stairs? - YorkieTalk.com Forums

itsdeedee · 06-30-2007, 06:41 AM

i just moved to a new house and i have upgraded from a one story to a two story. so far, my ten week old yorkie has been staying downstairs in the kitchen, but my mom doesnt want it in the way anymore. and plus, all of Princess's stuff is in my room, which is upstairs. do you guys know how i can start training her to use the stairs and when i can start? or do i have to skip the process and use the puppy gates? i really dont want to use the gates because the main reason im trying to train Princess to use the stairs is because i want her to try to always use the restroom outside, but im scared shes going to have an accident upstairs
which is all carpet (even the restroom!)

she is completely potty trained because i bought her from the breeder that way and she hasnt had an accident off the newspaper i put in the kitchen (for emergencies at night) yet. but im scared that upstairs might be a different story.

marcerella02 · 06-30-2007, 06:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by itsdeedee

i just moved to a new house and i have upgraded from a one story to a two story. so far, my ten week old yorkie has been staying downstairs in the kitchen, but my mom doesnt want it in the way anymore. and plus, all of Princess's stuff is in my room, which is upstairs. do you guys know how i can start training her to use the stairs and when i can start? or do i have to skip the process and use the puppy gates? i really dont want to use the gates because the main reason im trying to train Princess to use the stairs is because i want her to try to always use the restroom outside, but im scared shes going to have an accident upstairs
which is all carpet (even the restroom!)

she is completely potty trained because i bought her from the breeder that way and she hasnt had an accident off the newspaper i put in the kitchen (for emergencies at night) yet. but im scared that upstairs might be a different story.

i used baby gates with Layla, if you watch her try and go down the stairs, you'll notice how "top heavy" she is... her head weighs so much that she will topple down the stairs. As she gets bigger this will change but when they are so tiny their little head weighs a lot in comparison to her body.. so for now i'd use the gates...

Iheartroxie · 06-30-2007, 07:30 AM

Roxie is almost 4 1/2 months and still pretty small. I keep her away from the stairs by using a baby gate. I think its best until she gets a little bigger

s13silviagirl · 06-30-2007, 07:53 AM

After she is a little older try this:

Put her on the steps. Put her front feet on the next step. Then bring her back feet up. Continue.

Sounds stupid. BUT...thats how my husband taught Turbo to go up the stairs.

kalina82 · 06-30-2007, 08:01 AM

Morgan didn't go up and down the stairs till she was 4 months. it was very slow going at first and she sometimes didn't make it all the way down or up so i carried her. At about 6 months she was able to run up and down with no problems. I never "taught" her how to do it. She figured it out on her own. I live in the basement area so there are stairs to go to the main part of the house where my parents are and there are stairs to go outside. the outside steps i carried her up and down. She figured out steps because she wanted to go upstairs to see my parents. they are smart little buggers and will figure it out if they want it.

Gracie2006 · 06-30-2007, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by s13silviagirl

After she is a little older try this:

Put her on the steps. Put her front feet on the next step. Then bring her back feet up. Continue.

Sounds stupid. BUT...thats how my husband taught Turbo to go up the stairs.

This is what I did with Gracie. I started her when she was about 12 weeks old. Going up was much easier to master than going down was. It was not long before she was running up the stairs like a pro! I think she might have been 3 1/2 to 4 months before she was comfortable going down the stairs. I had to show her one step at a time how to go down, and I praised her every step of the way. Like another poster said, use a baby gate to keep baby off the stairs until she is a bit older.

