dog training: March 2011 Archives

This may be one for the Dog Whisperer. But if any of our readers have any suggestions, I'm all ears.

Cowboy, my border collie-Australian shepherd mix (about 5 years old), has very recently begun balking at jumping into the back cargo area of my Jeep Liberty.



Worried that he was developing some kind of hip or back problem, I took him to my vet. The X-rays and blood work all came back normal. His back, hips, knees are all just fine (and when he does finally make the jump into the car, he does so with ease).

So. The vet said it must be "behavioral."

My first course of action was clearing out the cargo area as much as possible. Maybe some of the "stuff" was making him nervous (especially a baby gate I'd recently used as a makeshift barricade between the front seats and the cargo area). 

I've tried giving him a choice of doors, putting the seats up, putting the seats down. But he's continued to balk -- a couple times I've even resorted, after 10 minutes of unsuccessful pleading, to getting a friend at the dog park to help me just lift him into the car (I take the front, she takes the back).

I've tried putting his front paws up onto the folded down seat, but he strongly resists this and I'm afraid I'm only spooking him more by physically forcing the issue.

Cowboy loves riding in the car, which usually ends in a destination and activity he enjoys -- a hike on the Peninsula or a romp at the the dog park, the dog beach or a rare excursion to the snow in the mountains.

He's a rescue and has always been on the timid side. This issue has cropped up so recently, I just can't figure out what's going on in his complex doggie mind. My next strategy is to use some very high-end treats.

Any other thoughts?? Once he's in the car, he's just fine. Have any of you encountered something like this with your dogs?

Spring is coming, a time of new beginnings.

So how about joining a dog obedience class with your pooch?

These classes are invaluable in providing a good bonding experience between dog and owner -- but also for getting some of those basic skills down. The groups are usually small enough that personal help is always available from the instructors; they're held at local parks so you can get out in the sunshine.

Need more reasons? They're really a lot of fun.

The Lomita Obedience Training Club offers classes for dogs and owners at all levels, from beginning obedience to advanced workshops. If you want to have some fun -- and your dog has had beginning obedience and knows the fundamentals -- how about learning how to get your dog to do some tricks to music?

Most classes meet on Tuesday nights, with a couple offerings on Wednesday mornings, beginning this week (March 8 and 9). The class sessions last for six to seven weeks and cost $70 through the Lomita city recreation and parks department.

Click here for the class schedule. Signups (cash or check only)  are in the office at Lomita Park, 24428 Eshelman Ave., Lomita, which also is where the classes meet. If you can't sign up this time, new sessions will begin in May again.

There are descriptions of all the classes on the website also.

Questions? Call 310-530-4814.