Thoughts about pet stairs

[DBlain]

I swear I just got another grey hair, I got up from the computer, Lola was laying in her bed, in a nano second she picked up a toy and raced to the top of the upstairs steps and charged down ahead of me, she missed a few steps but managed to right herself, I could do nothing but stand at the top holding my breath.

often I try to pick her up to carry her down but she runs away like it's a game. I hate it but there are a lot of times I wind up having to raise my voice to get her to stop running around in circles so I can pick her up. I am always mindful of letting her go first or walking close to one side of the stairway so I don't trip her or her me, but this charging down so quick is hard to stop

[dinkster]

Originally Posted by DBlain

I had a friend that broke their dog of getting on the couch by putting things like stools and boxes on the sofa when they were not sitting on it. you might try something like that or if you have loose cushions get in the habit of standing them up sort of at an angle. make sure you keep a real comfortable bed right below the sofa he might choose that place to lay when you are not around if he can not get on the couch. I don't know if you have a cloud nine bed but if not you might get one of those, everyone that has them swear that their pups love how comfortable they are.

Lola is funny with her beds, even when sleeping on our bed she does it in one of her small beds. When we travel we always take several beds and you can see relief in here eyes when she see's it come out, it's like she is thinking whew now I know where I am supposed to chill out. I really think if you want your dogs off the furniture you must have several very comfortable beds for them, on or two is not enough

Great advice. I think providing Dinky with super desirable and comfy places off sofa will do the trick. I was thinking of using memory foam to make some. I like the idea of him knowing where he needs to be when he sees his special beds.
Thanks for advice!

[KazzyK810]

Originally Posted by DBlain

LOL I remember that leep thinking cripes I hope I don't get sued if she crash lands Nali does it at well and she has even jumped on my bed which is really high off the ground. Do you have many beds for ZoE, I think you know how bed obsessed I am for Lola

I had a whole bunch of beds the first year, and Zo never used them. She would always want to be on the sofa with me, or chair with me. She'd hardly ever lay in a bed. For a time, I had one of her carseats next to my desk, because she seemed to tolerate it the most, but I'd have to keep putting her back in it as she just wanted to use it to jump on my lap while I was at my desk.

I really don't have the floor space to have beds laying around, especially when they aren't being used, so I donated them to the rescue my friend is active with.

[yorkietalkjilly]

Originally Posted by DBlain

I had a friend that broke their dog of getting on the couch by putting things like stools and boxes on the sofa when they were not sitting on it. you might try something like that or if you have loose cushions get in the habit of standing them up sort of at an angle. make sure you keep a real comfortable bed right below the sofa he might choose that place to lay when you are not around if he can not get on the couch. I don't know if you have a cloud nine bed but if not you might get one of those, everyone that has them swear that their pups love how comfortable they are.

Lola is funny with her beds, even when sleeping on our bed she does it in one of her small beds. When we travel we always take several beds and you can see relief in here eyes when she see's it come out, it's like she is thinking whew now I know where I am supposed to chill out. I really think if you want your dogs off the furniture you must have several very comfortable beds for them, on or two is not enough

Sheets of tin foil can work to keep dogs off furniture or crossing certain thresholds, too. Many tiny dogs and even some big ones just hate it and won't get near walking on it.

[JadeD]

Originally Posted by DBlain

I swear I just got another grey hair, I got up from the computer, Lola was laying in her bed, in a nano second she picked up a toy and raced to the top of the upstairs steps and charged down ahead of me, she missed a few steps but managed to right herself, I could do nothing but stand at the top holding my breath.

often I try to pick her up to carry her down but she runs away like it's a game. I hate it but there are a lot of times I wind up having to raise my voice to get her to stop running around in circles so I can pick her up. I am always mindful of letting her go first or walking close to one side of the stairway so I don't trip her or her me, but this charging down so quick is hard to stop

This is why I keep my stairs gated off from the rest of the house. Gives me piece of mind to know that the dogs aren't going up/down them like that. They also don't need to be in that part of the house anyway.

[MissSunni]

I mustn't have explained it very well..lol, Sunni is a fearless monkey, so I try to teach her to do things a safe way instead of watching her fly across the room....it was a fright thing with coming downstairs because shes mastered it now. Shes really athletic..I'd love to let her do her thing a little bit more, but I'm afraid she will hurt herself after reading everything. Her fave game is me bouncing a tennis ball and she jumps to catch it in mid air.

[DBlain]

Originally Posted by JadeD

This is why I keep my stairs gated off from the rest of the house. Gives me piece of mind to know that the dogs aren't going up/down them like that. They also don't need to be in that part of the house anyway.

a gate would be hard here, we fully use both levels. I must go up and down the stairs 200 hundred times a day since I work from home and my office and bedroom is on the upper level. often my hands are full of things and Lola is so quick she would be through the gate during the time I was trying to open it. she is normally fine on the stairs unless she is worked up playing with a toy, I have to be more diligent in making sure she does not go down the stairs running after a toy. It's a fine line between living your life, letting pups be pups and keeping them safe. Everyday I struggle to conquer it all.

[DBlain]

Originally Posted by MissSunni

I mustn't have explained it very well..lol, Sunni is a fearless monkey, so I try to teach her to do things a safe way instead of watching her fly across the room....it was a fright thing with coming downstairs because shes mastered it now. Shes really athletic..I'd love to let her do her thing a little bit more, but I'm afraid she will hurt herself after reading everything. Her fave game is me bouncing a tennis ball and she jumps to catch it in mid air.

you explained fine, like you said it was fright thing, that's what I figured. when I was an infant my mom talks about owning a very large German Shepard that no matter what she did could not get to climb up or downstairs, some dogs even though they are capable are very afraid of stairs.

