Can’t get dog to jump in bed

I wanna start taking my dog more places, including off-roading. He has no trouble getting into the back seats for normal trips, but I feel he’d be safer in the bed during off-roading. He wouldn’t bounce around so much and be able to jump out during more technical driving.

When I beckon him into the bed he only places his front paws on the tailgate. I’ve tried treats and even built a ramp. All with no luck.

Any input would be appreciated

 

Just carry him onto the bed a couple of times and drive around. Make it fun for him so he knows it'll be fine. After a while, he will start jumping in on his own when you put the gate down.

 

Show him a treat, so he smells it, then make him watch you as you toss it into the bed. EDIT-you already tried treats-make the treat better like red meat or bacon

 

Also, I don't think it'll be safer for him in the back when offroading. If it's a bumpy ride, he aint gonna like it. At least in the cab, he isn't thrown around as much and don't bang his head everywhere.

 

The beds very slippery your going to wind up beating up your dog back there if your doing any kind of offroading.Jump out during technical driving??? C'mon man that's nuts your dog is going to get hurt or run over.

 

I have the oem bed mat that I think will help with that

Maybe so, I’d still like to have the option. He kinda acts scared of the bed

 

I’ll give the back seats a shot next wheeling trip. He just doesn’t find a lot of stability, even on paved roads.

 

Keep him inside.

My dog fell out of my bed and broke his hip. Just a quick trip down the road. He flipped over the side. It killed me seeing him like that. Cost me about $2500 for something that could have been prevented, and he won't be the same for the rest of his life.

 

Yikes sorry to hear that

Change of question: better ideas for keeping dogs comfortable in the cab? Right now I just use his dog bed and a seatbelt that clips to his harness

 

Would you lets your kids ride in the bed?
That whole experience changed my mind. I hate seeing dogs in the backs of trucks now. It makes me uneasy.

 

I use to put dogs in bed... you are suppose to have harness on em and a bed static line that acts as a seat belt. Some county even requires them

 

Around here, guys drive around in their flat bed Dodge with the Blue Heeler, or Walker, walking around on the back of the truck. No chain, rope, harness, nothing. I don't like to see it anymore.
My last dog loved to ride in the bed. Wouldn't have anything else. But having been through what I done with this one, I will never do it again.

I didn't see him in the rear view mirror, so I turned around. Right then I said "aw shit". He was squabbled up in the drainage ditch on the side of the road. I pulled back around, found him, and got out.
It was pitiful. He was hurt. I can still see the look he gave me. It was like he did, but didn't, want me to pick him up. Not a good thing. ........


DONT PUT THE DOG IN THE BED! KEEP THEM INSIDE.

Take this as a true story from somebody that learned the hard way.

If you don't really care about your buddy, go ahead and do it. But if you do, and feel like they are part of your family, keep them inside the cab at least.

/rant\story.

 

Safer in the bed? That makes no sense. Keep him in the cab.

 

Make him comfy, put a female in heat in there

 

Keep him in the cab, unless you have a topper for the bed.

Every time I see some douchebag driving around with their dog in the bed it infuriates me. Specially when I see it on the highway.

 

Maybe put a few blankets on the back seats and doors, kind of like a padded cell.
Don't ever put them in the bed of the truck. To easy to get hurt or killed back there.

 

Trust your dog's instincts!

He knows his limits better than you. After all, you would willingly put yourself into a uncomfortable risky situation if you could avoid it? That's all your dog is doing. If you feel that he jostles around too much in the back seat, fashion a hammock that hangs from the head rests so that he'll swing instead of bounce. If nothing else, do what others have recommended and put as much padding in there as possible for him. He wants to be with you during these rides and you should be happier for it!

 

The above posts are 100% correct. Find a safer way to harness him inside the cab. Even if he gets bounced around but not hurt in the bed the heat from that bed in the Arizona sun can burn his pads. It is just never a good idea to keep a dog in the bed of your truck. I know that they make harnesses to buckle dogs into seat belts. This one for example:

https://www.chewy.com/kurgo-go-tech-adventure-dog-harness/dp/56747

Find a big comfy blanket and buckle him into the back seat. After enough trips where he feels safe and comfortable I’m sure he will really start to enjoy wheeling with you. Dogs are all about positive reinforcement so get him safe and give him treats and pets when he is being calm and happy in the back seat with you. Good luck!