Question......

[AngelFae]

Originally Posted by Deb1

She just had a check up 2 weeks ago. She doesn't have any pain and her knees are fine. She stands 7 1/4" and weights 3.6 oz. I am thinking that maybe, the furniture is too high for her to jump on to and maybe she is scared to jump down.

Oh she's just tiny! For some reason I thought she was a lot bigger than that!
I'm glad that medical issues have thus far been ruled out and hope that it is just more of a fear thing.

[bobohyde]

Originally Posted by BlueBelle

I think if she doesn't feel safe then she probably isn't. I would leave it to her judgement as you would fee terrible if you encouraged her and then she fell.

I agree with this. Columbo started off climbing stairs when he was young, then suddenly stopped. I'm certain he must have fallen when we weren't around. Now he will do carpeted stairs if there are only a couple, but won't do any hardwood stairs. He used to jump up on the couch until he had his knee surgery. Now he is back to jumping down off the couch, but won't jump up. I know he tried once or twice, but stumbled. He knows his limitations. I think your dog isn't taking advantage of you. I think she is either frightened, intimidated or worried she will hurt herself. I'd let her make that decision.

[gracielove]

A dog that age should be able and very willing to jump. Yorkies do have a tendency to have some joint issues. It may be a good idea to have your vet check her knees and hips for any irregularities just to be sure.
Gracie was very tiny at that age also but she was an ace jumper.

[Deb1]

After reading all this, I will have her joints checked! I will continue to be her"elevator" as I don't want anything to happen to her! She is a handful at times and that is why I thought it odd that she doesn't try it herself as she has never fallen. Thank you for the support and input as I never thought that she might have joint problems. I hope not, but will get it checked out!

[nanahas3]

Kyra is not a jumper which I love because she is smaller and I don't want her to be. She can if she wants but doesn't. It took her till she was a year old before she even tried to jump up on the sofa. She will jump of if I don't watch her closely now but not often.

[Patti]

None of mine can jump on furniture. They go down one step to go outside but would not know how to go down a flight of stairs. I live in a ranch house, no stairs and I trained them from day one to use a ramp. So they never even thought to jump up on anything. I prefer it that way as they all have knee problems.

[TysonMyBoy]

Be grateful you don't have a jumper. My dog, Tyson, jumps like crazy. We have hardwood floors and he would go skidding when he dives off the bed. I had to put ugly rubber backed bath mats next to the bed so he would have a place to land! He does use the doggie steps coming up though.

Now my daughter's yorkie, Rin (who lives with us) is a little princess. She always uses the doggie steps for the beds but she insists on being picked up and put down from the couch or recliner. However, if I turn my back and walk into the kitchen and she just HAS TO get up there to look out the window, then she is perfectly capable of doing it herself. Little brat!

[Deb1]

Wow, sounds like I should count my blessings that she is not a jumper! Max is very stout and runs and jumps on everything. My female, that passed was tiny, and she too would jump up on things with ease. I did not realize that it is hard on their joints. This YT site, still amazes me as to how much I have learn since I joined in November! Thank you everyone and I truly enjoy hearing about all your babies!

[lynzy420]

Originally Posted by Deb1

I have an odd question......Teeka is 6 1/2 months of age. She doesn't jump up on the couch or bed and won't jump off either. Also won't go up or down our basement steps, but will use the deck steps. She will just stand and whine for me to lift her up or down. I don't think their is anything physical.... I don't have doggy steps as my house is really small and their is limited space. At her age, shouldn't she be able to accomplish this by now? Any suggestions or input would be awesome!

Miss Mini has not and never will do stairs, she uses doggy stairs but her stature for stringer stairs just doesn't work for stairs, she is low to the ground...don't quite know how to explain it but she can't do stairs...My Mia could clear them three at a time! She had long legs.

[Tissy2cute]

Trixie is 6 months, 4.5lbs, she will go up there stairs super fast....scares the heck out of me but she will not go down them. She did fall down the stairs on the front porch at about 3 1/2 months so that may be why. She also does not jump on or off the bed or couch yet. If there is something like a ramp she will go down it other than that she will let us know she wants down in other ways. I figure it is just cause she is small and a little scared.

[MishyMish]

Originally Posted by horsnaround

Can you reassure her and help her learn. Take her favorite food or treat and do one stair at a time. She can do it if she uses the deck stairs. Sounds like she has you trained just like she wants. . Good luck

Agreed.

[MishyMish]

Originally Posted by AngelFae

I agree, I don't think it is that she can't do it, more like she won't. As for the stairs, my GSP would NOT go down our basement steps for a long time (he would come up them just fine, though.) He was scared. We had to train him that it was safe. We would put treats down a couple of steps or would throw his toys a little ways down and "make" him go get them. He eventually would grab the treat or toy, then wouldn't turn and come right back up (even if it was on two steps down) he'd go all the way to the bottom, turn around, then come back up. It was pretty funny and it didn't take long at all for him to start running up and down the stairs without issue.

thats cute.

[gontygirl]

Without reading any of the other responses (cus I only have a minute before I have to leave the house and do chores...), I think it's a great thing that your dog doesn't jump up or down couches or stairs. You could be asking for trouble in the joints if that were to be the case in the future. I had a dog that developed very bad joints and had to retrain her in order for her to not have to be put down due to her pain and further disintegration of her spine and joints. She was only 3 pounds full grown. I was devestated! Luckily she was easy to retrain and went on to live and long and happy life. My advice to you would be to FIRST go have a vet check to confirm there are no joint or spine issues and then I'd celebrate with the good news and keep your dog from jumping...look at it this way...when you take her out to visit with friends she won't have bad manners and jump up on their couches and chairs. PLUS you can avoid all and any possible health concerns in the future (which usually begins to show up by 4 years of age). Good luck and just know that retraining is easy if you're consistent. I was not a good trainer back in my 20's when this issue happened and I quickly learned to tame her inner kangaroo...

[Rachael1983]

Troy was about 5 months when he decided it was time for him to go up and down stairs. And venture to jumping from the bed and sofa. I was worried, because at the time he was very small. 2.5 pounds. But he never seemed hurt. I never tried to encourage him but if she won't do it, I say leave her alone one day and I'm sure she will come around.