I'm looking for some suggestions. Have a 10 month old GSD - high drive - lots of confidence EXCEPT in 1 area - climbing stairs (solid). I finally have gotten to climb some with 4-5 steps. I started with 2 steps. When it comes to a long stairway - his drive just shuts down. I have tried using toys, food and even using another dog for him to follow. Is this going to be a step by step climb?
This guy jumps up on anything - walks over wire mesh panels, etc ---- but stairs Whoooooooaaaaa!

Thanks
Mark Addison

I'd stick with the short staircases for a while, with BIG rewards at the top and bottom, and don't jump from a short staircase to a long one all at once. This is actually a pretty common issue with younger pups, and it can be easy to make a bigger deal out of it than you need to.

Well... this won't make me real popular, but what the heck...

At the age he is at I would drag him up the stairs if I had to. I have had this happen at my last house many times. The only room on the first floor was the furnace room, so if they were going in the house, they HAD to get up the stairs. I would try nicey-nicey and if that didn't work-y up the stairs they go.

Funny part is, with ALL the dogs I have had to do that with, it never had to happen more than twice. I take rescues/shelter overflow when I am able, and this is a problem for dogs that have never been in a house with stairs... but somehow they all adjusted just fine.

The outside stairwell was an open stairwell. I would NEVER recommend you drag a dog up those as they can slide a leg through and break it. Usually once they got the solid stairs down they would go down the open stairs without a problem, and would eventually learn how to go back up them with a little encouragement.

*puts on her flame suit and goes back to puppy tending*

As a side note, a friend is a Warden and they have a service K-9 that will not do stairs in the normal fashion... but he will BACK up them just fine <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

different strokes I suppose... thank god he doesn't have to run into too many staircases in the woods.... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Oh yeah... and I forgot to say "when you get him to the top of the stairs... praise him like he just found the cure for cancer" <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Put his food dish on the stairs, and eventually he will climb when he is hungry enough. First start where he is comfortable, then make him climb higher for his meal.

For Auster, I found a set of stairs with a landing so she only had to climb 1/2 a floor at a time. I stood as far up as I could while holding the leash, showed her a liver treat, and gave her a little tug on her leash. The first several times she would try to run up as fast as possible, but she has slowed down with time. I didn't have a house with stairs, so I couldn't introduce them off leash.

Drag method for the 10 month old. Treat and a helpful push for little bitty puppies.


As I sit here I find myself wondering what Deanna would look like in her "flame" suit. . .

I agree with Deanna on this one.. put on a collar that they can not slip and up he comes... do that 2 or 3 times and he will be good to go.. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Thanks, to all for the suggestions - I shall give it a try.

Mark Addison

I'll jump on board for this one. Drag his ass up the stairs. As soon as he realises that they won't hurt him, he will walk up.

The food idea Lauren posted is a good idea. I would use pieces of raw meat(or whatever he likes)on each step to "motivate" the dog to walk up and down the stairs. Force is NOT the answer for something this simple, as I'd rather the dog accomplish this task on his own. With the food, you're giving the dog a good REASON to do this on his own without any added pressure. Praise him at every step, just as you would in tracking. I would even do this without a leash; for I would rather him go at his own pace.