2nd floor, puppy can't get down

[jazzie23]

I live on a second floor in a "quad", Jazmine is almost 12 weeks and she is afraid of walking down the stairs. I was told to place her 3 steps from the bottom and give her a treat.

Well doesn't work, she just runs upstairs. When she's at the top of the stairs she looks down and wags her tail. It looks like she'd like to get down on her own. I really don't think she enjoys me caring her. On top of it she's getting to be heavy .

Are her legs too short (that's what it looks like)? Should I wait till she gets taller?

She tried getting down all the way at the bottom once when teased with a treat and she ended up sliding down two stairs (gladly she didn't hurt her self).

[rottielover2004]

it sounds like she is playing a game with you. Patience and she will. Harley did the exact same thing, so I sat with his fav treat at the bottom of the stairs, and patiently waited. took about 20 mins for 2 stairs, LOL, but he did it

[livertw]

Patience. They learn to come down without slipping but it takes a little practice.

[kisstina272]

My husband and I live in a 2nd floor apt and our puppy wouldn't go down by himself til we acted like we wern't paying attention. We turned our backs for a couple mins and down he came. Just be patient.

[VANCOUVERISLANDROT]

MAN! I wish we'd had that prob with Oscar! We had the complete opposite with him, he wouldn't stay off of the damn stairs. haha! I was sooooooo paranoid of him hurting his hips because he was sooo extremely stubborn about walking up/down the whole flight of stairs himself (at like 8-9 w/o) that we had to bb gate him. Now he's 14 w/o and takes the stairs like a pro. Sounds like a boulder is rolling down my staircase, I think his ass is in front of his head half the time. lol!!

My moms dog was scared to death of her staircase. She did the same thing another poster suggested, used the treat/reward...tried to get her excited to come after her etc. Just don't "baby" her, that would be a big mistake.

Julie

[jazzie23]

Hello Julie,
What do you mean by "baby her"?

I tried today again, placed her on the 2nd step from the bottom and she just slid down, I freaked out - It look like she was gonna break her neck.

She has no clue how to down from more then one step, and she litterally shakes when I put her higher than one stair from the bottom.

[Judi W]

Put your hand through her collar to help support and control her front end. Go slowly and patiently.

[VANCOUVERISLANDROT]

Originally Posted by jazzie23

Hello Julie,
What do you mean by "baby her"?

I tried today again, placed her on the 2nd step from the bottom and she just slid down, I freaked out - It look like she was gonna break her neck.

She has no clue how to down from more then one step, and she litterally shakes when I put her higher than one stair from the bottom.

Sorry! I should've been more clear. What I meant was don't "sooth" her and make her feel like it's "okay" for her to be scared. Does that make any sense? You want it to be fun! "Lets go!", treats etc. If you sooth/coo to her and tell her it's okay to be afraid in your actions, she won't try it.

Does that make sense?

Julie

[jazzie23]

Yes, Thanks guys we will give it a try today after the vet visit. I'll kepp you updated on how she does

[jazzie23]

Dear Judi,
I used your advice

Put your hand through her collar to help support and control her front end. Go slowly and patiently.

and it worked, I didn't realize how much she needes it for balance and support, she's still scared but getting down much better, we're taking it one day at a time

Thank you!

[Johnser]

To be honest there is no need to rush. Cooper was the exact same and it was around the 14-15th week that he mastered the stairs. Wouldnt even look at them before.

But they always find a way. Our other puppy was up and down the stairs like a pro at 7 weeks old, so go figure.

Cooper is 11 months now and does three steps at a time going up and down. Enjoy your time alone with the stairs while you can :-)

John

[Judi W]

Originally Posted by jazzie23

Dear Judi,
I used your advice



and it worked, I didn't realize how much she needes it for balance and support, she's still scared but getting down much better, we're taking it one day at a time

Thank you!

After you see that she is totally comfortable and confident with this, then you can put on a lead and still guide and support without your bending down. Use the same style.

[jazzie23]

So I had to place an update. I have been working with Jazmin on walking down the stairs. She was able to go down about 8 steps, until yesterday.

My mom opened up the screen door, she was watering the plants on the balcony, Jazmin went outside to keep her company. Within seconds she noticed geese down on the lawn and the brat STORMED DOWN THE STAIRS (from the 2nd floor) without any hesitation .

So, now Jazmin is walking up and down the stairs all by herself.

All it took was some geese to motivate her .

[autumn]

Originally Posted by jazzie23

So I had to place an update. I have been working with Jazmin on walking down the stairs. She was able to go down about 8 steps, until yesterday.

My mom opened up the screen door, she was watering the plants on the balcony, Jazmin went outside to keep her company. Within seconds she noticed geese down on the lawn and the brat STORMED DOWN THE STAIRS (from the 2nd floor) without any hesitation .

So, now Jazmin is walking up and down the stairs all by herself.

All it took was some geese to motivate her .

Ha ha! See what can happen with a little motivation??
My pups were zooming up and down stairs very young because they saw their mama going and where she went they followed!

[dogsbestfriend]

Originally Posted by jazzie23

I live on a second floor in a "quad", Jazmine is almost 12 weeks and she is afraid of walking down the stairs. I was told to place her 3 steps from the bottom and give her a treat.

Well doesn't work, she just runs upstairs. When she's at the top of the stairs she looks down and wags her tail. It looks like she'd like to get down on her own. I really don't think she enjoys me caring her. On top of it she's getting to be heavy .

Are her legs too short (that's what it looks like)? Should I wait till she gets taller?

She tried getting down all the way at the bottom once when teased with a treat and she ended up sliding down two stairs (gladly she didn't hurt her self).

My male is 4 months old and he just started going DOWN the steps with no help about 3 weeks ago.. He used to do the samething... Bolt up the steps and then whin and loko at me when its time to go down...

I simple placed my hand under him, on his belly and rubbed it but at the same time, slightly moving him down the steps... After doing that 2 or 3 times, now he aggressively runs down the steps...

*I don't think he has touched the bottom 2 steps yet, he gets tp the 3rd steps form the bottom and jumps the rest of the way, crazy dog**