Yorkiedaze · 06-30-2007, 09:09 AM

Since mine were not allowed to run around the house till they were house trained, they never got to go up and down the stairs till they were about 6 months old. It took them about a week or more to get used to the stairs, but they still were not able to have total access to the house unless I was right on their heels. Even now, at 2 & 1/2 years old, when we cannot take them with us they go in the kitchen area.

babi1542 · 06-30-2007, 10:02 AM

Pebbles goes up and down but Sasha that is six months and a half goes up the stairs but is terrified to go down. I really wish she would learn because then when we are downstairs she starts crying to be carried downstairs.

bren · 06-30-2007, 10:20 AM

I taught both Max and Abbie to use the stairs. I taught them to go up first. I put them on the bottom step, then put a tiny treat on the next step. When they went up the one step I put a treat on the next step up. I continued until they stopped or got to the top. Once they mastered up, then I did the same going down but I started at the bottom rather than at the top. I put them on the 2nd step from the bottom and put the treat on the bottom step. When they went down the step, they got the treat and TONS of verbal praise. Then I gradually put them on the next step higher, then the next and the next. They were going up and down the steps in no time. Abbie was about 3 1/2 months old and Max was 4 months old. Keep in mind, though, that Max and Abbie are larger yorkies (my little teapots

.) They were not 1-3 lbs when I taught them this so they weren't extremely fragile. They were both 5-6 lbs when I taught them to use the stairs.

kalina82 · 06-30-2007, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bren

I taught both Max and Abbie to use the stairs. I taught them to go up first. I put them on the bottom step, then put a tiny treat on the next step. When they went up the one step I put a treat on the next step up. I continued until they stopped or got to the top. Once they mastered up, then I did the same going down but I started at the bottom rather than at the top. I put them on the 2nd step from the bottom and put the treat on the bottom step. When they went down the step, they got the treat and TONS of verbal praise. Then I gradually put them on the next step higher, then the next and the next. They were going up and down the steps in no time. Abbie was about 3 1/2 months old and Max was 4 months old. Keep in mind, though, that Max and Abbie are larger yorkies (my little teapots

.) They were not 1-3 lbs when I taught them this so they weren't extremely fragile. They were both 5-6 lbs when I taught them to use the stairs.

Treats are an excellent motivator to do steps. i believe i used them too when morgan was first starting. i put her on the third step from the bottom a couple times and threw a treat on the floor. that made her little butt go hoping on down to get it. Also worked for going up the steps. And it worked when teaching her to use the ramp to get on and off the bed.

AMMARI · 06-30-2007, 05:44 PM

[QUOTE=itsdeedee;1204320]i just moved to a new house and i have upgraded from a one story to a two story. so far, my ten week old yorkie has been staying downstairs in the kitchen, but my mom doesnt want it in the way anymore.

Hi everybody, I'm new to the board. My puppy's name is Sammy. He's 14 weeks old and he goes up the stairs. He just learned by himself last week, but he can't get down yet. He can olny get down the two last steps which are much wider than the others. I carry him down. I thought this was like a "developmental" thing like in kids. I could be wrong.

bellaismybaby · 06-30-2007, 06:12 PM

i really dont want to use the gates because the main reason im trying to train Princess to use the stairs is because i want her to try to always use the restroom outside, but im scared shes going to have an accident upstairs
which is all carpet (even the restroom!)

Even if you have her upstairs and use the gate until she can master the stairs you are still going to have to take her out to go potty. You don't let her go out by herself do you? So either way you will have to go with her.
I get up every night with Izzie to go out, sometimes twice. Not my favorite thing, but until she can make it through the night it's what I have to do.
Potty training is not for the weak at heart

SweetPea53 · 07-21-2007, 01:39 PM

Izzie picked up on using the stairs when she was 14 weeks old. I bought her the stairs that go up to the sofa and she goes up them, but likes to fly down over them. I have a baby gate blocking the stairs going upstairs as they are open stairs and steep. She gets overly excited and doesn't watch what shes doing sometimes and I worry about her losing her footing and falling, or thinking she can fly over those also

(She is such a dare devil ) I am going to slowly start moving the baby gate up a step or two over the next couple weeks and see how she does.

