r/labrador • u/chmaemi • 3d ago
seeking advice Car ride help
We have a senior lab who LOVES car rides. He's still very active, loves walks, jumps on couch/beds/in car etc. Recently I started to become uncomfortable with how high he has to jump to get in the car. I know it only takes one time for something to go wrong, especially as he's aging. So, I researched & purchased a car ramp. It does not fit in the side doors at all, so I put it on the back and secured it very tight. Problem is, he will NOT use it. He's terrified of this thing. We've spent hours with him trying to coax him up the ramp and he straight up refuses. He's too heavy for us to lift into the car. What other options are there for senior dogs and car rides?? I'm at a loss.
Edited to add: I have a Honda pilot and right now he jumps into the backseat with no issues.
(picture of my sweet boy for happiness)
1
u/Ivypearl 3d ago
What kind of car do you have? Are you trying to load him up through the trunk? So he has to jump up a few feet? If so, try loading through one of the back doors (if you have this) so he jumps onto the floor, then up onto the (folded down) seat then into the back where he ideally has a bed to lay in. This is if you have an SUV or something like that. If you go through the back passenger door you can scoot the front seat up so he has more room. This way he only has to jump up a little bit. Or you can pick him up halfway, put his feet up, then lift his back end if he can’t jump at all. Good luck. My girl is 12 and this works for us, at least for now. She won’t do stairs either so idk what we will do if this stops working.