Hello all, My German shepherd is getting older and has a lot of trouble jumping into…

Hello all,
My German shepherd is getting older and has a lot of trouble jumping into the back of the car now. Friends of ours have been lovely enough to loan us a ramp for him. While I have been able to train this dog to do tons of things, I am having a hard time teaching him to use the ramp, and I can’t figure a way to make this work. So far I have used treat rewards for each time he puts his front paws onto the ramp, I have had our other dog Dierks go up and down it to show him, I myself have also gone up and down the ramp to show Butch. I have also tried lining the treats up the ramp in an effort to get him to follow his nose. Lastly, I have laid thenramp flat on the ground and tried to get him to walk on it… all of this to no avail. We have been working at it for about a week now. I never go more than 10 minutes at a time and I always end our little ramp session with something I know he can already do so that it ends on a happy note. Any and all suggestions on how to help him understand the concept of the ramp would be greatly appreciated!!?

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Anonymous
Anonymous
7 years ago

Dr. M said everything I would have said. The combination of a strange surface AND a weird way to get into the car can be very confusing. Introducing it as a flat surface first, then working up to an incline is the best way to help your dog gain confidence with the new device.

Krista Magnifico
7 years ago

Hello my dear Pawbly friend. Ok. Here’s my advice from my experience. Start with just the ramp. Put it on the floor in a high traffic area. The goal is to see if he will use it on a flat surface. If he uses it on the floor it isn’t the ramp that’s the issue it’s the incline, or the flexibility (some are flimsy and cause anxiety), or it’s the transition from floor/ground to floorbed. my experience is that most dogs hate the surface feel. So then try to add a carpet strip to add better traction. If he will… Read more »