Well we have learned that Piper has a fear of stairs since she moved in with my son. He lives on main street above a store so the stairs are really steep and narrow. My son mentioned they had to coax her to go up and down them when they first got her. He just mentioned she isnt getting any better with it. My guess is, she feels trapped??? She is back to normal once she is on the landing. The only thing I could think of to tell him was get treats and use them to coax her up and down. Does anyone else have any other tips he can try?

Our trainer always told us treats and toooons of praise. Even a squeaky toy at the toy of the stairs to lure her.

The squeaky toy would probably help. She gets excited when you press one. Thanks!

Rue was afraid of going down stairs and going over bridges for a while, what we did was use treats and go slowly and try not to push him and he eventually got over it. Also he liked going on a side next to a wall when going up or down stairs, I think he felt safer there. So I would go with treats, patience, and tons of praise

I can only agree with what everyone said! And maybe try the Thundershirt to calm her while training. Chili isn't a fan of stairs either but he does go up and down them with my coaxing. When there are super stinky salmon treats he'll go up ANYTHING (the Carolina Prime rolls at Petsmart are made in the USA and super yummy, according to the furries around here)! Good luck!

I tried unsuccessfully for years to get my female greyhound over her fear of stairs (she was never exposed until age 2). BUT many people have success by placing a small treat on each step and rewarding each step like a friggin party lol. Good Luck!

I have no advice any different than previous posters. But I did have a border collie mix many years ago that was afraid of the type of stairs where you can see between them (does that make sense?).

He pretty much got over it after much repitition, going up and down often, and being rewarded and praised. It took maybe three months though.

I like the ideas about placing treats on each step.

Good luck!

Balonsmom wrote:

2). BUT many people have success by placing a small treat on each step and rewarding each step like a friggin party lol. Good Luck!

What a great idea! Thanks everyone for your input!

Dief was afraid of the stairs for no good reason. We tried a few times to coax him up the stairs, but then realized having him upstairs wasn't a priority (and perhaps a good thing). Eventually (probably around 6 months), he couldn't stand being apart from us, so he just figured it out. We did give him lots of affection for going up and down the first few times, without treats. In short, he used the stairs when he was ready.

Jennet&Embry wrote:

Our trainer always told us treats and toooons of praise. Even a squeaky toy at the toy of the stairs to lure her.

This is what we did. Our other dog also helped because Danzig HAS to follow him everywhere.

CanadianHusky wrote:

In short, he used the stairs when he was ready.

Jeter didn't want anything to do with steps the first few days he was with us. Then when we were out he wanted to walk and not be carried on a set that we're wider and less steep then at the house. So I suspect it was a fear and confidence thing. In other words he was less scared of the wider less steep steps. Once he knew he was ok with them he then tried the stairs at home and he now goes up and down them.

Based on this if the other tricks don't work maybe try some steps at a park, office or other place that has some larger wider ones.

Kye is afraid of stairs at 9 mo I'll have to try some of this stuff out

If she has doggie friends that are used to stairs have them come over and show her the way- you'll be amazed at how quickly she'll "copy cat" the other dog