If you have a Labrador or golden retriever. Do you have to help lift them in to the Boot of your car?

[Bluegot]

Or do they jump? I know they may need help when they are older. But as young dogs. I am just trying to work out what’s it’s actually like owning a bigger dog and would really appreciate if anyone can help me

Just thinking I may not be strong enough to lift

My mum's lab won't get in on his own. Our two jump up but were lifted when they were little. If you're worried about lifting, be aware that they can be strong on the lead (if not trained to walk to heel )

My golden won't jump. I couldn't possibly lift him but we have taught him to put his front paws in the boot and from there you can just sort of lever his rear paws up. Mind you that's in my small car - DH bought a ramp to get him into his larger/higher car.

Re the strong on the lead point - I found a two point harness very helpful both in managing the pull and training him to stop doing it.

Jump (easier with a boot with a flat floor than a lip).

Older dogs you can get a ramp if necessary.

Wouldn't want bigger than a lab if you have stiles / fences to climb on walks as that is harder than getting into the car. Muddier too but labs are probably less muddy than smaller, lower to the ground dogs like collies and spaniels.

I've got a goldie and like pp I have to manoeuvre his paws and then lift his back end in. He's fine hopping out but refuses to jump in for some reason.

Ours can easily jump into a boot. They are healthy, active labradors who are 1. Not overweight 2. Taken regularly on shoots during the wintertime. As long as they are a regular weight and trained properly you should have no problem.

Our oldest one hasn't been able to jump since the age of 9/10 due to her age.

Most young dogs should be able to jump in - whether they want to or not is another matter, though

You can buy ramps to get bigger dogs into cars - they're a good idea to have, especially if they end up needing to go to the vets with an injury or need bringing home after surgery.

Older dogs will likely need help - so again, ramps are a good idea, or yo can lift them, but many dogs don't like being picked up, and if they suffer from arthritis or sore joints, all the lifting and manoeuvring could be pretty painful for them.

I would also (as PP said) make sure they're trained to walk well on a lead - a labrador who wants to run will easily pull you over

Thanks very much for the replies. Much appreciated.

Have a 2 year old black lab and a mini car. He easily and happily jumps in. He has elbow dysplasia however, which is being managed by YuMove tablets currently, and probably shouldn't jump out, but at the moment he and I are happy to let him.

I use a Halti lead to stop him pulling, works very well (although he loathes it with a passion).

Golden Retriever here. We always lift her in and out of the bigger car but she can hop into the Mini easily as it's almost level with a kerb. I don't let her go up/down the stairs either to protect her joints but she's 7 months and still a pup.

I have both. Both jump in my van easily. I will probably have to think about a ramp in the future for the Goldie once he gets older.

We have a Newfie and she jumps in now. Before she worked that out we had to use a ramp (lifting a 40kg dog is not easy). So now we have the ramp put aside for when she gets old.

Our lab is 12 and easily jumps in a high suv, however we lift her out as she has arthritis in her elbow so don't want her joint to take the strain of a jump down.
You can always but a ramp.

2 labs here, both jump up and down happily from my SUV -after all it’s lower than my bed 😳 . I tried a ramp for the older one but he ignored it. I have helped them with a boost or gentle lift down if they are injured.
Also use front-anchor padded harnesses. The older one walks beautifully on a collar but when I have both and it’s icy, the harness feels more secure and kinder on his neck.

@Bluegot

Or do they jump? I know they may need help when they are older. But as young dogs. I am just trying to work out what’s it’s actually like owning a bigger dog and would really appreciate if anyone can help me

Always had retrievers - because of future joint issues they shouldn't do any jumping in or out until their bones are fully grown 18 months or so. So teach them the paws in first, bum hoiked up by you, manoeuver. Some then are very good at jumping in, my current girl is 2 and a half and wee bit of a wuss, she is not keen on the jumping in thing - largely because she's last in and the two other little dogs are already in - so she prefers me to "supervise"

She's not a large GR, only 23 - 24kg and I don't find her heavy to hoik up, it's just a knack, if they co-operate they are not a dead weight, they clamber a bit and shift their weight to the front.

Our collie has to be lifted in as she doesn’t like it! Though once she’s in she’s actually good.

Our 11 year old Golden jumps into the back of my car, a Mondeo so quite high off the ground. She was poorly a couple of months back so had to be lifted in for a little while but has made a great recovery and to our amazement, started jumping in and out of the car boot again a few weeks ago. 🐾 ♥️🐾♥️

My six year old lab bounces in and out of my Landrover with absolute effortless ease. I wish I was half as fit.

Our 35kg heifer requires a boost into the back of our X3. Strangely, she is perfectly capable of soundlessly leaping a similar height onto our bed if she ever manages to sneak upstairs.

Mine jumps (Goldie), when she was little we had the ramp for our Bernard so if she ever stops we'll just go back to that.

My dog is not one of those breeds, but is a similar size and shape. He jumps in and out of the car himself. It's a larger, SUV type car but I chose one with a flat boot lip so it would be easier for him to jump, without out having to clear any additional height. I always keep a free hand to scoop him bottom in as every now and again he'll slip or miss - but that's mainly because we park in some weird places with uneven ground etc.

I could lift him, if needed, e.g. post vet sedation - but at 25kg he's about as heavy as I would like to have to lift!

I have a 85kg Great Dane. He jumps into the back of my SUV no problem. When he’s older and not able to I suppose I’ll get a ramp. My biggest concern is what if something happens to him whilst out walking and I can’t move him..

Jumping in and out of cars repetitively is really bad for the joints of dogs.
I now have a van. Used to use a ramp.

Jump! A young healthy Labrador has no problem jumping into a boot!!!!
Only if they are old or have health issues might they need a ramp to assist getting in which can be bought.

My DM has an elderly retriever and he needs lifting into and out of the car - he's tall but not overweight, I can lift him with ease and Mum with slightly less ease. He used to jump in and out but injured his cruciate ligament age 8 (not car-related) and has had to be lifted since.