YorkieTalk.com Forums - Yorkshire Terrier Community - View Single Post - I want my dogs to jump up on the furniture!!

SoCalyorkiLvr · 05-18-2005, 11:39 AM

I bet most would be surprised to learn that a dog shouldn't jump off of or onto anything that is higher than their shoulder. For our little yorkies this is only 6-7 inches in some cases! I know there is no way to stop an athletic yorkie from jumping off a curb or up onto a stool if they choose to, but I think it is important to be aware of this rule of thumb so to speak and get the pet stairs, set up the pillows or whatever to encourage them to use those for asistance whenever possible.

These little guys think they are much bigger and SOME will try to do way more than they should physically. It is up to us to be aware of this and encourage alternate behavior for their own good. The little puppy who doesn't want to jump off the curb is probably not just "timid or scared" but also "smart". It is probably too high for him.

Yorkies are especially prone to arthritus and joint issues in later life and the more jumping from heights that they do throughout their lifetime could predidpose them to these conditions in later life. It is somewhat progessive, these degenerative conditions, I have been told, and all the jumping on and off can accumulate and cause potential problems later. I guess it's just like with us humans. Football players and other athletes who "stress" their knees and legs or whatever when they are younger and more fit can develop debilitating conditions later in life. Non or low impact exercise is also preferred for this reason. High impact is hard on the joints.

Yorkies are also predisposed to luxating patellas (knee cap slippage) and this condition can be exacerbated by too much jumping up and down off furniture or whatever.

I have purchased two sets of the foam steps and I have used the stacked pillows as well as using household decor to form steps. In my bedroom for instance I have an old fashioned suitcase set of three that matches the decor and I have set these up around an ottomon to make "steps" to get up to the bed. I used to lift my westie up and she would jump off, but since reading more about this, I have started training her to use the steps too.

05-18-2005, 11:39 AM	#13
SoCalyorkiLvr BANNED! Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 8,246	I bet most would be surprised to learn that a dog shouldn't jump off of or onto anything that is higher than their shoulder. For our little yorkies this is only 6-7 inches in some cases! I know there is no way to stop an athletic yorkie from jumping off a curb or up onto a stool if they choose to, but I think it is important to be aware of this rule of thumb so to speak and get the pet stairs, set up the pillows or whatever to encourage them to use those for asistance whenever possible. These little guys think they are much bigger and SOME will try to do way more than they should physically. It is up to us to be aware of this and encourage alternate behavior for their own good. The little puppy who doesn't want to jump off the curb is probably not just "timid or scared" but also "smart". It is probably too high for him. Yorkies are especially prone to arthritus and joint issues in later life and the more jumping from heights that they do throughout their lifetime could predidpose them to these conditions in later life. It is somewhat progessive, these degenerative conditions, I have been told, and all the jumping on and off can accumulate and cause potential problems later. I guess it's just like with us humans. Football players and other athletes who "stress" their knees and legs or whatever when they are younger and more fit can develop debilitating conditions later in life. Non or low impact exercise is also preferred for this reason. High impact is hard on the joints. Yorkies are also predisposed to luxating patellas (knee cap slippage) and this condition can be exacerbated by too much jumping up and down off furniture or whatever. I have purchased two sets of the foam steps and I have used the stacked pillows as well as using household decor to form steps. In my bedroom for instance I have an old fashioned suitcase set of three that matches the decor and I have set these up around an ottomon to make "steps" to get up to the bed. I used to lift my westie up and she would jump off, but since reading more about this, I have started training her to use the steps too.