Another Stairs Advice Question

[Guest MagnoliasMom]

Hi all,

 

We got our new grey last week. She is 6 1/2 and is a wonderful angel. However she does stairs just fine, except the back ones to our fenced in yard. She thinks they are made of lava and wont go near them. Weve been taking her around from the front door. These back stair case only has 4 stairs. She is not good motivated at all and wont even go in the kitchen if she senses were going to work on the stairs. Any ideas?

[Rakete]

Time. Time. Time.

 

Is it really important, that she uses them right now?

 

1 week is nothing for a newly adopted dog. I am sure she will get familiar with them, but there 10000s of other things to also get used to and this takes: Time.

Edited August 25, 2018 by Rakete

[ramonaghan]

Can you give some more detail on what kind of stairs? Indoor wood/tile (slippery) stairs? Outside open-backed wooden stairs?

[cleptogrey]

treats when she reaches the top of the stairs- keep the leash on and run her up.let her know you have treats in your hand. don't take her to the front unless you don't want her to learn.

 

i was in a situation at a beach house, night time- limited lighting. there were 3 flights of open back stairs and my female did not like them. i held her neck up high, "LET'S GO!" and ran up the stairs(yup a short break in-between flights). she learned very very quickly~ no was was i going to cary 65lbs up to the apt.!!!

[greysmom]

Put down a long runner that covers up the open backs and makes them less slippery. Indoor outdoor carpet or grass you can get at home stores by the yard works great.

[Kyahgirl]

Hiya, I just wanted to add encouragement on the stairs thing. We have had our Greyhound for five weeks and he just worked up the nerve to try the basement stairs yesterday. It’s scary for him because he’s so tall that he’s hasn’t really learned stairs, he has just been leaping up and down the three deck stairs. The basement stairs are steep and long, not “leapable” so this has been a big achievement for him.

[XTRAWLD]

My angel greyhound would bound up a flight of stairs in 3 leaps, taking 3-5 at a time. He could never figure out taking one at a time. Meanwhile, his brother takes them one at a time very methodically. I think your new pup just needs a bit more time and a method and she'll do great very soon!