A bulldog owner recently told me that their dog used to enjoy car journeys, but now won’t get in at all.

This has happened since his special person is no longer around. That may be a connection, or it may not be.

I haven’t seen the dog, but my first thought - especially with a dog with a challenging skeleton like a bulldog - is that there’s a pain element involved.

So, you’d need to have this assessed at the outset. First step, your vet. They should get some idea of what may be wrong, but for a complete assessment you need a Canine Massage Therapist or Canine Physio. They’ll need to have a vet referral.

Once you’ve found out what’s going on inside the body, you can consider what’s inside the head!

There’s a detailed post on this car-reluctance here

Go carefully through the steps and you should dispel your dog’s fears in no time.

But if your vet visits have uncovered pain, you’ll need to look at practical physical options to help your dog.

Make it easy for your dog!

You could use a simple but sturdy box for him to step on to (make sure it doesn’t wobble!) then up into the car.

You could lift him and post him in (useless advice if you have a large dog!).

Or - the best solution - get a folding car ramp specially made for the job.

I used a ramp very similar to this for Rollo when he was getting beyond jumping up into his crate. It was wizard! It really worked, and was easy to store in the porch - or in the car when he was travelling with us.

AS AN AMAZON ASSOCIATE, I EARN FROM QUALIFYING PURCHASES

Step by careful step …

But like everything else to do with dogs, introduce this weird thing slowly!

Lay it out on the ground flat.
Let your dog explore it - some treats scattered on it may help.
Once he’s stopped being suspicious, lead him gently on to the flat ramp. Maybe just one paw to begin with. Even a couple of paces is fine. Big game and reward at the end!
Repeat over several sessions till your dog is happy to walk or trot along the ramp, still flat.
Prop one end up, perhaps on a brick, and let him walk up it slightly inclined. Big reward at the end.
Raise it a little more. Be sure it’s absolutely stable, or you’ll undo all your work and have to start again at no.1!
If your dog has issues with his shoulders or forelegs, ensure that there’s something else for him to step onto at the raised end. Garden steps would work well.
Attach the ramp securely to your car, and encourage your dog to walk up and into his crate, and down again. Fun! Treats!
Be ready to catch him! Maybe hold onto his harness firmly for the first few attempts. Or have a person either side of the ramp to make him feel safer.
Do the same coming down - ensure he walks all the way to the bottom of the ramp and doesn’t jump off halfway.
Make your dog secure in the car once he gets there. A custom fitted car crate is the very best solution, but a seatbelt harness is better than nothing.
Enjoy your journey!