Concerning doggie steps....

[Charlie_Boy2011]

Originally Posted by Nancy1999

Yes, we had to teach, and if they jump off, you have to put them back on the bed. You have to teach them that they must use the steps, don't let them get away with jumping. They will learn it’s faster to use the steps. You have to be more stubborn than they are! Cheerios is a great treat for training, not many calories, and dogs seem to love them. Training them to go down, takes more time than training to go up, work a little each day, and in a week they will be experts. You can lead them with your hand that has the cheerio in it, or put a cheerio on the step. If they just can’t learn, your steps may be too steep, or you need to get a ramp.

Cheerios are so much cheaper than a bag of treats too. Started using them the other day although I alternate between kibble, cheerios, and zukes for now.

[beecee]

I use a square leather seat thing that I got to put my shoes on in the closet. It's about about 2 ft high and about a foot wide and deep and is solid (no spaces) Pretty cheap at Ross, 20 bucks or so.

[gracielove]

If your dog has never used any steps you may have to each it how to go up and down the steps. Gracie was just a puppy when I taught her.

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by Charlie_Boy2011

Cheerios are so much cheaper than a bag of treats too. Started using them the other day although I alternate between kibble, cheerios, and zukes for now.

I know, anything related to the dog is so much more expensive.

[DBlain]

I just won steps at our last yorkie meetup. They are great, they are made of styrofoam and the form was purchased at a foam factory for about $15.00. The gal glued faux fur on it. It is still not tall enough to get on the bed with but luckily I have a hope chest at the end of my bed. I put a bathroom mat on the chest so it does not move when Lola jumps on it. She is very comfortable with stairs since we have a two story house but was still unsure of them. But since she is so crazy for her throw toys I just kept coaxing her with the toy. About 90% of the time she goes up and down the stairs, but sometimes jumps over the last couple, and a few times I have seen her jumping on and off the hope chest, something she never did before. She seems so happy to come and go on the bed at will that it's cute to watch. On a side note mine are on carpet, on wood floor they might move around so a mat with a rubber back would be helpful for that.

[DBlain]

The Foam Factory, Pet Beds, Dog Bed, Cat Bed,

there is the link to the one i have in case anyone is interested, the price is right, and you just glue fabric on it, so you can personalize it to your decor. I have the med size.

[Charlie_Boy2011]

I looked over and Charlie had jumped onto the chaise lounge ALL BY HIMSELF. First time ever. It's 20" tall!

[lynzy420]

Originally Posted by DBlain

The Foam Factory, Pet Beds, Dog Bed, Cat Bed,

there is the link to the one i have in case anyone is interested, the price is right, and you just glue fabric on it, so you can personalize it to your decor. I have the med size.

And/or you can make these in less than 15 minutes! Believe it or not there is probably a foam place in every city. I purchased 6 pieces, 6 sizes all you have to do is glue the perimeter of each one and stick it on the one below. throw a piece of material over it and fit it with ties or glue. I gave mine to a friend whos dog had an issue and needed them. Now thanks to this thread, I am going to go and make another set this weekend for my pups.

I will post the pic and the sizes of each piece. I promise.

[DBlain]

Originally Posted by lynzy420

And/or you can make these in less than 15 minutes! Believe it or not there is probably a foam place in every city. I purchased 6 pieces, 6 sizes all you have to do is glue the perimeter of each one and stick it on the one below. throw a piece of material over it and fit it with ties or glue. I gave mine to a friend whos dog had an issue and needed them. Now thanks to this thread, I am going to go and make another set this weekend for my pups.

I will post the pic and the sizes of each piece. I promise.

It would be great if you could take some pics during the process. I like these steps but it would be good if they were a tad deeper and taller.
One thing that is nice about the foam steps as opposed to the hard plastic or wood ones, is if the little ones get hung up on them or trip a little they are not as hard.

[DBlain]

yesterday LOL I thought it was so cute to see Lola use the new steps to get up and down at will on the bed. Well this morning I am singing a different tune Last night she was not ready to go to bed when we were so kept gowing up and down the steps with a toy. We tried to ignore her hoping she settle down, but she kept pushing the toy at our necks, on the top of our heads then under the pillows, then she would back away waiting for us to throw it My DH put it up on a shelf but then she started running up and down the stairs trying to find it. He said leave her on the floor but the room was not dog proofed, and if I took the stairs away she would have jumped off the bed. I finally put her in her crate, and then of course she had to tell us she was not happy so started her low wine bark combination LOL the DH finally wound up sleeping in the guest room. I guess we created a monster. Tonight the toys will have to be put away an hour before bed time. But then come to think of it, having the bed to myself and the DH in the guest room was not such a bad thing