[DBlain]

Originally Posted by dinkster

Great advice. I think providing Dinky with super desirable and comfy places off sofa will do the trick. I was thinking of using memory foam to make some. I like the idea of him knowing where he needs to be when he sees his special beds.
Thanks for advice!

having designated beds to me is a good idea but I don't think memory foam is the answer, because it's not smushy, it's comfortable but you can not bunch it up. dogs seem to like to burrow or rest their head on something, that's why sink into you feather type beds have always been a favorite with the dogs I have had or known. Lola's favorite beds are very smushy ring style that she sinks into and then rests her head on the ridge. The Cloud Nine beds are round sort of like a bean bag and the dog's body sinks down in the part they are laying on sort of creating a ridge, you should check them out. LadyJane with Yorkie Haven Rescue Sells them. She has said they get better with each washing.

[Jkpal]

Piper has jumped up on couch since the day I brought her home. When I had her spayed, I built a step the length of the couch so she would not try to jump on couch (I learned quickly that Pipe' is very quick). Well, wouldn't ya know it, the 2nd day after her surgery, instead of using step, Piper made an even longer leap from floor to couch in order to avoid using that carefully crafted step...! She was none-the-worse-for-wear, thank God in Heaven above, but I removed step, and picked her up at every possible opportunity after that. These little feisty ones are obstinate, determined, and quick as lightning!!! And it seems my little Piper-girl is almost always one step ahead of me!!! Love my little lambchop beyond...

[jp4m2]

What a terrible way to lose a pup. You just don't think something so devastating can happen is such a everyday activity. I just can't imagine how devastating this must be.

I remember when got our first pup and dealing with the issues of being up on the furniture. I tried stairs first but he was so reluctant to use them. After some thought I had my DH cut me a piece of plywood, then I wrapped it in some carpet by closing it on the backside securing it with staples. I used this as a ramp off the couch and the bed.

He was reluctant at first, but after I guided him up and down a couple of times he need no further assistance. I think the carpet gave him confidence because his feet didn't slide around, it seemed to give him something to grip on. When we weren't in the bedroom I would just slide the ramp under the bed out of site so he couldn't get up there without me being there . It worked great for us.

[Verbena]

Donna I saw that too . . Such a horrible way for a pup to die. . .

I guess I am a mean Momma. . . Galen was allowed all over. He mastered the stairs so I thought. . . I was upstairs I hear thump thump and a cry.i never flew so fast. He fell down the stairs. I think only a few but never again. He is little and the stairs are very old so the rise is a little higher.thrn most. So now I block it off. He is only allowed on the lower level. I spend most of my time there.

He also has an ex pen in the kitchen. I use it at night and when I go out. I have kitties and they get into things. I have one that loves to pull leaves off plants. It is for Galen's protection. He is crate trained so he loves sleeping in his crate at night. No human bed for him. . There are kitties on the bed and MDBF thinks he might kick him off the bed in his sleep. But I have a bed near the couch for during the day. He gets picked up to get on my lap and put down. I did have once or twice he thought I need to chase the kitty now and leap . . My heart almost burst out of my chest. . .

[Vereen]

The stair issue has been on my mind for a few days so I needed the kick in the tail from this thread to take action. I have steps leading up to the bed and another on the short end of the sectional sofa, both that Joni uses. But she sometimes will jump off the long end of the sectional (despite attempts to train her - they are soooo fast!) so I think I need another set there.

The ones I have aren't very attractive but they were less than $20 a year ago. A plastic frame that has a washable fleece cover. I'm shocked at the internet prices! Most are $60+.

Can anyone point me to something much less expensive? A 5 lb Yorkie doesn't require heavy duty engineering!

[Vereen]

In re-reading my post, I realize it sounded very misplaced in this thread. Honestly, I could not bear to read about the accidents and harm to the poor little guys that have been hurt or worse by jumping off furniture. That just breaks my heart and I'm so sorry to anyone that has gone thru such a terrible experience.

Joni took a swan dive off the back (highest point) of our sofa and landed on the hardwood floor when she was a pup. It happened so fast and she screamed out in pain just like a human baby. Thankfully we had her checked out and no harm done that time.

So my apologies if I jumped right into a practical question without proper empathy for the posters above me. We all just want to do the best by these babies and love and protect them.

Vereen

[Magnus]

Originally Posted by Vereen

In re-reading my post, I realize it sounded very misplaced in this thread. Honestly, I could not bear to read about the accidents and harm to the poor little guys that have been hurt or worse by jumping off furniture. That just breaks my heart and I'm so sorry to anyone that has gone thru such a terrible experience.

Joni took a swan dive off the back (highest point) of our sofa and landed on the hardwood floor when she was a pup. It happened so fast and she screamed out in pain just like a human baby. Thankfully we had her checked out and no harm done that time.

So my apologies if I jumped right into a practical question without proper empathy for the posters above me. We all just want to do the best by these babies and love and protect them.

Vereen

I posted a DIY ramp thread several weeks ago and made one myself similar to what Verbena described above. I originally bought steps but wasn't very successful so thought ramp would have better luck. And it did! It's also less stress on the furbutts joints than the steps are. This is the original thread:

http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/gen...d-jumpers.html

You mentioned steps not costing you a arm/leg.. This was the one I purchased. $32 bucks.

Amazon
Shorter one:

Amazon.com : Versatile Portable Pet Steps : Pet...