BLowry · 07-21-2007, 04:30 PM

Lillie is 14 months old and has NEVER used stairs...up or down. She was on 1.6 lbs when I got her so I pretty much kept her away from stairs. When she was about 8 months old she fell down our family room stairs..she did not tumble she actually ran down every step but pretty much involintarily...I think this scared her so much that she won't even attempt them anymore. I have even put her on the second step and she starts to shake. so it isn't worth it..I don't mind carrying her...It's safer this way.

Tina_Luvs_Missy · 07-21-2007, 05:00 PM

I was so worried about moving into a house again, since we bought Missy. But amazingly enough, after 3 days, she managed to learn how to go up and down. She took baby steps though--- went up probably 3 steps, and came down... repeatedly, and then she managed to go up all (i think 14 steps) They'll be just fine. They're so smart, they know they have to be careful, but sometimes Missy scares me cause she runs so fast sometimes, so if you are really worried/scared, buy the baby gates or the pet gates from wal-mart.

06-30-2007, 06:41 AM	#1
itsdeedee Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 14	stairs? i just moved to a new house and i have upgraded from a one story to a two story. so far, my ten week old yorkie has been staying downstairs in the kitchen, but my mom doesnt want it in the way anymore. and plus, all of Princess's stuff is in my room, which is upstairs. do you guys know how i can start training her to use the stairs and when i can start? or do i have to skip the process and use the puppy gates? i really dont want to use the gates because the main reason im trying to train Princess to use the stairs is because i want her to try to always use the restroom outside, but im scared shes going to have an accident upstairs which is all carpet (even the restroom!) she is completely potty trained because i bought her from the breeder that way and she hasnt had an accident off the newspaper i put in the kitchen (for emergencies at night) yet. but im scared that upstairs might be a different story.

06-30-2007, 08:01 AM	#5
kalina82 Phantom Queen Morrigan Donating Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: with my yorkie baby Posts: 10,141 Blog Entries: 1	Morgan didn't go up and down the stairs till she was 4 months. it was very slow going at first and she sometimes didn't make it all the way down or up so i carried her. At about 6 months she was able to run up and down with no problems. I never "taught" her how to do it. She figured it out on her own. I live in the basement area so there are stairs to go to the main part of the house where my parents are and there are stairs to go outside. the outside steps i carried her up and down. She figured out steps because she wanted to go upstairs to see my parents. they are smart little buggers and will figure it out if they want it. __________________ Kellie and Morgan

06-30-2007, 10:02 AM	#8
babi1542 Double Trouble Donating Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: FLORIDA Posts: 4,658	Pebbles goes up and down but Sasha that is six months and a half goes up the stairs but is terrified to go down. I really wish she would learn because then when we are downstairs she starts crying to be carried downstairs. __________________ PEBBLES AND SASHA MY DOGS ARE NOT SPOILED...I'M JUST WELL TRAINED!

06-30-2007, 10:20 AM	#9
bren Slave to Max 'n Abbie Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 1,529	I taught both Max and Abbie to use the stairs. I taught them to go up first. I put them on the bottom step, then put a tiny treat on the next step. When they went up the one step I put a treat on the next step up. I continued until they stopped or got to the top. Once they mastered up, then I did the same going down but I started at the bottom rather than at the top. I put them on the 2nd step from the bottom and put the treat on the bottom step. When they went down the step, they got the treat and TONS of verbal praise. Then I gradually put them on the next step higher, then the next and the next. They were going up and down the steps in no time. Abbie was about 3 1/2 months old and Max was 4 months old. Keep in mind, though, that Max and Abbie are larger yorkies (my little teapots .) They were not 1-3 lbs when I taught them this so they weren't extremely fragile. They were both 5-6 lbs when I taught them to use the stairs. __________________ Brenda, Max & Abbie

