wondering about jumping.

[motomomma317]

Im very new to this so bare with me.

I have a 16 week old Yorkie. He's 3 lb. even. I would get you the leg measurements if he ever stopped moving... but I am wondering, when should I expect him to jump on chairs and couches. So far he can't do it. Even tho I know he wants to get up to my other dog who can jump on the chair. I ask because I want to be prepared to keep an extra careful eye on him.
At what age did your babies start jumping on furniture on there own. Currently we help him up and off the chairs, b/c hes still to scared to get down on his own. And that's fine with me.
Thanks for any help you can give me.
Motos mommy. Sara

[DamSweet]

Hi Sara - I'm also pretty new to the world of Yorkie's! Bridget is 6 months old and had just recently started jumping on the couch (but she's been trying for months!). One couch is leather so she has learned that the middle cushion is the most sat in and is flattened out more than the others so she can reach - if someone is sitting there she uses the afghan as a "ladder" and jumps as far as she can then pulls herself up the rest of the way. If she wants to get to the loveseat - which is seldom occupied so the cushions are thick....she just jumps like a flying squirell to the arm from the couch. Looks like I'll never be able to re-arrange my furniture. My other couch is material like a courdory so she can get an easier grip when she jumps on it. I am having a carpeted ramp made to match the carpet in my living room so she can get up and down easier - I worry about her hurting her legs if she lands wrong.

[Ladylavender]

Just wanted to say that my Millie never did learn to jump on the furniture. To this day she cannot do it. We started her off on steps and that is what she uses to get up and down the bed, couches and loveseats. I was very concerned about luxating patellas that I never wanted her to stress her legs that hard that jumping can cause.

[spiritwings1202]

Pixie was jumping at 4 months and stressing me out. I bought her stairs bc I did not want her jumping. She would run up the stairs and jump down. She is 8 months old now and I am working on her using the stairs to get off furniture bc it is NOT good for their joints to jump.
So my advice would be buy a 2 step stair for the couch and a 3 or 4 for the bed and be glad he doen's use the stairs!!

[shodanusmc]

Maxine could jump on the couch at about a year, but has not done it for the past few years as she is nearing 13. Not sure how she ever made it up there with those very short legs. We have always been lifting her up, and down. She can still go up and down stairs, but not on the bed, she is lifted on and off.

Until they develop, I would keep the jumping to a minimun as their bones are thinner than a Chicken Wing! I did the same for my large Dog, which was quite a challenge, but he was taught from day one he stays off of all furniture and beds. He has his own beds throughout the house. About 7 in all.

[OwnedByJezebel]

By 4 months, mine was not only jumping up on the sofa seat, she was jumping up on the top of the back of the sofa. The sofa was an L-shaped sectional with a curve instead of a hard right angle, and she would RUN on top from one end to the other, turn around and run back. The sofa isn't up against a wall, it was in the middle of the room, and when she would do that it scared the crap out of me. We got rid of that sofa, and now have one with a higher back, and the top of the back isn't flat so it doesn't lend itself to her circus training sessions.

I don't mind her jumping on the furniture, but I don't want her jumping down. We have stairs for the bed and sofa, so she jumps when going up and uses the stairs to go down.

[yorkie-boxermom]

Mine was jumping on the couch at 6 months when she weighed 3 lb. I bought Isabella steps, but she prefers to jump.

[cj125]

Please... no jumping down.

We probably have 8 sets of steps in our house for 2 kids - neither of which are small. When my 2 were little I even put pillows all over the place because we have tile floors. It doesn't take much for these guys to jar their knees which can lead to surgery later.

Please get steps for your baby. They have a 3 step version at Walgreen's that are only $10. And if you're still in doubt - please read the Sick & Injured section here - or do a search on the internet.

Best Wishes!

[charmed239]

Consider yourself lucky. Bella is 12 weeks old and just learned to jump..and now I cant keep her in her 2 1/2 foot pen....now I have to worry all the time, because she only weighs 2 lbs and she is soooooo tiny.I wish she would have never learned to jump trust me..and just like the OP, she is doing the same thing with the back of the couch..this is as bad as when my kids learned to walk..lol

[motomomma317]

So far he's not jumping up or down he either sits right in front of the couch or puts his front paws on the seat cushion.

So next trip to the pet store steps are on my list.

Depending on what they have to offer is carpet better then a fabric or is a ramp better then stairs.

[LittlePuppyKiss]

Purchase a doggie ramp or steps if you are going to allow your pets on the furniture.

I don't think Sass could even make it if she would try to jump on the furniture, but that is one habit I would quickly train my pet not to do. I would be so afraid of them getting hurt.

[chachi]

no you shouldnt let him jump he could break a leg or develop lp. Get some stairs places like walgreens yhave them cheap

[boo-boo]

My Boo Boo is a jumper! I worry about his knees, but i'm not sure how to stop him from jumping. He starts in the middle of the room, get's a running head start, jumps up on the foot stool, and from the foot stool to the arm of the L shaped sectional, and from the arm of the sectional to the back of it. The crazy thing is, there are steps he could use, but he won't. He also jumps on to and off of my bed, which is a little higher than a normal bed and there are steps there too. I've wondered if he's got secret flying powers a couple times. I remember when we were staying at my brother's house he managed to get on top of the dresser, with no shorter furniture within three feet. The only thing I can figure is that he either a) flew or b) jumped from the very low bed to the ledge that runs all the way around the room about halfway up the wall, walked along the ledge and hopped onto the dresser. But, i think the flying is more likely! Seriously though, how can i get him to use the stairs? He just doesn't seem as interested in steps as he is in throwing his ears back, getting a running head start, and jumping.

[loveshay]

Originally Posted by charmed239

Consider yourself lucky. Bella is 12 weeks old and just learned to jump..and now I cant keep her in her 2 1/2 foot pen....now I have to worry all the time, because she only weighs 2 lbs and she is soooooo tiny.I wish she would have never learned to jump trust me..and just like the OP, she is doing the same thing with the back of the couch..this is as bad as when my kids learned to walk..lol

Must be a Bella thing..lol..my Bella will be 5 months on the 8th, and she is like a jumping bean...my goodness, I have never seen a dog jump up soo much, she is 2.8 lbs..I discourage the jumping, last fall Shay barley jumped up onto my hubby's ankle and fell over and was knocked out cold, I thought he broke his neck!..thankfully he just knocked himself silly, and was fine the next day ( after trip to ER, and hubby and I terrfied) so NO jumping allowed here..lol...my heart couldnt take another episode like last fall...........Good luck!