Puppy Problems!!!!!?

Question

I have a 12 week old puppy. he can go up stairs with no problems and also can jump from the bed like an acrobat from a circus, but without a doubt is TERRIFIED of going down the steps. I believe that he had some type of truma with the steps that is why he is SO SCARED. Does anyone have advice for me to help my baby boy? p.s. he has two sisters that go up and down the steps with no hesitation. HELP ME!!!!!!

Answer 1

Number one - DON'T let a puppy jump off the bed!!!! He can be severely injured - even break a leg.

Puppies learn to go up stairs before they learn to come down. The best thing to do is carry him most of the way down, put him down on a step near the bottom and pull gently with the leash until he has to take the next step down. Praise him for GOOD behavior. Once he learns to go down, keep him on a leash for the next few months, so he doesn't go too fast and hurt himself.

Answer 2

Not all dogs are alike. They all have very distinctive personalities besides the usual dog traits in each breed. Give him some time for him to get a little bigger. Take him by the body and teach him how to come down the stairs. Talk to him, tell him "it's okay boy... it's okay.." as you help him get down to the steps one by one. My doberman took a while too. And dogs don't come trained to go down the steps, they have to learn to, like all babies do too. It will be alright soon. He is only 12 weeks old. Also, try to lure him with a treat, and tell him it's okay and praise him, that way, he'll gain courage and confidence. Good luck! :)

Answer 3

Make it a game for him. Sit him a few steps up and then get down to his level and use "cutesy" exciting voices with lots of encouragement. Don't reach up to him! Keep patting the floor in front of you and calling to him. Eventually, he'll want to be where you are for reassurance and attention. When he does come to you, give him lots of loving and praise. Start over on the same step. Do that a few times and then move him a few steps higher. Eventually, he'll get the point that the stairs aren't such a scary place to be. Good luck!

Answer 4

take him a few steps upstairs, and leave small treats on every other step coming down, and put the sisters out so the girls don't eat the treats before he gets up the courage to go after them. Don't call him down the stairs or anything, his nose will lead the way. After he gets those treats, on the next day, do the same thing, but take him up a few more steps, and leave the treats on every third step. next day, more steps up, treats on every 4th step, etc. Pretty soon he will forget his fear and associate steps with something pleasant.

Answer 5

My puppie Teddy used to be this way when he was small he's 3 months now and shoots up and down the stairs perfectly.Just go down the steps and see if he comes down.Let him run around upstairs and see if he comes down if he doesn't walk slowly down the steps a little at a time and see if he follows.Pick him up if he doesn't and walk slowly and easily down the stairs with him in your hands.

Answer 6

Try putting him on a leash and gently coaxing him down the stairs for a few days and see how he does. Try giving him a treat when he gets down a few and see if that encourages him.
You don't want to push so he gets even more scared, though. It could be time consuming, but it sounds like you are willing! :)
That's so sweet. Good luck!

Answer 7

Try to go down the stairs with him like take a treat with u and just be talking to him while you are going down the stairs and have his 2 sisters come with you and him and alk in a happy voice to get him to come with and if u get him to go down the stairs give him treats as u are walking down the stairs with him

Answer 8

One of my puppies were teh same way and her sister wasnt, mine got over it, I watched her go down the stairs adn it looked liek her backend would flip over her. So I think she just felt unbalanced.

This is what my vet and dog trainer told me to do, I would put her on the lease and walk her down step by step, praising her so you would keep petting him and telling him good boy, and you could also sit at tthe bottom with treats/or pieces of food and make your pup feel safe with the steps.

Worked for me.

Answer 9

I sold a dog to a lady who couldn't get him to go down the stairs. She hired a trainer ($200!) to train him to do that.
All the trainer did was play on the stairs with the pup. He sat with the pup, on the stairs, and cuddled and stroked him. Then he got out a rawhide chew and played a bit of teasing games with it. Then he would toss the chew UP the stairs until the pup was chasing it up. THEN he tossed it down, and gave great praise when the pup went down one stair to get it, and then 2 stairs to get it, etc.
Anyway, it took 45 minutes, and he went away with $200.

Answer 10

sometimes dogs can be a little top heavy!!! try slowly coaxing him down, with treats every few steps. or, put all three dogs at top of stairs, and call them down to the bottom (buddy, come!), followed by treats and praise! he'll do it sooner or later!