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Stairs We just got a 3-month old Yorkie named Charlie. We've had him nearly 2 weeks now, and we're all in love. He's perfect for our family. He has a wonderful disposition, loves to cuddle, and isn't too hyper considering he's a puppy. I was worried as we've never had a puppy before. So I did a lot of reading and research (and made myself worry more :) But things are going great. A little slow on house training but we're getting there. The past couple of days I'm wondering about the stairs. He hasn't attempted them. (His breeder was in an apartment in NYC; so no stairs there.) He's bigger than most Yorkies (weighs 7.5 at 13 weeks!!) We've been carrying him up and down the stairs but if he gets much heavier, I'll have trouble (bad arthritis in my hands.) Wondering if I should try to "teach" him how to do the stairs, and if so how? Or is it something he'll do when he's ready? |
Hi and Welcome! I have always taught the stairs by putting them one step from the bottom and then holding a treat just out of reach, so they have to come down to get it... then move them up two stairs and do it again, etc. etc. Then I do the same thing in reverse for going up. If the treat is really yummy and worth it they WILL come down and get it :p It has usually only taken a couple of tries and they were running up and down the stairs like they always knew how to use them! Good Luck and Welcome! |
this is my unprofessional opinion - and i'm sure others will have better advice, but.... that's something that really never, ever crossed my mind. when it came time to go up/down the stairs - i just went and my pup followed. she's only 8.8 pounds (not a yorkie though) at 4.5 months old. i think they just learn to do it/know to do it - something. of course, i could be totally wrong - it's just my thoughts. |
Thanks. My guess is eventually she'll learn. But I may take the advice of trying to teach her with a treat. (I actually remember doing this with my first daughter ... minus the treat ... I taught her very young to do the stairs because I didn't want her to fall.) I have 13 or 14 stairs so it would be quite a tumble for him if he did fall. I'd rather know he's okay doing it. So much to learn about puppies!!! (We had a teacup poodle who died suddenly last August. We got her when she was fully grown and wonderfully trained so we didn't have the worries we do now.) This is a great resource. I'm sure I'll be posting lots of questions! |
Hello and welcome. It might take a little bit of time but they usually figure out the stairs. Mine always seem to go up and then after a few days they will go up and come back down. |
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Copper is 16 weeks old. He has going up the stairs mastered and can do them very fast. Coming down is a bigger challenge. His body can do a head over heels very quickly. So...for now I'm carrying him down. Sometimes I sit on the stairs and we go down one at a time. I would say stairs can be learned but watch the downhill!!!! |
like i said, stairs were never a problem for me, but every pup (like children) are different. i don't know if this would work since i haven't dealt with it, but something that came to mind is using a leash to train him on the steps (if your pup wears a collar) it would be easy to attach the leash when you go up/down the steps - if u hang the leash by the stairway. i could be wrong, but i think it would work because the pup would be walking on his/her own, but you'd have the security of the leash. i dunno? just an idea. |
We choose to not let our dogs do the stairs. We have a two story foyer with open spindle railings and then there is an open spindle railing at the top that overlooks the foyer. They can do them, but with having three and the way they go running. I've just always worried about them knocking each other down the steps and we have ceramic tile floors! They have the run of the first floor! Just our preference! |
My girl is 3 pounds and does our (carpet) stairs just fine. When I brought her home she couldnt do the stairs (1pound) and I thought I would be able to get away with only having her downstairs thinging she wouldnt be able to do the stairs... it didnt take to long for her to figure it out. :rolleyes: |
My yorkie weighs a little over 4 lb and she just started going up and down them herself. She really thought she was doing something and ran up and down them every chance she got for a while. |
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