Going Down Stairs

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Going Down Stairs

Submitted by admin on April 20, 2010 - 5:30pm

Archived General Bulldog Chat

Has anyone gotten their bully to go down stairs? 15-week old Maya does great coming up but has no intentions of going down. We've tried coercing with treats but she just stands at the top barking and whining. She's beginning to get a little too heavy to carry. The stairs are carpeted so there's no danger of slipping. I know she's "top heavy" but will she ever be able to accomplish this? Any suggestions?

Thanks for the help,
Adminane

stairs

Submitted by Anonymous on July 12, 2003 - 9:34pm.

Zags will go down the stairs as long as they are carpeted. I first brought him home and had to carry him down our back porch, but got tired of that he learned he had to go down those. But it took him a little while to go upstairs then it was hard to get him down. He still won't go unless I tell him too!
But he absolutely refuses the basement stairs! He just stands there waiting for me, has anyone ever looked up into a sourmug like that...it's so dang funny!

give it time

Submitted by Anonymous on July 12, 2003 - 9:05am.

I taught mine by putting them on a leash, treats, and kind of standing in front of them, so they didn't have that intimidating view down. Rather, they just saw one step at a time, I hope this makes sense. Then put a treat on the stairs and coax one stair at a time, and that's all they can really see, since you're blocking their view. Also, it might help if they lean against you a bit for support.
You might actually physically place their paws in the right spot too so they understand what you want him to do.

But once they learn, watch out! Your pup will be going up and down like it's nothing! Good luck

Down Stairs

Submitted by Anonymous on July 12, 2003 - 9:03am.

That's a tough one. It's very scary for them to look down. YIKES!

I found that I've always had to force mine to go down the stairs. Start with the last 2 or 3 steps. Give a tug on the leash. He's resist but pull enough that he has to go down. He'll do it. Practice that way a few times. In a couple of days he'll be going down like a pro.

we have 12 or 13

Submitted by Anonymous on July 12, 2003 - 1:52pm.

carpeted steps in our 2 story house. Both my dogs are fine with them, instructions on how they were taught are posted above!

how many steps are too many?

Submitted by Mdog91 (not verified) on July 12, 2003 - 1:32pm.

my apt has 16 steps, all carpeted. I have not tried to get my baby to go down them yet. Do you think this is too many steps for her?

Re: Going Down Stairs

Submitted by Anonymous on July 12, 2003 - 1:14pm.

My Frenchie would have rathered jump off the top and land at the bottom rather than attempt the stairs. She once did try and had a rather nasty tumble. She was much more top heavy than our bullie, though. If there were less than 5 stairs (like outside house stairs) she'd just take a leap. We really had to watch her.

Maggie took on steps at 7 months...

Submitted by Anonymous on July 12, 2003 - 12:15pm.

...she wouldn't go up or down.. ..then one day we were getting ready to go somewhere and down the stairs she came.. ..give it time..!!