Dotty does not like getting into the car. She hates (and strongly resists) getting out of the car.
This is a problem when, say, we need to go to the vet or to training class, as it would be with any pup. But as a service-dog-in-training, Dotty simply goes more places than most dogs — and she needs to get used to getting in and out of all kinds of vehicles.
When I trained young service dog puppies, long ago, we took them on field trips in a minivan. We had a folding ramp that they walked up and down to get in and out of the van, where they rode in sturdy crates.
I have a Forester, and the dogs ride in the back seat. Getting in and out requires either a big jump onto the seat 0r, preferably, two smaller jumps — one into the passenger foot space, and then from there onto the seat.
Orly learned quickly (from Cali) how to do all of this, and we never had an issue getting her in or out of the car.
Dotty has learned a lot from Orly … but not this. Despite watching Orly get in and out of the car dozens (maybe hundreds) of times. Treats aren’t helping either.
So I bought her some steps. The ramps I saw for sale were too long to be usable either in my narrow driveway or when parking in a parking lot with only a foot or two between cars. They are also often too wide to use at a passenger side door. But these little steps fit.
They’re plastic and sturdy enough to support a much larger dog than Dotty is (at the moment), but they can move if the dog jumps too enthusiastically. I hold them in place with a foot. Orly doesn’t mind the movement. Dotty… does.
(You may remember, though, that Dotty was not eager to use regular steps … the solid kind that are inside the house … especially the ones going down.)
Orly figured it out immediately and eagerly showed Dotty how to bound up and down, in and out. Dotty wanted nothing to do with these steps, not even with our top-rated treats.
We moved to the basement and practiced going up and down the steps to get on and off the TV sofa, the only furniture Dotty is allowed on. She caught on pretty fast, with the help of some yummy treats.
We moved to the deck. Orly again demoed quite enthusiastically.
Dotty grudgingly tried (treats definitely helped here)… survived … tried a few more times. Seemed comfortable enough.
Back to the car. She went in. Progress!
But that was it. Dotty did her usual lie down refusal to even consider getting out.
Orly bounded in and out a few more times, showing off her ability and confidence — and making a big deal out of gobbling her treat rewards.
Unmoved, Dotty turned her back on us and lay down even harder, if that’s even possible.
We went to training class, where Glenn, our trainer, helped all the dogs go in and out of his minivan using stairs very similar to ours. And a ramp. Dotty did both. She even seemed to like the ramp.
Back to the Forester. She got in, no problem. I coaxed her off the back seat and she — miracle — climbed down the steps and out of the car!
Once.
Climbed back in and did the hard lie-down. Dared me to try to get her out.
We drove home and … that was it. She was done. Not gonna get out.
I did my usual — picked her up and lifted her out. All almost-40-pounds of her. I cannot keep doing this.
We’ll see who wins this battle. My money is on Dotty, which will present quite a conundrum if she gets any bigger.
