Working on the car

Jack's been with us a whole month now, and we're getting used to him. We're both getting a lot more exercise walking him.

He really needs the exercise, and we want to take him on longer hikes or to dog parks, but we've got one problem...... He's afraid of getting into the car. When we try to get him in, he stops about six feet from the car, braces his feet and refuses to budge. We call, we cajol, but it's no good. When I took him to the vet to get his stitches out, I had to pick him up and shove him in - and I know he didn't like that.

I didn't want it to turn into a problem, so we abandoned any short-term car trips and researched how to train him out of his fear.

So first I just spent time walking him around the car, getting him close to it. Then opening the doors and walking him close to it. Gradually getting him to feel comfortable, but never forcing him.

Each weekend, we work on it. Getting him to come right to the door, and giving him a treat. Putting the treat on the tailgate so he'll approach and take the treat.

For the most tempting treats, we use turkey hot-dogs, cut into small pieces.

All the books say to be patient - go at his speed, don't rush him, always praise him. Last weekend, he was finally willing to put his head and shoulders inside to take the treat. This morning I got him to put his front paws on the tailgate and reach further inside.

This afternoon we were working on it some more. I put the treat just inside the tailgate. Then another one six inches further inside. Then another six inches, and all the way back.

[The Man I Love] had the camera and photographed the action. Jack got pretty comfortable going for the treats, but the sticking point seemed to be getting his back feet inside the car - making the leap.


I sat in the car, and fed him a treat from my hand. Then I arranged the last of the treats in a line on the floor beside me. He came up again for the easy ones.


It's that final moment of committment, I thought. He's just not ready yet. Then Jack stepped back...


And leapt! He was all the way in the car!


I gave him lots of pats and the final treat in my hand.


He quickly jumped back out, but what a great breakthrough! We'll work on it some more tomorrow.