Teaching a Dog How to Go Down Stairs

Many dogs are quite naturally afraid of things that they do not understand, and from their perspective, stairs are quite unusual. Dogs may become trapped upstairs or confused by the steep angle, especially if they have not been exposed to stairs in the past. A dog at the top of a short flight of stairs might even risk jumping down rather than trusting the confusing apparatus. A good start to stair comfort with dogs is to introduce them early.

  1. Introduction to Stairs

    • If you have stairs in your home, try to get your puppy used to them as fast as possible. Speak to them in an excited tone as you go up and down the stairs with them, and show them through example that they have nothing to fear from the stairs. With treats, teach them that they have plenty to gain, and that the stairs are a good or happy place.

      For a dog that has had no experiences with stairs, these first few happy stair trips should set a trend. Keep the dog or puppy on a leash as you walk beside or behind them, and encourage, do not force. Use a happy tone to deliver constant praise, and make sure that the treats you hand out are both liberal and extra special.

    Curing Stair Fear

    • If your dog is already afraid of the stairs, they may need more conditioning. Place a food bowl at the top of the stairs instead of in the normal place, and let your dog get comfortable eating on the landing. After a few days, move the bowl down one step and wait until they are comfortable with that. Eventually the bowl will be on the bottom step during feedings, and you can start working with your dog to gently get them used to the stairs when there is no food.

    Disguise the Stairs

    • Dogs may also respond well to something that is more familiar or at least less foreign. Instead of the stairs, create a "hill" for your dog to walk down by laying a blanket over the steps. This may be less confusing or frightening for your dog, but just take things slowly and it should be fine.

      Whatever you do, it is important to remember to go slow, encourage the dog, remain firm with the leash (but not rough) and feed them an extra special treat as they descend the stairs, or even as they approach them for the first time. This is a big phase to conquer, but one that is easily trainable with patience.