Hi
I just wanted to know whether any of you have good experience of puppies growing out of their car fear once they mature. I have a 5 month old flat coated retriever who is terrified of getting into the car (we have 2 cars, a larger 4 wheel drive and a smaller Honda Jazz. He will only get into the jazz, and that is with a really stressful performance
If I pick up the car keys, he runs to hide. It then involves cajoling,which fails (even with treat in hand), and then walking firmly with him on lead towards the car and having to virtually drag him the last two feet., then placing his paws on the boot and heaving his bottom in. At 3.5 stone he is too heavy for me to lift bodily.
He has never been sick while travelling, never shown any signs (drooling, nervous licking of lips etc) and when we get to our destination ( usually a lovely walk in the woods or to socialise with other dogs), he bounces out and jumps around wagging his tail, raring to go. I then have to repeat the whole sorry performance at the end of the walk.
From an early age I have tried all the advice - feeding him in the car, sitting in with him with no engine running, then engine running, then driving a short distance.
He is in boot with dog guard as tried harness on back seat but he refused to sit down and kept slipping off seat and unable to get back up again - too distracting while driving.
I am using DAP spray and that has helped a little but it is still a painful experience instead of really looking forward to walking somewhere nice.
Please tell me he will grow out of this phobia?!