My doodle doesn't do stairs...ugh!

[Kyle, Maggie & Jack]

Maggie is 2 and refuses to walk down long flights of stairs (12 steps or so).  She has no problem going up...she flies up! Maggie will go down the stairs if there are about 6 steps or less.  Anything longer, no way! She waits for me to carry her down.  It is a good thing she is small! 

Any advice as to how to teach her to go down?  She resists every time I try (walking down with her on a leash or waiting at the bottom with treats).  We have been working on this since she was a puppy, but haven't been successful.  This is something I would really like to fix before we get a second doodle next spring. Thanks!!

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

We used to have an issue with Sophie on stairs.  I had no idea she wouldn't do them as we don't have stairs in our house until we were at the County fair and went to go up into the grandstands to sit one afternoon.  I finally figured out it had to do with two things.  The size of the steps and the stepness of the angle and also if they were open steps. When she was 4 we went to stay in a condo in FL and at the last minute got the contract copies and realize they said we couldn't use the elevators with the dogs (ugh).  The steps were outside steps, concrete and they were fairly wide.  After she got the hang of those she did pretty well on steps after that.  We tried everything, even having Lucy go up and down and tried to get Sophie to follow.  She would go up, but not down, until we were on this trip.

[Deborah Brown]

Can you try putting her on step #6 and letting her come down?  Then moving to step #7 and so forth until she is comfortable from the top?  She has learned now that if she waits, you will come and get her.  But she may not want to wait so long at step #7.  You might need a gate to prevent her from going up instead of down.

[Lynda Kamrath]

I would try walking up a few steps and then sitting on the steps.  Call her to come sit with you.  Scratches, rubs, whatever she likes.  Then get up and walk down the stairs (maybe two or three to start).  After she can come down two or three, move up a little further.  Sit down and give her some attention, then get up and walk down the stairs. She will come down also.  You can work up to going all the way up the stairs but just a few at a time.

Sounds like she is a smart girl.  She probably fell one time and has never forgotten that.  It's scary for her.

[jenn D]

I would get her very favorite treats and then sit on the step below her. Put the treat on the step below her, then one below that. When she moves down one so do you. The reward has to be fantastic to overcome the fear. So something she rarely gets that she really loves. Hth.

[Stella]

You might consider getting her elbows and shoulders checked by the vet. Coming downstairs puts a lot of pressure on their front legs and it could be that it is uncomfortable for her?

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Maybe you could borrow this dog to help you, lol

http://www.wimp.com/puppystairs/

[Lori, Quincy & Frankie]

love this clip-

Quincy bounds down the hall stairs, but will not go down the more narrow stairs to the basement.  Since it's a hoarders dream down there and too much he could get into, we don't encourage it.  But I am sure it is the steeper angle and narrow step that keeps him from going down.  

I would guess that Maggie figures she has the ideal solution to going down, namely you carrying her, and will not willingly mess up a good thing.  I do believe in the power of the favorite bribe/treat!  so I bet luring her as suggested above will work out after a few tries.  If you can locate a broader step to practice, like Sherri's condo, that would probably help too. 

good luck! 

[Kyle, Maggie & Jack]

I love that....so funny!