I have a Boxer puppy (8 1/2 months old)
whose petrified of going down the stairs.
She will go up them no problem but coming down forget it.
She is now getting far too heavy to carry down the stairs.
Although I do not encourage her to 'race up and down'
stairs etc I would like her to get over her fear of stairs.
As our bathroom is upstairs so when she needs a bath
we need her upstairs.
Also some show venues have stairs, so she needs to conquer her
fears.
She is frightened of stairs because her mum knocked her flying
from the top stair all the way to the bottom.
Luckily she wasn't hurt but her confidence has been shattered
and she just anchors on the bed refusing to go down the stairs.
I try coaxing her with treats but it does not work.
I have to 'bump' down the stairs with her sat on my lap
(A hilarious sight I'm sure)
Any ideas?
Thanks

Hi

What happens if you ignore her and get on with things downstairs - don't look at her or talk to her, just pretend she is not there?

She should not need a bath very often (if at all) a rub down with a chamois leather should be sufficient :-)

Does she treat a few steps outside the same as she reacts with your staircase?

Christine

The way I teach my pups to come downstairs is to place them a few steps up and let them come down them. When they are happy enough with that then take them up a few more and so on until they can tackle the whole stairs. Don't reassure her when shes crying that shes frightened just try to encourage her down with a treat or a toy or something.

I agree with Kerioak on this one. Totally ignore her. Lets face it, shes got to come down some time. Once she has done it, her confidence will increase and each time it will get better for her. If ignoring her dosn't work, and I think it would eventually, would she come down if you picked up her food bowl and made a great play of filling it. what if you rattled her lead like a walk was forthcoming. If only you could get her down once, as I said, it will get easier and easier.

i had this from owners of a pup i bred, he would go up but not down, they left him, hed mess, if they carried him he was fine!!i went through to their home , they went up stairs he followed, they came down--he didnt, i went up , put a leash on a flat collar and walked him firmly down the stairs, he threw a tantrum ,back up we went, after about 3 wobblers and screaming turns, he realised he wasnt going to get his own way and started going up and down when called, sometimes theyre just playing you along--not in your case though,

Dear Keriok,
Thanks for your advice.
As for bath's I don't like bathing the dogs that often.
In Abby's case she may need some baths as she's got
an allergy and I've been given some Malaseb shampoo
to use.
Have tried ignoring her etc whilst upstairs.
She's fine doesn't care what I am doing and will go to
the toilet upstairs rather than come down the stairs to
go outside. She's got a real phobia about coming down
stairs anywhere. That is where the gradient is steep.
We have a local home that has outside steps in their
gardens and she manages these, but they aren't high
very low (no taller than a biro, if that) and only three steps.
It was quite embarrassing at obedience we went up some steep
stairs (4 steps) to go on a stage, whilst some dogs were being run
through their tests. When it came to get down Abby just anchored
at the top and had to be lifted off the stage.
I want to try and build her confidence but it's hard to
know what else to try.

I also teach my pups by putting them up a few stairs and letting them walk down gradually. One however, would go all the way up but sat there and shook and cried, no matter how hard we tried he would not come down. One day when he was at the top - I placed a little piece of tuna on each step, he very quickly made his way to the botom and has never had a problem since.

Donna

Good advice from all!
I always encounter this problem with puppies. When we finally get them to go down the stairs it is time for a little party! It can take a lot of time and encouragment, but all of mine eventually get over their fear. Good luck, I bet she is getting heavy!

Did her mother knock her downstairs before she was 16 weeks?
All dogs have a critical period which ends at 16 weeks, events that happen from around 2/3 untill the 16th week can shape their behaviour for the rest of their lives. She might have the fear for the rest of hers if that was the case.
She might slowly decrease her phobia with repetition but sometimes after a trauma in those first week it can come over them anytime.
I think the question arises, why do you let her upstairs in the first place? especialy as she is toileting there.

Maybe the toilet was upstairs Denis :rolleyes:

Hahahaha.
Well it is now..

If I don't remember to shut the dog-gate and do not
spot that she is meandering around the stairway.
She goes up stairs.
All my dogs have been allowed upstairs (ok I know you shouldn't allow them access to everywhere) although they sleep downstairs
and spend most of the day downstairs in garden etc..
I have tried leaving her upstairs at Kerioak has suggested
thinking that she may come down of her own accord, but no.
This is when she has toileted upstairs. I was just trying to say
that nothing will tempt her down EVEN if she wants to go to the loo!
(and yes we have a toilet upstairs but she hasn't mastered that one yet-Ha-ha)
It could well be that her mum did knock her flying at that critical age where she won't forget and will forever have this fear.
Her mum knocked her flying when she heard the postman at the door,
and Abby had the misfortune of being at the top of the stairs at the time. Whilst her mum was desperate to get to the front door.
I am just trying to get her more comfortable with stairs because if I do need to bath her in say Winter, she will have to be bathed indoors.
I am considering getting one of those doggy baths, that can be used downstairs etc.
I don't bath my dogs that often only when they really need it
or when they need bathing with special shampoos etc on vets advice.
(Just incase you think I bath my dogs every week etc)
Kind Regards