Dog Afraid of my Truck

[altermetoday]

One of my border collies is terrified of getting in my truck. She’s never been a fan of riding loose in my suv, but loves her crate and willingly gets in to go places. I’ve had her in the truck beforw but she’s always been afraid.

This morning I thought it would be fun to take both dogs in truck to get hay. She really tried to run away and if the collar hadn’t been snug would have slipped it. She dragged me to front door so I did not press it because I was on a time schedule.

Thoughts on whether its worth trying to overcome? I have two vehicles…I don’t know if its just my old drafty truck or all trucks. But I think its the noise and the visual of seeing whats happening so front and center. I feel like I just need to make sure she’s always crated but in the event of an emergency there might be a need for her to get in a vehicle loose. I could see her being a flight risk if someone didn’t know and she got away from them. She is a 6 year old border collie.

I think I could definitely lure her into a vehicle loose with food and do all the things to create positive experiences but I’m not sure she will ever overcome the truck thing. Crates are her friend tho.

Has anyone experienced this before? Thought or suggestions welcome

[OzarksRider]

Three years ago we took in a stray who was terrified to get in any vehicle. I got her over it by taking small steps. At first I just sat in the back seat with her and fed her treats, leaving the door open. When she was ok with that, I sat next to her with the door closed. Then I taught her to load in the car without me and always rewarded with a treat. Next we took short trips with my husband driving and me in the back with her. Then I started taking her to obedience classes and the pet store where employees made a big fuss over her and fed her treats. She learned that car trips can result in something fun, and pretty soon she looked forward to rides. I had to go through this whole process again with the truck and then the farm utility vehicle, but now she loves to ride with me wherever I go.

Yes, I think it’s worthwhile to teach her to overcome her fear. She would have a lot more fun in life if she could accompany you on your adventures.

[altermetoday]

@OzarksRider

Three years ago we took in a stray who was terrified to get in any vehicle. I got her over it by taking small steps. At first I just sat in the back seat with her and fed her treats, leaving the door open. When she was ok with that, I sat next to her with the door closed. Then I taught her to load in the car without me and always rewarded with a treat. Next we took short trips with my husband driving and me in the back with her. Then I started taking her to obedience classes and the pet store where employees made a big fuss over her and fed her treats. She learned that car trips can result in something fun, and pretty soon she looked forward to rides. I had to go through this whole process again with the truck and then the farm utility vehicle, but now she loves to ride with me wherever I go.

Yes, I think it’s worthwhile to teach her to overcome her fear. She would have a lot more fun in life if she could accompany you on your adventures.

She accompanies me everywhere… as long as I take the suv with her crate. She does agility, disc and travels with me to competitions and vacations and the local feed stores where she gets treats.

She just is petrified of the truck… my truck is 25 years old and is not a smooth ride so I’m not sure if the noises is the issue or being loose and seeing the world come at her or what. These days I only drive the truck to get hay, go to the landfill or recycling center or some rare other farm duties so it is not like she misses out that much.

I’m just not sure its worth trying at this point?

[Warmblood1]

If she is okay with the other vehicle, I think it’s worth a try.

Can you work up to feeding her her meals in the truck every day? I realize it would take some dedication but food is such a wonderful motivator. If unwilling to eat in the truck at first, you can work up to eating in the truck.

[Bicoastal]

My male BC hates riding loose, too. There was a time where he didn’t want to get in the car at all and was miserable.

BCs are weird. Since she’s fine in the other vehicle, I would let the truck be. In an emergency, you’ll do what you have to do. She doesn’t enjoy riding in the truck and she doesn’t have to (since you have another vehicle), so why make her?

Sarah Stremming has talked about the car issue in a podcast, if you want to dig for it.

[endlessclimb]

My dog loves riding in my Jeep but HATES riding in my truck. I think it’s the exhaust sound on the truck, as she starts to act slinky even when it’s warming up in the driveway.

[altermetoday]

@Bicoastal

My male BC hates riding loose, too. There was a time where he didn’t want to get in the car at all and was miserable.

BCs are weird. Since she’s fine in the other vehicle, I would let the truck be. In an emergency, you’ll do what you have to do. She doesn’t enjoy riding in the truck and she doesn’t have to (since you have another vehicle), so why make her?

Sarah Stremming has talked about the car issue in a podcast, if you want to dig for it.

thanks… I’ll look for that… she’s cognitive canine, correct?

[altermetoday]

@Warmblood1

If she is okay with the other vehicle, I think it’s worth a try.

Can you work up to feeding her her meals in the truck every day? I realize it would take some dedication but food is such a wonderful motivator. If unwilling to eat in the truck at first, you can work up to eating in the truck.

Yes, I can try, but it will take a lot of effort to make sure she doesn’t escape me. I’m on the fence as to the value it brings… I could easily get her in another type of vehicle and she would be better I think than my truck.

[Bicoastal]

Yes, Sarah Stremming Cognitive Canine. My takeaway is “have to” vs “want to”.

If you strip away our perception that a dog should like car rides and ask does this dog want to? Does this dog have to? I think the answer gets clearer.

[altermetoday]

@Bicoastal

Yes, Sarah Stremming Cognitive Canine. My takeaway is “have to” vs “want to”.

If you strip away our perception that a dog should like car rides and ask does this dog want to? Does this dog have to? I think the answer gets clearer.

This dog does not have to… only in a dire emergency should she have to and it probably won’t happen to be honest as I’d end up getting a rental for my daily driver.

[Weezer]

My parents had a dog who got visibly carsick in trucks, but not in cars. We had a diesel and a gas truck and she got equally sick in both. She didn’t always vomit, but was always hesitant to get into trucks, and was often salivating in a rabid sort of way when she was in the truck.

As a passenger I get extremely carsick in certain vehicles, but not others. We haven’t been able to figure out the determining factors, but it makes me very sympathetic to your dog and I’d say just leave her at home while you take the other dog in the truck. In an emergency, or for a trip to the vet, maybe give her some gravol or a light sedative before putting her in the truck.