Older dogs may develop arthritis, which causes severe pain while stepping up or climbing downstairs. That didn't work. Sometimes, just one negative experience can be enough to prevent your pup from ever wanting to take the stairs again. I moved in June, and my new house has hardwood stairs, and they are really steep. Sometimes when I’m working with one of my dog behavior clients, they will note that a behavior came out of nowhere.This can certainly be the case, but with a lot of dog anxiety, the signs were there for a well-trained eye to detect. Food is a great dog training tool but it … Some forums can only be seen by registered members. There is another example of a dog who is terrified of walking up an “open” staircase, in this thread on Reddit. Hello, I have a 3 year old chihuahua and he has always been fine with stairs. If you find yourself saying, my dog is scared of me, there are a few things you can do to regain your pet's trust and fix this relationship. If your large dog is suddenly afraid of using the stairs then it’s definitely worthwhile calling the vet for advice. I didn't mind as I was always cautious of him going down anyway so I began to carry him down to be safe. My friend Jodi from Heart Like a Dog recently wrote a post about a smoke alarm that she has that has a 10-year battery life, limiting the number of times that the alarm may beep with a low battery alert. Check it out HERE! Dog. While all dogs have different personalities, it’s not uncommon for many pups to be playful, social, and curious. only if i temp him with his ball or treats. My only experience with a dog that was afraid of the stairs was with a new puppy and that was how I did it -- if I remember correctly. Overnight my dog has become scared to walk up or down stairs that lead to the backyard. Medium/large boy is big and seems to be unfortunately afraid of stairs. If you have a … p.s. You are not alone. Unfortunately, dogs can’t tell you what had made them so scared, until someone invents that dog-to-human translator. Scared of Stairs. If you think about it from the dog’s perspective, stairs can be pretty intimidating, especially for the smaller breeds. Having said that, they learn the art of going up and down the stairs by watching their senior partner. One more thing! Leg issues — He had TPLO surgery on his right rear knee 3 years earlier, but at our most recent vet appointment … Then, all of a sudden, a couple of weeks ago, he has completely stopped going downstairs and acts like he is terrified to go down. However, if a dog suddenly becomes scared of stairs, then it's time for a veterinary visit. Even if you treat them like royalty, they could be scared … You’ll want to have her get closer and closer to the ramp, using those delicious treats. I have a german shepard/american bulldog mix named Dax. Even when the kids are being pretty good, squealing and running can agitate a dog. She's about a year and a half old. Story: Help, my dog is afraid of her own food dish! It may be that your dog normally climbs up and down the stairs with no apparent difficulty, but becomes suddenly afraid of stairs. One of the worst things for any dog owner is to see their pet cowering in fear without having any clue what’s going on. Place the feeding location near the stairs. The most common surfaces are usually slippery ones, such as laminate, tile, linoleum, or metal, such as manhole covers on the street, vents, etc. Related: My dog is acting strange and hiding. Your dog, for example, might have a fear of using the stairs because doing so puts him in a lot of pain. If you don’t think there is a medical reason why your dog feels unsafe or scared of the stairs, it’s likely your dog slipped or is afraid of falling. If your dog is scared of other people, you could have several different problems on your hands. Occasionally Dax will put her front paws on the very bottom step but that's as far as she goes. My dog has slipped on the stair once in a while but she’s usually gotten over it very quickly but yesterday, she fell off the stairs, three times and now she’s terrified. Dear Jennifer. My dog, who was about 9 months old, had no hard time going up and down the stairs. Coax your dog into these rooms so they can have these things – not baths – and eventually, they will view the room as a less scary place. If you have a dog who genuinely dislikes children, though (and there are a few), it’s best simply to keep the dog … In my old house, the stairs were big and carpeted. We use cookies to give you the best possible experience on our website. My dog is scared of going up the stairs. My mom is moving out of the living room to one of the rooms upstairs in our house. The key to teaching your puppy how to climb the stairs is moderation. (lab, barks, black) User Name: Remember Me: Password : Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! First, if this fear came on unexpectedly, it’s likely a situational thing. So, I just ignored him and let him take it at his own pace. It’s upsetting if your dog seems fearful of you for no reason. The owner is quite desperate as she is on the third floor and obviously needs the dog to be a confident user of stairs because they will be using them several times a day. Michele on October 17, 2017: In Gracious Golden’s case, TJ has made a negative association with the basement stairs because of a bad experience with the baby gate. In order to train your dog to use the stairs, follow these simple steps: – Step 1: start small. I've never heard of a dog refusing to climb up or down stairs, but she gets nervous even walking near them. For example, some puppies are afraid of using stairs as they haven’t experienced them in their life. 7 Reasons Why Your Dog Is Acting Scared All of a Sudden. If a younger dog refuses stairs, she may have an injury, congenital issue (hip dysplasia) or torn pad. - Answered by a verified Dog Specialist. My dog is scared of the stairs. A specific hallway the dog is scared of, like the one from your bedroom to the top of the stairs, while he is not bothered in any way by the entrance hallway. If your dog is afraid of the stairs, you need to start altering how it thinks about the area. what can i do about it? I was wondering if any body knows anything about fixing strange dog phobias? At the time, there was such an emphasis on physical well-being that emotional words like “confidence” sounded out of place in a discussion about dog health. If a younger dog refuses stairs, she may have an injury, congenital issue (hip dysplasia) or torn pad. Why is my dog suddenly scared of the hallway? However, if a dog suddenly becomes scared of stairs, then it's time for a veterinary visit. Your dog might climb the stairs desperate for the treat and panic half way up becoming even more fearful. Dog anxiety can be a very tricky thing. Is your dog scared of your kitchen floor? He had no problem to start with but after a few weeks of living there, he stopped going down them. She climbs up these weird things called “stairs” to get to this house on top of the house. every time we try to go up or down the stairs he just freezes up and wont move. Why? You can’t start with a full staircase if you don’t want to see your puppy falling down the stairs. By continuing to use this site you consent to the use of cookies on your device as described in our cookie policy unless you have disabled them. She goes there all the time. Older dogs may develop arthritis, which causes severe pain while stepping up or climbing downstairs. Edit: Dice is a 3 yo rottweiler mix. 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