Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I think I have tried everything. I adopted him (10mo neut labx) last month and owner had only taken him in a car once or twice. I started out slowly, rewarding him for getting in car and going for very short rides to a dog park. Then he started not wanting to get in so I started giving him treats in the car every day but not going anywhere. This all was working until last week when we went to vet and he refused to get in to come home. I pulled my back out trying to get him to put front feet up on car and trying to lure with treat, didn't work and someone had to physically put him in.Since then he flat out refuses to go in car even when I made him wait all day for dinner yesterday and tried to feed him in car. Today had to go to obedience class (which he loves) and husband had to physically lift him into car so I sat in back with dog. After class he knew he was going in car and refused to walk out of building so almost had to drag him to car and then hubby got him in. I am so depressed about this as he is such a sweet boy in other ways
Brit

>>I think I have tried everything. I adopted him (10mo neut labx) last month and owner had only taken him in a car once or twice. I started out slowly, rewarding him for getting in car and going for very short rides to a dog park. Then he started not wanting to get in so I started giving him treats in the car every day but not going anywhere. This all was working until last week when we went to vet and he refused to get in to come home. I pulled my back out trying to get him to put front feet up on car and trying to lure with treat, didn't work and someone had to physically put him in.Since then he flat out refuses to go in car even when I made him wait all day for dinner yesterday and tried to feed him in car. Today had to go to obedience class (which he loves) and husband had to physically lift him into car so I sat in back with dog. After class he knew he was going in car and refused to walk out of building so almost had to drag him to car and then hubby got him in. I am so depressed about this as he is such a sweet boy in other ways
>>Brit

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My article on Car Rides and the other one on Fear at the link below my signature gives ways to work on this. Possibly your dog will also need anti-anxiety medication. Don't make medication a "last resort." The sooner you get him relaxed about this, the better for him in every way. But it's about how he feels, and you can't force it.
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series articles at http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=SRC&S=1&SourceID=47

I would have suggested what you've already been doing: short rides to fun places and treats. It's hard to deal with fear, and Kathy's suggestion of medication might be what you need for your dog. I had a squeak toy that worked well even when treats did not. I also would suggest giving treats when you walk by the car, putting a treat on the seat and letting your dog get it (without having to get in the car), and inviting your dog to get in when you don't have to go anyplace (then you're not anxious and won't have to physically put your dog in). Good luck!