Any tips about getting a dog into a motorhome, she won't go up the dog ramp, so we needn't take that, she CAN jump in & out easily with the electric steps closed, tempted by treats tossed inside, (We tested that at home on our drive) but sometimes she absolutely refuses to jump in, tries to dive underneath instead. She is always on a retractable lead. We have a rear door. We have just taken her on her first camping trip. We had to do the trip home without a Service Station break, as we couldn't guarantee we could get her to get back in.
Dogs generally do not like to 'jump' into a vehicle or out for that matter.
What breed of dog is it?
A large dog has to put in a lot of effort to go from standing still to jumping and once in the air needs space to pull up. Try it yourself and you will know what I mean. It is worse for a male dog, than a female.
You say you have a ramp, and she will not use it. Has she ever had a ramp previously?. Try putting the ramp at the bottom stair at home (If she is allowed up stairs) or at the front door step or back door step. They may only be small steps, but small steps have to be taken to get animals used to ramps. You could use that ramp flat on the floor to get her used to it, then raise it, and so on and so on. Don't give up on her, she may be a very sickly traveller. Make short rides out with her in the car, with a nice park at the end of it. There really is a way I am sure.
Our rescue doesn't like the steps up or down, sometimes has to be lifted in. She travels in a Fiamma collapsible dog crate as she hates the vehicle engine noise & movement, with the door open. (We have to loop it to a bed leg as she goes to the far end & can tip it up.) She stays on a long loose lead which is hooked onto the handle near the back door. When the engine turns off, she leaps out with great excitement but can't get to us in the front seats. She will jump out (safely attached to the lead) when we open the back door. We have a huge D-loop attached under the MH and she gets hooked onto that if we're outside.
I think that after a few trips, your dog will settle, knowing something enjoyable will happen. Walk her before you travel & when you arrive.
PS - our dog training class advised very strongly against retractable leads. You can't control the dog well enough, too much leeway.
Austins - She is a Red Kelpie, (or Wolf hybrid ?) 3yr old, a rescue from Romania, but been in the UK for 2 yrs with an owner who had to give her back to the Rescue Org. because of owners health problems. She is VERY good in the car, straight in the back seat, No Problem !
She is big enough then. I bet it is a weight thing with her. Those dog are used on farms, and they will run until they drop.
Do you have a built in electric step? If so, disregard it for a while and buy a caravan step. They can be bought as a single step or a double step. Measure the height of you van floor from the ground, and go measure both a single and double to make entry via either 2 steps (The single)or 3 steps (the double) for both you and her.
We never use our electric step, one of us is a vertigo sufferer. Things that move under foot are not good. We always use the double caravan step. It is strong, does not move and they are cheap. Try it, take it slowly, with one of you going straight in, ( and maybe coming straight out again) followed by the other with the dog on a short lead, don't pull her, don't scald her, just try it again later. IF she has more of a connection with just one of you, make that one the first to go in, and not come out for some time, then go in again, talk all the time, and I do not think it will be long and she will be jumping up and down to get into the van. Reward good attempts only. But do not stop praise, cuddles etc.
Good luck, and be patient.
Our dog is a rescue, Yorkie, and he absolutely loves the MH. Once it's outside and the door is open he will jump in, with or without a step, assume his usual position and refuse to get out. Whenever he sees it he thinks it's holiday time again.
Yep, our Collie (so intelligent) will only enter the back of our truck from the drivers side, if you take him to the passenger side he refuses to get in point blank
I'm no expert, but I had a camping auntie, who refused to step foot in a motorhome... or caravan for that matter... as every time she had done so previously, she'd injure herself! She'd bang her head/elbow/knee (delete as applicable) on cupboards/tables/wardrobes (delete as applicable), or some other form of fixed solid furniture or other! She stubbed her toe once, on the edging strip where the polished hardwood kitchen floor changed to the thick lush lounge carpet! She is also known to have fallen from a top bunk, but hey, you know what aunties can be like after the odd schooner of Emva Cream, so I don't think the motoehome was to blame, on that occasion!!
So here's my thought... take it as you see fit... or don't take it at all...that's your prerogative...
We have been rescuing Spaniels now for approx. 30 years and they are all different.
In each and every one of the 8 cases we have adopted, we have spent a very long time letting them to get to know us and never forcing them to do anything.
We always find ways of getting them to be excited about doing anything, rewarding them with a little treat whenever they do anything immediately after a command.
As for getting them to become used to, or rather excited about going into either our caravans or motorhomes we made it something that they always get super excited about to such an extent that just as soon as the doors are opened they all want to jump inside.
------------- There is a great World to be found out there, but by the very day, to find where it is becomes more of a challenge!
We just got a camper and our 17 year old lab refused to get in it at first. She tackles stairs and the car with no issue. We indeed bought a sturdy caravan step with a rubber top which helped enormously. It took time maybe 3 trips to understand how it worked. She now loves it and although needs help to come down the step as old, she got very used to it and has her places in the van. Tail wags when she sees us packing the van.
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Topic: New, Nervous Rescue Dog
