Hi all,
Our 6mth mini schnauzer is fine going up stairs but will not
come back down! He just stands at the top looking at me
as if to say "NO way" :-)

Its not really a problem to us yet, as when we are out he is
confined to the kitchen anyway, but as he gets older
we would like him to be able to have freedom.

This is especially a problem, as we live in a 3-storey house - with
2 sets of stairs!!

Also the stairs are wooden, although this does not affect him going up!

Has anyone any suggestions as to how we can slowly teach him the ropes?

Thanks, Louise x

No suggestions I'm afraid - it is a bit difficult teaching a dog to come back down on his tummy :D

Daisy

Put his food at the bottom of the stairs :)

Louise,

I expect your mini is just being smart. Wooden steps can be very slippery and he may have figured that out. He is much more likely to slip going down as gravity may be making him go a bit faster than he is comfortable. I expect if you bought some inexpensive carpet runner for the stairs that he would find the courage to go down - as well as up.

Stacey

zak our mini would fly up but then not want to come back down,our stairs are carpeted though.i used to put his leash on or touch his collar so he knew i was with him,and he started to come down slowly.now he can go up or down just as quick.must ad he doesnt often go up as we have a stair gate across for the kids,but if im cleaning upstairs he likes to beable to join me.
hope it helps :)
mel

Hi

I had the exact same problem with my Mini. He learned to go up our stairs (carpeted) in no time but just wouldn't come back down again. He'd whine and bark at the top. I eventually showed him how, by placing his two front paws on the next step down and swinging his bottom and hind legs out to the side so he was sitting sideways on on the next step down. I then repeated this with each step. He eventually got the hang of it and would come down the stairs in this strange fashion for a while, until he eventually got the hang of it. He now runs down them at full pelt missing a step or two on the way. Funnily enough we have a third storey where the steps are not carpeted and he won't go up or down those (which is good because he's not allowed on that floor!). It really did take him ages to get the hang of coming down the steps though, which I found strange 'cos they are such clever little dogs! I think part of it may have been attention seeking at the time and he was humouring me with his sideways descent of the stairs. I wouldn't put it past him!

Thanks for all your replies.

Yes I think part of it is him just being a bit too smart for his own good
and part of me thinks he enjoys me chasing him round the dining room
to carry him down to the kitchen! (where his food is!!) :-)

I will take it slowly and show him how to do it, and will let you know how I get on!

Just reading your replies about your mini's makes me giggle, they have such distinctive personalities don't they!

He just cracks me up, even when he's naughty!! :-) No wonder
I am so soft!

Louise x

I had this exact same problem with my lurcher pup, he is now 7 months, and comes up and down without a problem.
However, he used to just go up, and then stand at the top and cry for me to come and get him!
I started off gently helping him down, encouraging him with food, and it took about a week or two for him to learn how to do it on his own.

He does have a very different method from my other dogs. Dilly comes down by bouncing, front legs together, then back legs together. Saffi doesnt like stairs much, so aviods them at all costs. Rocky comes down at an angle, just normal foot steps though!
I guess Dill is just odd! well, he is a lurcher, so he is allowed. I wish he hadnt learned how to get up stairs though, he always causes trouble up there!

Em