How can I get my dog to go up and down the steps??
@mrsgoodygoody00 (895)
United States
November 21, 2008 1:39pm CST
I have a Toy Poodle, and he is pretty light. I used to carry with one hand and let him rest on my belly before I became pregnant. But now, I carry him with my right hand and rest his body on my hip. For some reason my dog cannot go up the steps or down them, and we live upsttairs. I know for a fact that he can go up the stairs at least because he did when we lived in a townhome. So, I think he chooses not to. And when we approach our steps, he won't even try to go up them. He'll just go on his hind legs automatically, and look at me, and wave his front legs for me to pick him up. I've tried to get him to go up and down them, but he won't. But I always pick him up with my one hand several times daily, and it has really hurt my wrist. Is there a way that I can get him to climb the steps??
1 person likes this
5 responses
@kissuchi2002 (49)
• United States
1 Dec 08
I would give him time. My 5 month old chihuahua didn't go up or down the stairs and I think she was even scared to even try, but eventually she learned by herself or I guess after watching my B&G macaw go up the stairs she must have thought it was ok to try it or something. Maybe you can get another dog to go up the stairs in front of him so he sees it's ok. But I really think time is the key
@6precious102 (4043)
• United States
23 Nov 08
Put you dog's food at the top or bottom of the stairs, whichever way you want him to go. When he's hungry enough, he'll go get it.
@kenzie45230 (3560)
• United States
21 Nov 08
I'll have to check back to see if anyone has some good suggestions about this. We have two dogs. Our small doggie - a Chihuahua/Jack Russell Terrier mix gladly goes up and down our basement stairs. But our bigger dog, a Boxer/Retriever mix, won't even go near them.
@jiffin4java (97)
• United States
21 Nov 08
How about sitting on the steps a couple steps up with a treat and calling him? When he comes up, praise him and give him the treat. Keep doing this and eventually work your way up one more step until he's coming all the way up. Then you can do the same thing for down. Maybe he's just afraid of that particular staircase and this will help desensitise him. Either way, it'll train him to start using the stairs. Sounds like he's just pushing you because he knows eventually you'll just pick him up. Hope this helps!
