We have a golden retriever who is a year and a half old. She refuses to get in our camper. She will jump in our truck and car. She loves to jump on furniture even though she's not allowed to. Jumping is obviously not the issue. We have tried treats and toys to coax her in with no luck. We haven't tried picking her up because I don't want to scare her. I think she's afraid of the steps. Any ideas to get her in?

Have you tried a ramp? Once she's no longer afraid of the camper she should just walk into the camper (or sit and whine once you start packing :B).

Open steps can be scary for dogs because they don't see exactly like we do or understand the gaps in the back. Covering the steps with a carpet runner may help. Or working with a trainer that teaches agility.

If she likes her food just start feeding her in there. If she won't go in for her food just pick her up and set her down by her bowl. Easy as that before too long she will just climb in there and happily. That's the way they teach horses to get into the trailer. Just start feeding them inside they go in readily after a while.

I think you are right about the steps. What if you put an old carpet runner down the steps at home and have her go in and out on that with treats and fun inside when she gets in. As she gets use to it, move the carpet down a step at a time. Just a thought.

used a carpet runner for our old lab so that she wouldn't slip thru the steps. bunged then on we also have one then folds out of the rear door of our F350 extended cab so she didn't get caught on the running board

Scaredy Dog | Good Sam Community

K_Charles
Explorer
Feb 24, 2014
It could be no riser on the steps but it may be just the holes in the step. Try putting a welcome mat on each step. If that works they sell carpet for the step with hooks to secure them.
lucy6194
Explorer
Feb 24, 2014
used a carpet runner for our old lab so that she wouldn't slip thru the steps. bunged then on we also have one then folds out of the rear door of our F350 extended cab so she didn't get caught on the running board
Reader1
Explorer
Feb 24, 2014
I think you are right about the steps. What if you put an old carpet runner down the steps at home and have her go in and out on that with treats and fun inside when she gets in. As she gets use to it, move the carpet down a step at a time. Just a thought.
diazr2
Explorer
Feb 24, 2014
If she likes her food just start feeding her in there. If she won't go in for her food just pick her up and set her down by her bowl. Easy as that before too long she will just climb in there and happily. That's the way they teach horses to get into the trailer. Just start feeding them inside they go in readily after a while.
Code2High
Explorer
Feb 24, 2014
Open steps can be scary for dogs because they don't see exactly like we do or understand the gaps in the back. Covering the steps with a carpet runner may help. Or working with a trainer that teaches agility.
Greyghost
Explorer
Feb 24, 2014
Have you tried a ramp? Once she's no longer afraid of the camper she should just walk into the camper (or sit and whine once you start packing :B).

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