Yahoo Answers is shutting down on May 4th, 2021 (Eastern Time) and beginning April 20th, 2021 (Eastern Time) the Yahoo Answers website will be in read-only mode. There will be no changes to other Yahoo properties or services, or your Yahoo account. You can find more information about the Yahoo Answers shutdown and how to download your data on this help page.

BoomerFamily asked in PetsDogs · 1 decade ago

Dog and stairs?

I have a 3yo lab that refuses to climb the stairs in my house. The house we were in before this was a 1 level bungalow, but this oone has a main floor, basement and 1 upper level where the bedrooms are.

It's not that she's afraid of stairs as she will climb the outside stairs, ones at friends houses, ones where she can't see where they lead, ones without backs.

So it's not really a stairs issue, just the ones at my house issue. LOL. How can I tempt her into going up and down them? I've tried coaxing her with treats, sitting and waiting for her to join me, using the leash. I've even had my husband carry her upstairs, then only to find out she won't go down and he's he's had to carry her again.

I'm not desperate to have her upstairs as it keeps the amount of hair I need to sweep only on one level, but I would like her to be able to come up with me when I go to bed.

TIA for all the HELPFUL suggestions. :)

Update:

Thanks so far for all the responses. To answer some of the questions:

We've been here over a year.

The stairs are wood with just a small piece of carpet so no one slips.

They're fully backlit by a large window.

And nope, even her favorite treats won't work.

11 Answers

Relevance
  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    You need to try to find out why she doesn't want to... which is why you are here.

    Was she owned by anyone else before you - or stayed with anyone else?

    The colour of the stairs/carpet?

    A smell on the stairs?

    Do you REALLY want to to sleep with you upstairs?

    Source(s): That's Life!
  • 1 decade ago

    My 1-1/2 yo lab/GS is the same. I have tried all the tricks in the book (toys, treats, etc.) to entice her to go down to the wreck room. It is really quite strange because this dog will follow me absolutely everywhere and will come when called - except for the wreck room - she just lays at the top of the stairs and whines. I even tried to get her down there via the outside entrance (no stairs) on leash, heeling - even this didn't work. She was absolutely petrified. So I decided not make this an issue and figure when she's good & ready(which may be never) that she can go of her own accord. Note that my previous dogs never had any problems going down there.

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    Maybe you should really get a new colour for the staircase or a carpet just like your friends. And if it doesn't go up, don't carry it straight away.

    Hold its paw and try to drag it upstairs by offering treats only each step. If it doesn't work, create a strong bond and stay upstairs on free days.

    You can also put its meals upstairs and keep all supplies in your room so your dog does not have any choice but learn to go up the stairs. Put its potty and bed up there too. It might help.

  • 1 decade ago

    Let her stay downstairs, if she doesn't have a problem with stairs in general then allow her the choice of where she wants to be, there is no reason for her to go up other than you want her there. Maybe she is sad about leaving your old house & this is her way of showing it. You don't say how long you have been in the new house, give her time, don't make an issue of constantly trying to force or tempt her up & when she is ready you will probably come in one day & find her dozing on your bed.

  • How do you think about the answers? You can sign in to vote the answer.
  • 1 decade ago

    try sitting at the top and making exciting strange noises "she might think, hello, whats going on there?"

    or try taking it step by step; dont give her treats for a while and then put a bone on higher steps but where she can see it

    if not, find numbers for dog trainers and just ask, over the phone, be flattering like "hello!, ____?(<name inserted there), my good friend used to see you in help training her dog and she recommended i call you for some help... you see, my dog..." and off you go. try it with all of them til you get a result. if they ask the name of the your friend, say, "h, my good friend, yes, she said you really did wonders for her dog, an elderly lady lady, do you remember?" and chance is they'lll say "oh, was it _____?" and you can trhen say "yes! her dogs an angel because of you!" flattery gets you everywhere

    that way you get free advice from professionals

  • Anonymous
    5 years ago

    ~ think about just a simple step-stool and cover it with a piece of carpet. check at wal-mart in the hardware dept. Anything labeled with the word "dog" is going to cost much more. since your bed is so low a step stool would work. I just messured my stool and it is 14 inches off the ground.

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    she's probably just scared of the new stairs. keep trying treats and give her some more time. she's trying to adjust to her new house. of course i like the idea of cleaning up pet hair on only one level myself!

  • 1 decade ago

    Give her sometime. She is getting adjusted to her new enviorment. I went through this. It took my lab 5 months before she went up and comfortably.

    Now, sometimes I wish she wouldn't go up!

  • 1 decade ago

    hi there is there a light you can turn on where the stairs are she may have a slight eyesight problem

  • 1 decade ago

    Treats doesn't work? then try the experience way, lifting her up and down once might not work,by try doing it every day + treats might work^^

Still have questions? Get your answers by asking now.