06-30-2007, 06:12 PM	#12
bellaismybaby Donating Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: California Posts: 829	i really dont want to use the gates because the main reason im trying to train Princess to use the stairs is because i want her to try to always use the restroom outside, but im scared shes going to have an accident upstairs which is all carpet (even the restroom!) Even if you have her upstairs and use the gate until she can master the stairs you are still going to have to take her out to go potty. You don't let her go out by herself do you? So either way you will have to go with her. I get up every night with Izzie to go out, sometimes twice. Not my favorite thing, but until she can make it through the night it's what I have to do. Potty training is not for the weak at heart __________________ Bella Izzie Julie

06-30-2007, 07:30 AM	#3
Iheartroxie Donating Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Plantation, Florida Posts: 410	Roxie is almost 4 1/2 months and still pretty small. I keep her away from the stairs by using a baby gate. I think its best until she gets a little bigger

06-30-2007, 07:53 AM	#4
s13silviagirl Donating YT Addict Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Sunny Southern California!!!! Posts: 1,877	After she is a little older try this: Put her on the steps. Put her front feet on the next step. Then bring her back feet up. Continue. Sounds stupid. BUT...thats how my husband taught Turbo to go up the stairs.

06-30-2007, 09:09 AM	#7
Yorkiedaze My hairy-legged girls Donating Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: lompoc, ca. Posts: 12,228	Since mine were not allowed to run around the house till they were house trained, they never got to go up and down the stairs till they were about 6 months old. It took them about a week or more to get used to the stairs, but they still were not able to have total access to the house unless I was right on their heels. Even now, at 2 & 1/2 years old, when we cannot take them with us they go in the kitchen area.

06-30-2007, 05:44 PM	#11
AMMARI Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: New York Posts: 181	[QUOTE=itsdeedee;1204320]i just moved to a new house and i have upgraded from a one story to a two story. so far, my ten week old yorkie has been staying downstairs in the kitchen, but my mom doesnt want it in the way anymore. Hi everybody, I'm new to the board. My puppy's name is Sammy. He's 14 weeks old and he goes up the stairs. He just learned by himself last week, but he can't get down yet. He can olny get down the two last steps which are much wider than the others. I carry him down. I thought this was like a "developmental" thing like in kids. I could be wrong.

07-21-2007, 01:39 PM	#13
SweetPea53 ~Izzie~ My Lil' Sweetie Donating Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: So. California (Santa Clarita) Posts: 2,348	Izzie picked up on using the stairs when she was 14 weeks old. I bought her the stairs that go up to the sofa and she goes up them, but likes to fly down over them. I have a baby gate blocking the stairs going upstairs as they are open stairs and steep. She gets overly excited and doesn't watch what shes doing sometimes and I worry about her losing her footing and falling, or thinking she can fly over those also (She is such a dare devil ) I am going to slowly start moving the baby gate up a step or two over the next couple weeks and see how she does. __________________ Don't Worry, Be Happy

07-21-2007, 04:30 PM	#14
BLowry My furkids Donating Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 4,625 Blog Entries: 1	Lillie is 14 months old and has NEVER used stairs...up or down. She was on 1.6 lbs when I got her so I pretty much kept her away from stairs. When she was about 8 months old she fell down our family room stairs..she did not tumble she actually ran down every step but pretty much involintarily...I think this scared her so much that she won't even attempt them anymore. I have even put her on the second step and she starts to shake. so it isn't worth it..I don't mind carrying her...It's safer this way. __________________ Brenda

07-21-2007, 05:00 PM	#15
Tina_Luvs_Missy YT Addict Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 326	I was so worried about moving into a house again, since we bought Missy. But amazingly enough, after 3 days, she managed to learn how to go up and down. She took baby steps though--- went up probably 3 steps, and came down... repeatedly, and then she managed to go up all (i think 14 steps) They'll be just fine. They're so smart, they know they have to be careful, but sometimes Missy scares me cause she runs so fast sometimes, so if you are really worried/scared, buy the baby gates or the pet gates from wal-mart.