Steps

[roxysmom]

From day 1 I was able to teach Roxy quickly how to go up stairs, but she still is scared to go down stairs and i have to carry her. This wouldn't be a big deal and I really don't mind right now, but I live on the 3rd floor of my building and if i'm ever carrying something downstairs with me, it'd be nice if I didn't have to carry her. She's currently 11 weeks old. Has anyone else had trouble teaching their pup steps? Any idea how much longer before she gets the courage to tumble down the stairs with her brother Rico?

[Bailey]

i'm no help we live in a ranch and bailey just has to go up  or down 3 steps from the deck to the grass....sorry

[Mai Tai]

Hi Roxy,

Mai Tai did not learn how to come down steps until he was about 14 weeks old, so give it some more time.  As soon as Roxy is a little bigger, it should not be much of a problem anymore.

[teddybear]

i'm no help we live in a ranch and bailey just has to go up  or down 3 steps from the deck to the grass....sorry

         
             So does Teddy, but he goes up and down regular stairs in the house too. He learned a few weeks after we got him so Roxy will learn.

[brenlynn]

i live on the 2nd floor of an apartment building and have about a good 15 stairs or so. it took my roxy a while to get brave enough to walk down them... she always had no problem going up, but down was another story. it took her a few weeks to get the hang of stairs all together. your roxy will get it eventually.

[angiemcclain]

bribery with small treats is what helped Indy learn! I cut up pupperoni into tiny pieces, and coaxed her on each stair at first. Then after a while, I did every other step and so on and so forth, now she runs up and down them like a pro! Hope that helps!

[Ann]

Yes while Roxy is young you will find that but once Roxy gets a bit older she will do it her self. Toby had the same trouble. I have very steep stairs going down to my laundry that even I have trouble going down and Toby goes down them now no trouble at all but when he was young I had to carry him down all the stairs.

[mrswilliams]

I don't know if size has a lot to do with it or not.  Ollie is still pretty small- only four lbs. at  more than five months and will still not go down steps unless there are just a few and they are wide and low.  He will go up most steps but we've not had much luck with going down.  I'm not sure how big Roxy is- but if she is small maybe that has something to do with it.

[roxysmom]

thanks for everyone's feedback on this thread. Roxy's only about 3 lbs right now so that could be part of it. I'll try the treats and the stairs this coming week and see how it goes. I find myself carrying her and hurrying outside a lot cuz i find her sniffing cues around the house and quick want to bring her outside to go potty before she has an accident, so maybe i'll practice the stairs after she goes potty one afternoon when i'm doing laundry & going up & down them a lot. She starts puppy class on the 24th, so I'll ask them if they have any tips if i'm still not having luck by then.

[angiemcclain]

oh my, Roxy is a tiny little thing!

[teddybear]

thanks for everyone's feedback on this thread. Roxy's only about 3 lbs right now so that could be part of it. I'll try the treats and the stairs this coming week and see how it goes. I find myself carrying her and hurrying outside a lot cuz i find her sniffing cues around the house and quick want to bring her outside to go potty before she has an accident, so maybe i'll practice the stairs after she goes potty one afternoon when i'm doing laundry & going up & down them a lot. She starts puppy class on the 24th, so I'll ask them if they have any tips if i'm still not having luck by then.

                    That should be a good theory, I know that Teddy will do almost anything for his yummy treats! That's how we taught him to sit and stay and even come! He can't resist the temptation of his treats!