Whats the best way to teach 'load up'

[bradtown]

Whats the easiest way to train a dog to jump up into the bed of a pickup etc.?

Kindest regards,
Brad

[snips]

Toss a bird up there

[gsp3333]

You really don't have to teach it. Once the dog realizes there is fun once they get out they jump right in. My dogs figured it out in about 2 trips to the bird field. Just make it fun whatever it is.

[nitrex]

Clicker training is fun!

Nitrex

[northern cajun]

Toss a bird up there

That just made me bust out laughing Brenda

[bradtown]

Toss a bird up there

Good idea. I've tried everything 'cept a bird.

[windswept]

Try backing the truck into a ditch to lower the distance from ground to tailgate. Start with that and the dog will be much more likely to make the jump. After they are used to that they will not give a second thought to loading up on flat ground.

[bradtown]

Try backing the truck into a ditch to lower the distance from ground to tailgate. Start with that and the dog will be much more likely to make the jump. After they are used to that they will not give a second thought to loading up on flat ground.

More great advise. Thanks.
The dogs may be so aware of not jumping up on people its effecting their willingness to jump in the truck.

[Hattrick]

Brenda that was good:) when u throw the bird give the comand there go problem fix

[birddogger]

You really don't have to teach it. Once the dog realizes there is fun once they get out they jump right in. My dogs figured it out in about 2 trips to the bird field. Just make it fun whatever it is.

That's it!! I have never taught it, it just happens. It takes some longer than others, just be patient.

Charlie

[Georgia Boy]

I let my dogs jump in but not out, suit yourself.

[Ryman Gun Dog]

Bradtown,
Brad I usually train the kennel command as part of my home/yard training when I put the pup in his kennel each night, using my kennel command.
After the pup has learned to kennel up, by repetition and watching the older dogs, the pup is then allowed to watch as the older dogs are commanded to
kennel up in the Expedition. Usually after just a few times the pup follows the older dogs right up into his travel kennel, inside the Expedition or pick up truck which ever is being used. I also have been known to throw a Grouse wing or even an entire training bird into the cage while giving the kennel command. As was said the bird does work most times.
RGD/Dave

[BrittGSP818]

What I have done is just pick the pup up and put him in the kennel while giving him the command, they will eventually get it and love going in because they know kennel=fun.

[Ruffshooter]

"Toss a bird up there " True, so true.
Dogs love treats, put the treat in the kennel, command kennel or load up what ever, help them in the first few times. Really, how many times do you unload grocery's or training stuff, dead birds etc. and find your dog trying to help you. Won't take long plus they dog learn that when they load up it leads to fun, hunting, training, birds etc.

When loading up make sure it is not slippery, I have a piece of plywood in the body before the kennel boxes, also the tail gate. Can get some pretty messed up toe and broken feet if they slide into the crack betweent he bed and tailgate.

[Vonzeppelinkennels]

Just a little caution when letting dogs jump in & out of trucks etc.This might not happen often but have seen dogs hit their knee joints jumping in & out while doing this.I have not seen any injuries myself but had a trainer chew my butt out good the only time he saw me do it.That was yrs ago & I always lift them out & in ever since.

He use to train & trial dogs for Bob Evans,but anyway he told me of a top prospect he had that injured his knee joint while jumping in or out,don't remember which.The dog never fully recovered from that injury.This might not never happen to a dog you own but if it happens just once is it worth the chance? Your choice.
Just something to think about!

[Hookadooka BirdDogs]

My dogs have always "loaded up" by using the kennel command before going hunting. Most times they get in the dog box as soon as they see me load up the shotguns. Honest. After the hunt I load them up by hand to prevent any injuries from a tired dog getting hurt.
A side note about the Bob Evans farm, near Rio Grande, Ohio. There was (is) a fenced in area up the road from there where they kept deer penned up. One had a near state record rack on it until one night some idiot "criminal" shot it and cut the rack off. What a class act. Not.

[wes_gsp]

When it is feeding time, make the pickup box the place, or...Throw a bird

[jimbo&rooster]

I have always just picked my dogs up and put them on the tailgate while saying load up. As a kid on some stuborn young coyote hound pups I just grabbed em by the loose skin on the base of their tail and their neck and gave em a toss. that takes about twice before they figure it out.
However, I dont let my dogs jump into the truck any more, and am very careful about leting them jump out of the truck. I have heard horror stories from some retriever guys about torn ACLs from dogs jumping in and out of trucks. On a load command my dogs put their front paws on the tail gate and i lift them in.
Jim

[K9luke]

Some purist's will frown on this method but it works. I use the cheapest hot dogs I can find for treats during obedience training. An 89 cent pack goes a long way when you cut them into 1/4 inch pieces and they are cheaper than store bought dog treats after its all said and done. When I have a dog reluctant or skittish to "load up" (I use "mount up"). I just toss a couple chunks of cow lips and bung holes up in the crate, command "MOUNT UP" and get out of the way. After doing this a few times the command is all you need. You can go out in the driveway and make it a 3 repetition training exercise, make it a fun and rewarding game for your dog.

[Sharon]

My vet says that "loading up" is a common way for a dog to be injured.

[boone0405]

I start in the house by elevating the kennel just a few inches to get the dog used to jumping up into the kennel. After a week or so, the kennel is about two feet off of the ground. After he is jumping up into his kennel in the house with it elevated, transitioning to the vehicle is really simple.

[AzDoggin]

I have heard horror stories from some retriever guys about torn ACLs from dogs jumping in and out of trucks. On a load command my dogs put their front paws on the tail gate and i lift them in.
Jim

There was a member on here that had a young GSP snap a femur jumping out of his pickup bed. Freak thing, but...

[BillGraves]

I was trying to teach m boy "up" to get in the truck and it just wasn't working so just out of curiosity once, I said "kennel" and he jumped right in! I've been using that command ever since.

Bill