Hello all!

My Cooper has been a Tripawd since he was 7 months old. He is now 12 years old. His favorite thing in the world, other than BALL is RIDE (in my Subaru that I've had for 15 years). He absolutely loves, loves, loves his rides.

Well, the last two weeks or so, he has no interest in going for a RIDE. When I can manage to entice him, he has a lot of trouble getting in and out of the car. He has incredibly strong back legs (he's a front amputee) and bounds/pounces like a kangaroo. He can jump on and off the bed and couch at home with no difficulty at all.

I also have Cooper's twin brother, Charlie Brown, from the same litter, and he has four legs. Charlie has difficulty getting into the car, and onto the bed at home. I use a mini ramp for him and it works great. I actually keep it in the car, it's that small. It's like a round pad and about 7 inches high plastic base so he can just use it as a boost. It works great for Charlie. He just walks up almost as though it's a step. Cooper can't use it because it would require him to stand on his front leg and somehow propel himself from there onto the seat, using his back legs. It just won't work that way. Maybe if I put it backwards, so that the higher part is away from the car door? I don't think that'd work either, though.

I'm at a loss for other ideas. I have slings and harnesses that I could use to help pull him up, but he is so stubborn, he sits down when you're trying to do it! He has refused assistance his whole life, and he is just not having it. Short of having a pulley system LOL I don't see how this will work.

Treats, and even the BALL don't help either. 

Last week, we couldn't take him to the groomer because of this issue. Charlie went by himself. I trimmed Cooper's nails myself and decided he didn't need a bath this time. 

A few weeks ago, they were staying at the kennel where we bring them when we travel. Cooper had a lot of trouble getting in and out of the car after that stay, and it has remained that way. I know they didn't over-play him because they have strict instructions not to. Plus I can watch on cameras. So I know that nothing happened, and anyway if there were an injury, it would be healed by now. He is otherwise fine and has a great appetite, etc.

The last time I took him for a RIDE, I had to bribe him to get in, he finally did propel himself onto the seat. Then, when we got home, he wasn't coming out, no way. So, I left him in the car with the doors wide open, parked in the shade (we live in the country, so nobody is around to steal him or whatever). He wouldn't get out. Finally my husband and I enticed him with dog biscuits, but it took a long time. 

I can't really find the right type of ramp or device that would help us get him into the car. We are both seniors ourselves, with bad backs and shoulders. If we can't figure out a way to get him in and out of the car, we may not be able to travel anymore (which would be fine, but I'm just saying) or take him to the vet.

I should add that, with my previous dogs, I simply picked them up. They were also the same size as he is (about 65 pounds), but I was much younger and they didn't flatly refuse help the way he does!

Any ideas? Other than what I've already mentioned. We love Cooper so much. He's the best! It's hard to see him having lost interest in the thing he loved the most. 

Many thanks for any feedback!