How Can I Be Fair? I Have 3 Dogs And Just Moved To A New Home With A Basement.?
A Reader Asks…
One dog is completely happy and content and runs up and down the basement stairs like it’s nothing. The other two, a 90 lb mutt and a 30 lb Beagle, are terrified to go near the stairs much less down them. I don’t think my mutt knows HOW to walk down stairs. She jumps or leaps up and down the 3 steps leading off the deck. I’ve tried coaxing them down with very desirable treats but they stand there shaking with fear and refuse the treats. My large mutt will fight and dig her nails in the hardwood floors if I try and force her down. I feel terrible staying down in the basement with the one dog while the other two are crying and whining at the top of the stairs. How can I get my canine family together again?
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It may take some time for the dogs to get used to the stairs. Try carrying them down stairs and see if they will go up the stairs, but probably not feasible for the 90 lb dog. For some reason, some dogs are more comfortable going up than down. If they will do that, it shouldn’t be long before they figure out how to go down on their own. Don’t force the issue as that will only be counter-productive. Have some patience.
Do it one dog at a time, just coax your dogs down using treats and encouragement, for every step they make it down, give them a treat, but always stay at arms length below them, to encourage them to follow. Once they get down the stairs, getting them back up once you are up, wont be much of a problem.
just go down.. dont force them! Eventually they will decide that they want to be with your bad enough and will go down the steps!
My dog used to hate basments, and would not follow me down. Now he sneaks down sometimes when Im not looking!
Give them time
well my dog is also afraid of going up and down the stairs. So ive been in that situation. With his leashe i gently pulled him up the stairs with soothing remarks to comfort him. but that didnt work so i just carried him up and down. It may be a hassle to you, but its a good work out.
good luck
My dog was scared of the stairs at first, too. He’s a beagle, so I was able to pick him up and carry him up and down the stairs. He would watch my feet and see that we were going down only a little at a time. Also, I put his leash on and pulled him to make him go UP the stairs, and that helped. They just see how far down the stairs are and get scared. Try sitting on the top step and getting the dog near you. Then, without getting up, grab his collar and scoot your butt down to the next step. Drag him down one step. Reassure him so he doesn’t get scared, but don’t let go, either. Just keep scooting down and taking him with you. Once he sees how stairs work, he won’t be scared anymore.
try sleeping upstairs. if that isnt possible, then you’re just going to have to deal. they’ll eventually get used to it. try geting some of your buddies to help pick them up and bring them downstairs tomorrow. it may take a few days to get used to it. but if they really really really want to see you that badly they should suck it up and deal, but if its just attention and stuff then just leave them awhile.
i dont know really what to tell you, but best of luck. maybe lock up the happy puppy up with food and water etc, and then put treats up each stair and put there food in the basement.
You are going to have to give them a little time. Keep working with them on the 3 steps off the deck. In the meantime, if they need to stay upstairs on the main level while you are in the basement, so be it.
Perhaps watching the other dog do it will help, but don’t force them.
I’m also assuming that there are no lameness or back problems to work through here as well.
Okay, the best way to do this, and it sounds mean, but honestly… it works. I’ve gotten my dog to do all kinds of things this way.
Dogs are timid about new things/changes, etc.
If you allow the dog to refuse to go down, you are setting the dog up to NEVER go down. If you force the dog to do it, then he sees it isn’t so bad that you won’t lead him anywhere that will hurt him… you will find it builds your dogs confidence, and your dog will trust you more and probably follow you the next place you ask without problems. I learned this from a VERY qualified obedience/tracking/police sport/schutzhund trainer. He was amazing.
Here is what you have to do. Put the dog on his leash/harness/whatever…. Then with treats in hand and leash in other… pull the dog down the stairs. You will have to make him go… if you give up- you are setting your dog up for failure. The dog will think he never has to do it, can get out of it by being stubborn When you get a few stairs down give a treat. When you get half way- give treat. When you get to the bottom treat the dog and make a big deal about what a good dog he was. (I mean big deal/good voice/good boy, etc.) Then go up (repeat the procedure if you have to, but dogs will usually go up easier than down) and do it again. After about the second or third time, he will probably do it easily on his own. He will think he is the greatest.
Do this individually with each dog that won’t go down.
I got my dog to learn to go up ladders this way and jump through windows… She was learning some of the obstacles that dogs learn when doing police sport. She hated going up the ladder the first 3 or 4 times… She shook and acted like I was killing her… Had to pull and push to get her up. By the 5 time, she ran up with no leash. She thought she was the greatest… The door set up with an open section on the top half where the window would be was more difficult… It took her 5 or 6 times before she felt confident enough to do it without being on leash… Now she jumps through our windows at home with no problem!! LOL!
Since yours is just stairs… It probably won’t take as long as those…
Good luck…
spend time in the basement with the other dog. give treats and play with him.. the other dogs will eventually follow suit. they are pack animals and do not want to be left out by the pack leader(you). give it a little time but they will learn
First of all, stop trying to force the issue. You have three dogs, one is fine with the stairs, the other 2 aren’t. let the one that has no fear of the stairs do the work. He will get the other 2 use to the stairs in time.
try food and there water take it down let them see it then watch from a distance see what happens there scared its new give time try toys treats you eat at bottom of stairs show them people food maybe it will work good luck