Stairs

[Laura and Angus]

Random question, but when did your puppies start going down many stairs? Angus can go up the stairs okay at 16 weeks, but is still too wary to go down more than 3 steps. We have some pretty steep steps (carpeted) going up to our bedroom, so we're just wondering when we might expect him to be able to do this...

Any thoughts?

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

We got Ned at 14 weeks - he is a large mini.  We carried him down stairs in the mornings for a while for potty purposes, but once we felt he could hold his pee going down the stairs and out the dog door, we let him go himself.  He never had a problem with stairs.  Our grand dog, is a standard and stumbled up and down the stairs for about 6 months. Neither had any fears about them (although perhaps Junior should have). 

[Laura and Angus]

Angus is a big guy with a pretty floppy/uncoordinated body at the moment. Hopefully the larger he gets and the longer his legs, the better he is able to coordinate his movements :) 

[Julie]

Our Yogi started using the stairs to go up and down at around 9 or 10 weeks. We did not encourage this. We have an older doodle, who I'm assuming Yogi learned from. He now sprints up and down the stairs for fun like a maniac. Our older dog, Fozzie, was a bit cautious of stairs until around 4 months. I think it just depends on the dog!

[Laura and Angus]

I hear ya! 

[Minga & Malu & Costa]

Malu went up and down all steps from 8 weeks when I brought him home. Costa went up at 8 weeks and started going down around 10 weeks.

Every dog is different, but if you want to encourage them, use treats to lure them down.

[Laura and Angus]

We have actually tried some treats (after the suggestions) and he just backs away and starts barking at us :( I think, if he doesn't do it on his own when he starts to get too heavy to carry, we'll have to try using the leash and practicing with him. Thanks for the ideas and thoughts!!

[Nikki & Charlie]

Charlie started going up at about 3 1/2 months but was too scared to go down! Eventually around 4 months he gained the courage. Don't worry, he'll figure it out on his own :) Charlie started with the back porch was is only 4 stairs and then worked his way to the basement/upstairs stairs

[Laura and Angus]

Okay well that's good to know! Thank you for the reassurance :) Angus is 4 months now, so I'm hoping one day soon he'll figure it out on his own. Until then, we are practicing on smaller groups of stairs during walks and sometimes plopping him down on the 3rd/4th step from the bottom, so he gets used to going down carpeted stairs -- he's fine to do this oddly...