I got a ton of messages this week asking me to share Red’s training for the car ramp he now needs, he can’t jump  up because of his back.

I see lots of people are trying to make it easier for dogs to get into cars. Lots of people are having trouble. I hope I can help. I’m  having trouble too.

I’m happy to oblige, I love training dogs, writing about training dogs,  and figuring out how to do it myself. I will share my mistakes and triumphs, as always.

With a dog like Red, I know I will get there, he and I have been working together for six or seven years, we trust  each other and know one another. I have confidence in him, and he has confidence in me. He knows I won’t hurt him.

When I put the ramp up, Bud came running over and ran up the ramp like a rabbit. Fate jump up on the ramp sideways and then – ever the agility whiz – turned in the air and landed on the seat.

Some dogs just do it, some dogs just don’t. Training for ramps is sensitive stuff, because we are asking our dogs in some cases – like Red – to do something that is completely unnatural for him, even dangerous in his eyes.

Red, like many large and grounded working dogs, was terrified of the ramp, he did not recognize  it as anything to do with the earth, or something he could walk up. His whole life he has run and moved on earth, he trembles at the sight of linoleum floors.

We had considerable success today (see the photo) but have much more work to do.

First, I have to get my head straight when we do this. I have to be calm, patient and clear. I have to engage Red without frightening him. The first task was to get him familiar with the ramp, in the same way that I got him comfortable with my camera.

The idea is to be persistent and patient but not frustrated, angry or tense. That will make the dog crazy.

I put the ramp flat on the ground, threw some treats on it. Red approached it cautiously, sniffing it, catching the smell, exploring the feel of it.

We walked around a bit, I tossed him some treats. No big deal.

I left the ramp out on the grass for a couple of days. Today, I pushed it a little further.

I took Red out (I made sure he saw Bud and Fate use it several times). He wanted no part of it, was confused and wary. I leaned and lifted him up gently by the shoulders – he was quite stiff and tense – and just placed him on the bottom of the ramp, close enough to the ground to keep him safe.

I didn’t use a leash, I wanted him to come to the bottom of the ramp of his own free will, not to get tugged or pulled there. Maria got into the car on the other side and called to  him, softly and reassuringly.

I put my hand on his shoulders to steady him and said “ssssh, stay,” and repeated that, rubbing his shoulders, staying close to him for comfort.

Then I stepped back and let him stand there on his own. A big moment, he would either jump back and hold his ground, I wanted him to feel the support beneath his feet.

He did that,  but was not at ease. I came forward, rubbed his shoulders and said in my high training voice, “up, Red, up” and ai patted the seat. Red just lunged forward and then  rushed up onto the seat where Maria and I both praised him and gave him some treats.

He was proud of this, wagging his tail, looking at me for approval. He got it. Red lives to please. Most dogs do, even those who are afraid of ramps.

Then, I took the ramp down, had him jump down and put the ramp away. Enough for one day.

I can’t take videos of this training, as I am doing it and want to concentrate. I’ll try again tomorrow afternoon, and then again Sunday. Same ritual, one time only. He did it, but he wasn’t happy about it.

I want him to be happy about it. I’ll keep sharing, hope this helps.