Scaredy Dog

[Bobsgirl]

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?

[Code2High]

They aren't wrong to be careful of stuff with holes in it.... floor vents and also the holes that some rv steps have can catch and break.... painfully... a dog's toenail.

[Bobsgirl]

We're going to try covering the steps first and then, if necessary, we'll get a ramp. I know she'll love it if we can ever get her in there!

[doxiemom11]

Same here, our dogs do not like the open rv steps. Besides the open back, they don't get any traction on the metal steps. Covering them to change the surface and to close the backs usually helps.

[Cuffs054]

Had a similar problem with our "Big Stoop" she would go right into the camper but would not cross over the floor heating vent to get to the bed. She would just whine. Put a throw rug over the vent and bingo! Now she's ok with the vent but it took a while. I think the thoughts on the entry stairs sound like good advice.

[colliehauler]

Deb and Ed M wrote:

lucy6194 wrote:
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

I did something similar on our 5er with a scrap of astroturf. Held it in place with 4 small spring clamps. My elderly (mostly-blind) Cattle Dog is unstable on regular stairs to begin with, and I didn't want him getting a leg caught. Since it was just a piece of astroturf, I also put a line of white duct tape at the edge of each step to help him see where to step. Seemed to work; and the 2 younger dogs are more comfy without the open risers, too.

Dogs don't like the open steps.

[Deb_and_Ed_M]

lucy6194 wrote:
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

I did something similar on our 5er with a scrap of astroturf. Held it in place with 4 small spring clamps. My elderly (mostly-blind) Cattle Dog is unstable on regular stairs to begin with, and I didn't want him getting a leg caught. Since it was just a piece of astroturf, I also put a line of white duct tape at the edge of each step to help him see where to step. Seemed to work; and the 2 younger dogs are more comfy without the open risers, too.

[Murphsmom]

We use a ramp for our two dogs. The old Golden has always been afraid of open steps and the higher ones on the new Cougar bothered him a lot. Our Lab is a Tripawd (lost one of his back legs due to an accident), and he doesn't do as well on stairs as he used to. We ordered the ramp from Costco online, and it works great, both for getting in and out of the trailer and for loading into the car/pickup. Neither of them can jump into the TV any more, and they are too heavy to lift in.

[Merrykalia]

Our lab REFUSED to go up the steps of our fifth wheel. I put a rug runner over the steps and he would go up with no problem. As he got bigger, he just started jumping directly into the fifth wheel and not using the steps going in. Coming out was no problem since he didn't have to see the open steps.

I got the runner at Dollar General for $5.00, so it was not too expensive.

[I_am_still_wayn]

It is the open steps. As previously suggested, cover them with a runner. Then use high value treats and place the a treat on the lowest step. Repeat the process until she is very comfortable going close to the steps. Then place treat on next step until she is very comfortable with the second step. Hopefully she will place her paws on the lowest step to get to the treat. Then with the next step where she will definitely place her paws on a step to get the treat. Continue until a treat is in the camper. make this a fun and happy game with lots of praise.

My lab was that way. She was terrified of the open steps, but I made a runner of outdoor carpet from Lowe's and fastened with bungie cords. No more problem.

[edbehnke]

pick her up and put her in....go from there. she'll learn.

[K_Charles]

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]

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]

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]

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.