Stairs?

[katiewett]

I adopted a 15 week old corgi/shepherd mix who seems to be scared of stairs. He's ok with going up or down a curb, but he won't make the attempt for a flight of stairs. I've tried going partway up and calling him, but he starts crying. I've tried putting him on the step second from the top, and he hopped up to the top of the stairs, where I gave him a treat and verbal praise. The latter process is slow, but seems more effective. I'm trying to get him used to the stairs gradually, but I live on the second floor, and every potty break involves me carrying him down the stairs. I'm afraid I'm imprinting the idea that he needs to be carried. Does anyone have any effective stair training methods? Should I even be expecting him to climb the stairs? He's probably about 20-25lbs (vet visit on Monday) with the legs of a corgi, but paws that indicate he'll probably be more German shepherd sized.

[Cassiepeia]

Doing it gradually is the best option. You don't want to scare him (the stairs will seem HUGE to him, even if they don't seem very big to you and the climb up or -especially- down will seem like a mountain). Also stairs can be a problem for short legged, long backed breeds and mixes. They can actually suffer back problems from going up and down stairs too much. Carrying him might actually be a better option as a pup, although getting him use to the stairs is important. Have you tried finding some smaller flights of stairs and walking him up and down them?

Cass.

[katiewett]

I've tried a 7 step staircase, but tomorrow I'll go out to find some 2-4 step staircases. Thanks for the advice!

[calgal]

Most puppies are afraid of stairs at that age. Mine wouldn't go up or down stairs till they were a few months old. Once they get the hang of it.......look out!!!

[ginastags2315]

I taught my chihuahua/pekingese how to go up and down stairs by stacking 4 (or less or more depending on the height of the step) phone books in front of the first step on a flight of stairs so they were level with the step. Then I put him on the step and got him to walk onto the books with a treat until he was comfortable with that. Then I took one book away and had him walk onto it wth a treat. When he was comfortable with that, I took another book away, and kept doing it until he jumped down the step completely. But he didn't learn how to go down more than one stair until about a week after that, and he was 4 months old, so your puppy will probably learn soon.

[katiewett]

Thanks for the help! I'll try these out and see what works for him.