Open Stairs and dogs

[Halfpass]

Hi all, got my new doggy yesterday and i'm having a problem already. I have an open wooden staircase that leads up to my flat and my new boy just will not go up it. He'll go up a normal staircase but just sits at the bottom of this one and barks at me. I have resorted to carrying him up which I obviously can't do all the time. He will come down with a lot of persuasion ( i mean i need to get him halfway and he'll go the rest). I've tried treats etc but he just says no. Any ideas very much appreciated.

 

[Tia]

Is it your own private staircase? If so then just leave the dog at the bottom - he will make his way up in his own good time.

 

[SSM]

Bumble Dog is petrified of heights (yet loves flying

) Open stairs she is very very reluctant to go up and down them and balconys she literaly just leans to look but will not go near the edge!

Are your stairs slippery?

 

[ann-jen]

My dog used to be afraid of the open staircase at my parents house but she soon overcame it much to their disappointment as they didn't want the dogs going upstairs!
If he's a typical labrador (lets face it they are usually stomachs on legs) then I would say when it comes to feeding time I would put his bowl of food at the top of the stairs and then leave him alone to figure it out. If he's like most labs and food orientated he'll be up those stairs fairly soon! I would do that every time he's due a feed until he seems more confidant and not feed him or give him any treats at any other time or place until he overcomes this.
Good Luck

 

[Cobnut1]

do you mean open because he can see through the steps? it probably doesn't look safe to him, if you can get small planks of wood/plastic to cover up the holes, then he may go up. other than that, he might prefer to stay downstairs...is there any reason why he can't stay downstairs?

I wouldn't worry too much about it...if he's really new, then it'll all be strange to him still and will settle in his own time.

 

[riotgirl]

I spend the whle 2 weeks of our holiday in scotland carrying our dog up and down the stairs due to this! They seem to hate it for some reason. I guess it is just a matter of giving them time...

 

[KJJ]

As someone suggested.. FOOD may be the key!!

 

[Triskar]

My 2 were exactly the same - then the lab got brave and came upstairs, with the beaucheron grizzling at the bottom. Now the beaucheron comes upstairs but the lab has decided that he won't.... and this is the lab that does agility with such enthusiasm!

I just leave them to it now. Funnily enough, if I go upstaire with a cup of tea and a slice of cake, the stairs suddenly aren't so scarey!