New Crate For The Car

[whippetwise]

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It was Lucys 2nd birthday on wednesday. One of her presents was a crate for the car. Yes I have been naughty and been travelling with her just sitting on the back seat up untill now :b I thought it was about time I got one for her, so I set it up in the house and put a blanket in it and a few treats and she went in no problem ate the treats and came out. Then in order for me to put it in the car I had to dismantle it again as it wouldnt fit through the car door! Its just a little nissan micra so no room in the boot for it. I fastened it on the rear seat with the seat belts and it fits fine there. Put the treats in again and tried to get her to jump in. Nope not a chance after a lot of gentle persuasion she still wasnt budging. I picked her up and put her in but I could tell she was scared so I let her back out again and didnt drive her anywhere in it. She is used to crates as she has two massive ones in the house. This one is smaller but on the box it says its fine size for a whippet. So I cant get her to jump in the car anymore. Should I lift her in and just drive? I dont want her to have any negative associations with it and would really prefer if she went in herself. Any suggestions?

 

[Nicola]

It was Lucys 2nd birthday on wednesday. One of her presents was a crate for the car. Yes I have been naughty and been travelling with her just sitting on the back seat up untill now :b I thought it was about time I got one for her, so I set it up in the house and put a blanket in it and a few treats and she went in no problem ate the treats and came out. Then in order for me to put it in the car I had to dismantle it again as it wouldnt fit through the car door! Its just a little nissan micra so no room in the boot for it. I fastened it on the rear seat with the seat belts and it fits fine there. Put the treats in again and tried to get her to jump in. Nope not a chance after a lot of gentle persuasion she still wasnt budging. I picked her up and put her in but I could tell she was scared so I let her back out again and didnt drive her anywhere in it. She is used to crates as she has two massive ones in the house. This one is smaller but on the box it says its fine size for a whippet. So I cant get her to jump in the car anymore. Should I lift her in and just drive? I dont want her to have any negative associations with it and would really prefer if she went in herself. Any suggestions?

Is it pushed back far enough so she can jump onto the seat first and then get into the cage? Fred won't leap straight into his soft cage in the back of my car, he has to have room to do it in two easy steps. She's bound to be a bit dubious at first. I'd maybe lift her in the first few times, don't make a fuss, but reward her each time with a nice walk at the end of it. In that way she'll soon work out that it's really quite a good thing to get into her cage. Then encourage her to manage it by herself. Small steps at a time, Rome wasn't built in a day.

 

[Rosie]

I have Skye who used to refuse to jump in the car due to travel sickness associations so my advice would be to do little and often, going back to basics. She may simply be unsure whether she can pyhsically manage to jump up so I would lift her for now camly like it is no big deal, sit with her and give treats until she is happy. Do this several times , ideally a few times each day over a few days. Then when she is calmly settling in the cage go on a very short journey, two minutes is fine or if you have a park close by drive to it then have a lovely walk or play and come home.

You may find she is happy jumping out of the cage to start with then will become confident about jumping up in once she associates it with good things but be lead by her don't force it. She has to become used to the cage in the new environment.

This has worked for me and Skye she now happily jumps in and out but this is just my humble oppinion. My other advice would be to watch your own reaction - don't show any anxiety as she will get used to it in time and Lucy will be anxious if you are!

:luck: :luck: Hope you get some more advice too from other people )

 

[whippetwise]

Thanks guys, as I am off today and the sun was out, I decided to take lucy off for a run so I just lifted her in and gave her some treats. When we got there she hopped out and when it was time to go home she hopped back into the cage no problem! :lol: She must have just been a bit unsure but now she has done it once I am sure she will do it again.