Trying To Teach An Old Dog New Tricks
By MARILYN
@Marilynda1225 (83556)
United States
December 26, 2024 10:39am CST
Happy Thursday Everyone! it's a sunny day here today with cold temperatures. We had a little bit of snow (just a few inches) so we had a white Christmas.
It was a busy few days and as much as I loved our Christmas family get together yesterday I am exhausted. I did have a very Merry Christmas and a very Happy Birthday.
One of the things Santa brought was steps for our old dog Mush. She's almost 15 and has been having trouble jumping up on the couch where she curls up and takes her naps. She just can't seem to do it wihout trouble so she just sits and cries until either my daughter or I pick her up and plop her on her blanket.
So, we thought getting dog steps would help her. It's just 3 small steps but perfect enough to reach the couch.
Do you think she'll use them? Nope
She sits next to them and cries. No matter how many times my daughter has tried to show her that if she goes up them she is able to just plop down on her blanket.
I don't know if she'll get the hang of those steps or if they will be something we'll have to return.
If she would only realize how much easier life would be for both her and us 
20 people like this
18 responses
@Juliaacv (52020)
• Canada
26 Dec
Poor Mush, how is her eyesight, could that be a hindrance that she possibly cannot see when she climbs to the top of the stairs?
Or maybe she is just a diva dog and prefers to be catered to.
We had snow before Christmas and since it gets cold at night it never really all went away.
5 people like this
@Marilynda1225 (83556)
• United States
26 Dec
Her eyesight is not the greatest either so I'm assuming her vision is a bit impaired. However, she does have her diva moments lol
Our snow melted somewhat today and it was enough for the rest of the winter. Now that I've seen it I don't need any more
2 people like this
@Tampa_girl7 (51131)
• United States
26 Dec
I hope that she’ll catch on with the steps. Happy belated birthday.
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@Marilynda1225 (83556)
• United States
26 Dec
I hope she does. It would make things much easier
Thanks for the birthday wishes
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (83556)
• United States
26 Dec
If Mush would just understand how helpful these steps would be it would make her life so much easier. Right now I'd bet my money on us returning them
2 people like this
@snowy22315 (184370)
• United States
26 Dec
Hmm, when my dog was having trouble getting on the bed where he liked to sleep he used a nearby chair to get up Jax usually needs some help to get on chairs or the couch. Happy Birthday to you!
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@snowy22315 (184370)
• United States
26 Dec
@Marilynda1225 We just give him a boost when he is having trouble. I guess he probably weighs a bit less than Mush though.
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@Marilynda1225 (83556)
• United States
27 Dec
@snowy22315 Mush is about 12 pounds
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@Marilynda1225 (83556)
• United States
26 Dec
Thanks for the birthday wishes.
Maybe Jax could give Mush some hints
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@much2say (56883)
• Los Angeles, California
29 Dec
@Marilynda1225 Thank you 
! And now we head towards the New Year 
!
I've seen those dog steps in other people's houses . . . it just never dawned on me that a dog might refuse to use it. I guess even dogs have certain habits they are not willing to let go of. Maybe she would prefer an elevator 
.
! And now we head towards the New Year !
I've seen those dog steps in other people's houses . . . it just never dawned on me that a dog might refuse to use it. I guess even dogs have certain habits they are not willing to let go of. Maybe she would prefer an elevator .@Marilynda1225 (83556)
• United States
27 Dec
Hope you and your family had a nice Christmas too. Thank you for the birthday wishes.
I doubt Mush will use those steps and would rather just let us help her. We still have time before the return date runs out so we'll see. If she only knew how much easier it would be for her but she refuses to have any part in it.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (82052)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
26 Dec
Poor Mush I hope she realizes how these steps can help her, Probably just has to get used to them,
2 people like this
@RasmaSandra (82052)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
27 Dec
@Marilynda1225 can you put some food or treats for her on the step so she wants to use them?
@Marilynda1225 (83556)
• United States
27 Dec
If she realized that the steps would help she would love them but she refuses to even try.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (139708)
• India
26 Dec
Mush is used to jumping and that is how she wants it to be How about putting her blanket on the floor?
2 people like this
@allknowing (139708)
• India
27 Dec
@Marilynda1225 Preiti our pet dog was particular about cleanliness. She refused to sleep until I change her sheet one day.
@Marilynda1225 (83556)
• United States
27 Dec
We tried putting her blanket on the floor and she wouldn't use it. I wish I could read her mind and figure out why she is so particular about where things should be
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (83556)
• United States
27 Dec
You hit the nail right on the head
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@RebeccasFarm (91120)
• Arvada, Colorado
26 Dec
Aw hope you will get to rest and relax today then Marilyn.
Poor ol doggie.
2 people like this
@Marilynda1225 (83556)
• United States
26 Dec
My plans to relax were disturbed too many times to include a nap but otherwise the day is going well
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@FourWalls (70713)
• United States
26 Dec
Back before they made those steps, I noticed Freckles was starting to have problems (around age 8), so I made her some “steps” to the bed out of cinder blocks. She only had to be shown once, and she used them for the rest of her life. Goldie, however, was another subject: she’d still jump off the bed instead of walking down the “steps.”
2 people like this
@Marilynda1225 (83556)
• United States
26 Dec
I think Mush is more like Goldie. She won't walk up the steps but jumps down if we put her on the couch.
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@DaddyEvil (139983)
• United States
26 Dec
I'm glad you had a nice Christmas and a happy birthday.
2 people like this
@DaddyEvil (139983)
• United States
26 Dec
@Marilynda1225 You're welcome!
Thanks and yes, it was very nice.
2 people like this
@Marilynda1225 (83556)
• United States
26 Dec
Thanks!! Hope you and Pretty had a nice Christmas
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (110569)
• Marion, Ohio
26 Dec
Poor girl. I hope she starts using them.
2 people like this
@Marilynda1225 (83556)
• United States
27 Dec
It's doubtful but we'll see. We still have time before the return date runs out
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@BACONSTRIPSXXX (14640)
• Torrington, Connecticut
26 Dec
She will use it once she realizes its making her on and off the couch easier
2 people like this
@LindaOHio (183840)
• United States
27 Dec
Maybe the steps are too much for her. Poor Mush. Happy Belated Birthday. I'm glad you had a good Christmas and Birthday. Have a good weekend.
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (83556)
• United States
27 Dec
No amount of coaxing is working so I guess we'll have to return them. Thanks for the birthday wishes.
I'm glad you were able to visit your hubby and come home to a nice day with a delicious meal and some gifts.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (183840)
• United States
28 Dec
@Marilynda1225 You're very welcome. My husband's cousin made the day quite pleasant for me. It could have been a sad day.
@celticeagle (170570)
• Boise, Idaho
26 Dec
Now I know where the sun went, I bet Mush will be happy. I don't know Mush but hopefully the steps will get used.
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@Marilynda1225 (83556)
• United States
27 Dec
The sun isn't going to be around for very long. Rain coming for the rest of the week and weekend.
it's doubtful Mush will use the steps but I'm not giving up on her yet. We still have time before the return date runs out.
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (83556)
• United States
27 Dec
Yup, she's not interested in learning how to use them.
@JudyEv (344822)
• Rockingham, Australia
27 Dec
A belated Happy Birthday to you. I'm glad you had a nice celebration. Maybe Mush has worked out that she'd rather have the attention then get herself up and down. Can you coax her up with treats on each step perhaps? Good luck with it.
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@Marilynda1225 (83556)
• United States
27 Dec
I think k you're right about Mush liking us helping her rather than getting up and down by herself. We'll have to try coaxing her with treats before giving up and sending those steps back.
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