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Post by renegade on Mar 8, 2014 10:45:22 GMT -5
So my Renny boy is TERRIFIED of stairs. Unfortunately we live in one of those houses where stairs are a necessity, to get to the backyard, to get in the house, to get to the living room, etc.
He is great with the stairs leading to our house rocks up and down them with no problem, but the indoor stairs petrify him. Literally haha. He knows when he comes in the house "step 2" is to go down the stairs with us, and he has slowly been increasing his "max distance" that he is comfortable with coming close to the top of the stairs. He freezes in place about 4 feet from the top of the stairs and there's no convincing him to budge. Treats, encouragement, praise, nothing. As soon as I take hold of his collar (have tried with and without a leash), he stops dead in his tracks
I don't want to pull him, so I've been sort of wheelbarrowing him by him hind end to get him close enough that I can stair to move his feet down the stairs. We go up and down about 5 times a day and each time he turns solid, drippy nose, etc. He just hates it!
He is less stressed going up, but still refuses to move his own legs, but down he is so afraid! He hasn't fallen with me at all, he just has zero confidence!
Any tips to "unfreeze" his brain? Each day it seems like he is becoming more and more reluctant to come near the top of the stairs.
I have stopped taking him in the backyard for now, instead I take him out on to the sidewalk, because it just seems like too much stress to have to move him up the indoor stairs, down the backyard stairs, then back up the backyard stairs and down the indoor stairs each time he needs to go out.
Also, I forgot to add that we did buy carpet treads for the indoor stairs, in hopes that would help him gain confidence.
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craftycrafter
Grey Lover
Holstein 2008-2011 "gone too soon" Lola 2003-2014 "sweetheart"
Posts: 726
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Post by craftycrafter on Mar 8, 2014 11:46:06 GMT -5
Our first dog, Holstein was similar, and we had to literally carry, drag, propel him up them, as far as down them he would literally jump and scare me half silly that he would break a leg. It took about 3 weeks of this until he settled into doing them reasonably ok on his own but he never did manage them as well as Ramone has. Some are just more afraid than others I guess and it affects their performing the stairs well.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Mar 8, 2014 14:10:53 GMT -5
Is it possible for a friend with another dog to come to your home and have that dog do the stairs a million times so Renegade can see and hopefully participate. I use this method when teaching the dogs how to jump in and out of the vehicle. I'm sure others will add their thoughts and tips - good luck and please keep us posted. Martha
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Post by BirdNerd on Mar 8, 2014 19:22:45 GMT -5
Is it possible for a friend with another dog to come to your home and have that dog do the stairs a million times so Renegade can see and hopefully participate. Another dog works wonders! I got my mom's 2 dogs to teach Willow about the stairs. I just put all three on lead, went for a walk around the block together to get them into pack mode, and then walked them up and down the front steps a bunch of times. Once those were easy, I took them inside and did all the stairs inside too. Willow was a bit hesitant at first, but didn't want to get left behind so she figured it out pretty quick. Down is harder than up for her, and depending on the stairs in question, she sometimes takes a little coaxing, but she's pretty much mastered them. I even had to take her down 18 flights during a fire alarm in my building because I just got home and she had to pee and the elevators were off. Patience, love and cookies...he'll get it -Lauren
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Post by celine87 on Mar 8, 2014 19:36:55 GMT -5
Using another dog as a guide helps a lot. We recently adopted our second grey and he has a harder time with the stairs then Callie. He doesn't do the stairs at our house (but there's like 20 stairs to go up and down) but he does do the ones at my parents where there's only like 8. He wouldn't go up or down the first time but I just made Callie & Mocha (my brothers dog) go first and after a few coaxing he went up. He can do the stairs no problem but once in a while it's almost like he forgets what to do (silly dog :S). I'll be on the top and calling his name but nothing, but as soon as i call Callie & Mocha and they go up those stairs, he will follow right away. Sometimes everyone just needs a little guidance as to what needs to be done and having another dog there who is confident can work wonders.
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Post by renegade on Mar 8, 2014 20:55:10 GMT -5
Hmm, he gets along really well with my mother's Golden and my sister's two Aussies. Do you think it would be helpful to bring him to either my sisters' or my parents'? My sister has carpeted stairs, my mom's are all hardwood. Or would it be better to bring one of their dogs here?
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craftycrafter
Grey Lover
Holstein 2008-2011 "gone too soon" Lola 2003-2014 "sweetheart"
Posts: 726
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Post by craftycrafter on Mar 8, 2014 21:09:18 GMT -5
id give him a try on the carpeted stairs if you can. Success will give him confidence.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Mar 9, 2014 8:25:52 GMT -5
id give him a try on the carpeted stairs if you can. Success will give him confidence. I totally agree with trying the carpeted stairs, that way he'll figure out what leg to move first etc., and then he will know how to handle the basic principle when you bring him home. Keep us posted!
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Post by newtothis1 on Mar 10, 2014 17:14:54 GMT -5
I agree with the carpeted stairs and another dog. It can work wonders. Don't get discouraged if he does not do it right away, it may take a couple of times. Good luck and keep us posted.
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Post by renegade on Mar 10, 2014 17:33:55 GMT -5
We have a date with carpeted stairs and two enthusiastic Australian Shepherd teachers, Professor Ted and his teaching assistant Ollie on Thursday He is slowly but surely getting better in our own! We've had a few successes where he either goes up or down a landing on the leash without pressure or manipulation from me! We'll get there I'll let you know how Thursday's class goes!
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Post by renegade on Mar 15, 2014 8:54:42 GMT -5
We are still working on the seperation anxiety, but I had to share! Renny has now successfully come up and down the stairs on his own accord 3 times!!! What a rockstar boy
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Post by GreyPoopon on Mar 15, 2014 16:11:05 GMT -5
Woohoo!
The class must have helped a lot.
I hope he is soon happy alone as well.
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Post by rubylottie14 on Mar 15, 2014 16:56:39 GMT -5
FAB!
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scarletta
Grey Lover
On FB as "Onyx Can-Do"
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Post by scarletta on Mar 15, 2014 18:05:48 GMT -5
Good News! It really touches the heart to see them make that type of progress!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 15, 2014 22:15:23 GMT -5
Upward and Onward - gotta love it! Keep us posted on his (and your) progress! You must be feeling better yourself - yes? Believe us, we've all been there.
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