Dog and stairs issue - HELP!

[jziegler]

Wow, three greyhounds...now there's a real handful. At least our guy is only 17 lbs so picking him up is no problem.

Not as bad as you might think. We know people with as many as 8 greyhounds (plus a couple other dogs too). Not trying to hijack too much, but greyhounds are not the hyper dogs than many think they are. They are very laid back and quiet, well, most of the time anyway. Except for the 20 minutes a day that they run around like crazy. They sleep, on average, 18-20 hours a day.

Jim

[Rich P]

Sounds like my cats (except for the running around bit)!

[L. D. Jeffries]

H2O Dogs

Cabinetman's post reminds me of when we lived in Boise where open water isn't easy to find. Our yellow Lab at 8 mo. had never seen water except coming out of a hose. We took him to Lucky Peak reservoir for a fun day. Once out of the car and down to the shore line he stopped and looked up at me and I swear he said; "Holy crap, look at all that water!" In he went; out he would come and then in again, and again, and again! Most fun was to throw a rock in the water and watch him dive and bring it back for another go. Never have I seen such a happy dog!

[Hellrazor]

Dogs can learn by example. With you and the dog at the top of the stairs, get on all fours (like a dog), and bark a few times just to let him know you are now a dog. Then you crawl down the stairs, looking back at him while smiling to let him know how much fun it is.

In another 2 months after you are out of traction and a halo, you can let us know if he learned to go up and down the steps on his own while you were recooperating.


BTW - my dog refused to go into the basement until she was well over a year old. She would go up and down the 3 steps to get in the house but refused to go down a full set.

[Rich P]

Progress

So this afternoon we tried a combo of two suggestions...treats and tag team. Major progress. After about 5 minutes and 10 treats the dude was running up to the landing and then back down to get his reward. I was at the "up" station and "Mom" was down. I plan to do this one more day and then start at the top of the stairs. I will post results when I have something to report (positive or otherwise).

FYI, the dog whisperer has a web site.

In addition, I let him out in the pool area and he, believe it or not, walked into the water. Guess that in addition to never seeing stairs he has not seen pools before! PTL that dog paddling is instinctive.

Good news is I found a baseball on our walk this morning and the little dude is a real "short stop", shags it and brings it back too....ears flapping behind him.

Between dips in the pool and shagging grounders, I'm starting to think I may have an athlete on my hands (LOL!).

[jonmulzer]

Do you have any pics of the little fella? He sounds like a cute pup and I am sure we would all love to see.

[jziegler]

Good progress! Sounds like you found what will work for him, and after a few days, he will be a pro.

Just remember, dogs don't generalize like we do. So, just because he learns the stairs to your second floor, that doesn't mean that he will understand stairs to a basement, or a different style of staircase. One of the most important things that I learned taking a training class a year and a half ago.

Jim

[Rich P]

Jim, thanks for reminding me. I had read that somewhere on the net.

We do have 3 sets of stairs, two of which are used frequently so we'll have to tackle them one by one. The inside ones are the main thing for him to master.

[Rich P]

Herrrrreeezzzz Cosmo!

Not the best shot but for those who are curious as to what he looks like here he is. Believe it or not he can get those chops around a regulation sized baseball. You can call him "Coz" (like I do).

[jonmulzer]

Good progress! Sounds like you found what will work for him, and after a few days, he will be a pro.

Just remember, dogs don't generalize like we do. So, just because he learns the stairs to your second floor, that doesn't mean that he will understand stairs to a basement, or a different style of staircase. One of the most important things that I learned taking a training class a year and a half ago.

Jim

How true. Even after Cooper mastered the stairs to our second floor he still would not scamper up and down the basement steps. Then when he had those down cold we went to a friends house where the basement steps have no backs to the them, just open treads. He scampered down them in a flash and then did not really want to go back up. I assume being able to see through the stairs had thrown him off a bit.

Rich P, that is a cute pup you have there. He looks like he is full of energy for sure! He reminds me of our male dog since it appears he has a face that emotes. Some dogs you can look at and not tell what they are thinking but with your guy it looks like he is smiling.

[jziegler]

Looks like a happy little pup Rich. Pretty amazing to pick up a regulation size baseball with that little mouth.

Good luck with the continuing training.

Jim

[Eagan]

Check out Dog Whisperer on National Geographic. They had a Saint Bernard with the same problem the other night. The star took the dog for a long walk so the dog was used to following him, then forced him up the stairs... Forced him the first time, encouraged him the 3rd, etc. It got easier as the dog got more trusting. Turned out the dog didn't like the change from wood floors to the carpeted stairs.

Now I'll read the rest of the and find the other 12 people who pointed out the same thing.

[gerti]

Cosmo looks like a pack of muscles... Will keep you fit!

[cgallery]

Cosmo looks like a great dog!

[billwmeyer]

Stairs

I agree that going down stairs is harder for animals than going up. I guy I know quite well knows how a certain cow got into a principals office which was up a flight of stairs. It is quite easy to lead a cow upstairs. It is nearly impossible to get a cow downstairs. The cow had a restful night in the office and was discovered the next morning.

Bill