I have a dog we got from the local shelter...a mixed breed. He is a good dog, but he has a stubborn streak.In the past we had a motorhome, but we sold it and now we have a travel trailer. We also have another smaller one that we adopted last year. She (Sadie) will hop right up the steps, but Cruiser refuses to go up the steps. We bought a ramp, which he also refuses to use. He will go up to the second of three steps, but no farther. If we try to pull him, he has a fit and ends up pulling out of his collar and leash. I have tried enticing him with treats, but nothing has worked. I don't know what to do.I will welcome any suggestions. Thanks

Carry him on inside a kennel ?It actually may not be "stubborn" on his part.It might be actual fear.He might hear or smell something he interprets as danger that humans don't notice.It also might remind him of a previous home where things were really BAD...like where he was beaten or starved.Alas, there might not BE a good solution.

Are the stairs 'open' ....holes in thread and open back?ramp.has Cruiser used a ramp before?We had to start using a ramp for our dog to get into truck.....she loved the truck but couldn't jump in any moreRamp ....wasn't having anything to do with that contraptionSo I laid it on the ground flat and using leash lead her back forth on/off never forcing just walking by it, around it, then on it ----standing then offRepeat couple times a day for couple daysThen set it up so she could use it to get into back seat of truck and voila---she was up/down it like she owned it.Stairs....had to carpet them so holes were covered.Was going to place flaps across open back if that didn't work but covering the holes up did the trick

patience just sit on the steps and play with him get him used to the area . takes time for him to get over his fear.

Pick him up and put him in as helping him up the steps he is scared of the movement of the stairs and the void between them.Once he sees it OK he will gradually do them

Thanks for the replies so quickly! The trailer has 3 steps..open. He has never used a ramp before, so I like the idea from Old-Biscuit about laying the ramp flat and having him walk on it that way.My husband has a truck and Cruiser will jump up in it just fine. I just think he is scared of this trailer and maybe not knowing what is in there. He had been picked up as a stray and so I don't know his history, but he has been "leery" of men since we got him. He will ride on the front seat with my husband in the truck, but any other time, he just shies away. I suspect he may have been mistreated in the past.Our Vet is the one who suggested the ramp...she also suggested putting his food in the trailer and see if that works.

Dog won't go into RV | Good Sam Community

GordonThree
Explorer
Jul 29, 2019
My lazy Malamute puppy will jump a six foot fence from standing still to see a friend but pretends she can't jump into the backseat of the truck. No fear or lack of ability just lazy.
twodownzero
Explorer
Jul 29, 2019
Dogs are scared of stairs until they aren't. Mine loves stairs now and will run up and down them. He's a fat little bulldog but now he can't resist climbing stairs every chance he gets.
lucy6194
Explorer
Jul 29, 2019
Fix for open stairs. Our dogs not afraid I am afraid they slip a paw or leg thru and get hurt. We bought a runner of indoor outdoor carpet. Put double side Velcro on top step and one end of runner then clipped bungy cord across each step. The rug not only helps dogs but helps keep dirt down as we remove and either shake off or vacuum.
Travlingman
Explorer II
Aug 04, 2019
Our previous dog had no problems with steps until we changed campers that went from 2 steps to 4. We couldn't figure out why. We transfered over the carpet from the 2 steps to the 4 but didn't have carpet on the first 2. When we put carpet on the first 2 steps so they are were covered too, she went right up them with no trouble. She didn't like the metal steps.
Sam_Spade
Explorer
Aug 04, 2019
Travlingman wrote:
She didn't like the metal steps.

I don't blame her. I don't like those old bridges with a metal mesh roadway either. :B

This is a good catch......and probably applies to any kind of step where you can look through it and see the ground.

Similar to "cattle grates" in use mainly out west.
maddog348
Explorer
Aug 05, 2019
Just think of those 'mile high' bridges with the GLASS walk ways. I'd need a lot more than liver treat to go out on that.

JM2¢ ~~ YMMV
MetalGator
Nomad
Aug 12, 2019
I have the same problem with one of my dogs. We used to have a travel trailer that was fairly close to the ground. It only had 2 steps and my dog would jump into the trailer, right over the stairs. Now we have a motor home that has 5 steps. He is petrified of the stairs and I have to carry him up and down the stairs. While I am holding him, he has the "death grip" on me. I don't know why he doesn't like the stairs. We have had him since he was a puppy so I know he has not had a bad experience with stairs in the past. Luckily he is only a little over 20lbs so he isn't too heavy to carry into the motor home. He loves being in the motor home.

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