. I sat down and just watched her. Afterward she sniffed around the garage a bit. YEAH!

Today Josie played with another lab in a big yard and walked through downtown-farmer's market, restaurants, kids, wheel chairs and lots of traffic with 2 other experienced and trained labs. She did really well for a dog right off the farm so to speak. Lots of experiences today.

So today in order to have all that fun, I lifted her into the car 3x. UGH. All times the car was outside rather than in the garage. As we neared the car, she collapsed on the ground and I picked her up to get in the car. However, it seemed that by the 3rd time, she was scrambling in herself rather than being completely dead weight.
Or maybe I was numb? Tomorrow's goal: food bowl on the floor in the car. Any additional ideas welcome.
Thank you