I have a 4 month old, vet guessed age because the puppy was found at the side of a road, and she is afraid of steps. We have 2 steps to go outside. She will go up and down those. She will not even try the staircase. It looks like she doesn't know what to do with her back feet. She will lift one leg up and keep it up. Should I train her to go up and down the stairs or just let it go?She is a border collie/black lab mix.
2007-07-04 06:17:01 · 17 answers · asked by redwidow 5 in Pets ➔ Dogs
I do have a gate at the bottom of the stairs and to awesome-I actually mentioned to my daughter that I can't imagine her figuring out how to get up the steps but not down. She weighs 30 pounds right now at approximately 4 months old. Imagine a few months from now or when she's full grown. I wont be able to carry her.
2007-07-04 06:30:38 · update #1
hi dont worry about it she will figure it out trust me my puppy was the same and then all of a sudden i went upstairs and he followed me give me such a fright cause i didnt hear him come up , enjoy your puppy shes lucky to have you ,xx
2007-07-04 06:30:02 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
A friend of mine had a dog that used to have not problems with the basement stairs (single story house, full basement), but once he reached a certain age, he would not go down, but had no problems going up if carried down. In his case, I thing it is arthritis.
Their current dog is about a year to a year and a half, and over a metre tall at the shoulder. He will not try the stairs for love nor food. Could just be the difference between the well lit kitchen, and the less well lit basement stairs.
Has no problems with the 4 steps out the front door, or the 5 out the back door, just into the basement.
2007-07-04 07:28:33 · answer #2 · answered by jcurrieii 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
When our dog was about three months old she was freaked out by the stairs too. I just stood at the bottom and coaxed her down. It took a while a, but I guess the need to please overcame the fear of the stairs. Once she did it the first time, she was fine with stairs. I think if you can get the dog to see that it's not a big deal and the stairs aren't something to be afraid of, she'll be ok. The bigger deal you make of it, the more afraid she's likely to be.
2007-07-04 06:27:55 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Aww I bet she is adorable. You can try going just a two or three steps at a time and sit just above the step you want her to go to not far from the bottom of the stair case and lead her up with her favorite treat. You may want to watch "The Dog Whisper", Cesar Millan he has a TV show, books and DVDs he even has a show about a dog that wouldn't walk on any floor that was shiny. Good luck:)
2007-07-04 06:26:51 · answer #4 · answered by ponyprincess6002 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Since she will go up and down the two steps outside, I'm sure she can figure out how to do the other steps. I would get some small treats (like the kind for training) and put one on each step. I bet she fiues out how to get all of the treats. (Be right there to make sure she doesn't fall or anythin, that would of couse make her more scared.)
2007-07-04 06:26:20 · answer #5 · answered by whatever 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
She might grow out of it but just in case she doesn't you could try this. I had a 10yr old sharpei that always went on steps up to 4 steps. When we moved we had a staircase with 7 steps! He just freaked out and was scared to death. We tried everything! Even carried him down and he got so afraid that he peed! One day I just sat in the middle of the stairs to show him it was ok and he went right on up by himself from that day on! He just needed reassuring that it was safe. I agree on the "Dog Whisperer", he is wonderful!!! Good luck with your baby!
2007-07-04 06:36:37 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Put a gate like the ones for children and when someone want to go up or down the stairs they unlock the gate. And when you think she is comfortable getting close to the gate then u begin to keep the gate open sometimes. After she is comfortable with that then keep the gate open all the time. Then begin to train her how to go up and down the stairs.
2007-07-04 06:25:23 · answer #7 · answered by kandi2cool4skool 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Definitely try to train her by taking her up and down them and when she stumbles or can't get her leg up help her. You could also try luring her up the stairs with a treat or food. Just don't give up on her, she is only a puppy she will soon get it!
Good Luck!!!
2007-07-04 06:25:39 · answer #8 · answered by extremesoccerbabe 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You should definitley train her; my friends had a lab puppy who could go up the stairs, but not down, and they never trained her, and now she's full grown and they have to sit her on their lap and slide down the stairs!
2007-07-04 06:22:18 · answer #9 · answered by cottonblosssom 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Give her some time. Once she feels truly secure, my guess is she'll eventually get it. She'll feel better if the steps are carpeted. Go slowly up each step, placing a treat on the next step as you go. Praise her lavishly and be patient. Good for you for rescuing this little one!
2007-07-04 06:23:58 · answer #10 · answered by Cheryl G 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
when my dog was young (6 months or so) she wasn't very good at the steps. She would stumble up and down them, but my dad said it was because their motor skills in their back legs haven't fully developed, so they can't control them as easily as a full grown dog. I'd just let it go. Your dog will go up and down the steps eventually, and she'll do it on her own time.
2007-07-04 06:22:34 · answer #11 · answered by Emily A 3 · 3⤊ 1⤋