Dogs are sensitive animals and they also feel fear. And among his most common fears are stairs. This everyday and simple structure for humans can be terrifying for our four-legged friends. Especially when they are puppies.
But throughout their lives they will have to face many steps and it is not practical or positive for them that their human friends have to pick them up or drag them every time they go up or down a staircase. While some dogs will overcome this challenge on their own over time, others need help to overcome their fear.
The first thing you should keep in mind is that patience will be key in the process. You should go little by little and respect your dog’s times, because if you force him you could worsen his fear, cause him to hurt himself or have a bad time.
If you have stairs at home with gaps between the steps or between the railing bars, it is advisable to cover them with some mesh to reduce the danger that the dog may fall. This way you will feel more secure.
So that your dog stops associating the stairs with something negative -whether inside the house, those in the portal, public transport…- make sure to give him caresses and words of encouragement when you go up or down them with him in your arms, so that he sees that no problem. Also, it is advisable to play with him near the stairs.
When you see that he feels confident near the stairs, it is time to try to face them. As a general rule, they tend to be more afraid to lower them than to raise them, so start at the bottom so that they are encouraged to go up. Place a path of trinkets that leads to the first step and place yourself on it. Call him with another prize from that first step to get him closer.
When you get him to take the bauble on the first step without problems, go up another one every day. But he remembers to go little by little and always encourage him with positive reinforcement (caresses, pampering, affectionate words, sweets…). If you see that he is having a bad time, go back to the previous step or leave the training for another time.
When he has climbed several steps with this procedure, stand at the top of the ladder with a treat and call him to come to you. Once he’s gone all the way up the ladder, repeat the process to teach him how to go down the ladder, but start from the step closest to the ground instead of the top, so he doesn’t feel like he might fall.
