Helping a New Dog Get Over a Fear of Using the Stairs

In this Omaha dog training session, our focus was on assisting a young dog afraid of the stairs.

I had worked with Odin’s family before. They had called me in to help with a Blue Heeler who was anxious around young kids. Many people are unwilling to accept that they may not be providing a dog with what they need. Although they loved their dog dearly, the youth of their children meant that the dog would be anxious for a long long time so they were unselfish enough to let us help find him a new home that he is thriving in.

As if the universe wanted to repay them for their unselfish act of love, Odin, a 1-year old Smooth Coat Collie made his way into their home. His energy was perfect for the family and he had no problems with the kids playful and exuberant energy. His only issue, a fear of using the stairs.

Is Your Dog Afraid of the Stairs?

I have helped many dogs get over a fear of using the stairs. Some dogs are afraid of steps due to a bad experience and that was the case for Odin. Being blind in one eye didn’t help either.

I have found that a great way to help a dog get over a fear of going up or down stairs is to use something the dog wants more as a motivator. Usually it’s not being left behind. You can learn how to help a dog get over being scared of using the stairs in the free positive dog training video below.

I was a little off my game in this video. I forgot to use the marker word after Odin’s success and said the cue instead. That’s what I get for working when I’m getting over a cold! For the record, I should have said “Touch” before I chopped my hand and after each success, I should have said “yes” then given pets or a treat.

Teaching a Dog to Use Stairs

At first, we had to lift Odin up onto the stairs and manipulate his paws a bit. The dog’s fear of using the stairs initially caused him to stop moving, but with some patience and a lot of encouragement from his family, it didn’t take him long to start going up the stairs (mostly) on his own.

The hardest part of helping this dog learn to go up the stairs was getting him started. I had to lift Odin’s rear leg onto the first step. Once I did, he did the rest on his own. Going down stairs is usually harder, but he had no problem with that.

I recommended the guardians repeat this exercise 5-10 times in a row a few times a day until Odin is going up and down the stairs on his own. Based on how much progress we made so quickly, I’m betting Odin’s fear of using the stairs will quickly be a thing of the past.

Stair Training Tips

When beginning stair training sessions with your dog or puppy, patience is key. If your dog won’t use stairs, it likely stems from a past negative experience. They may need some extra training, love, and attention can help them overcome it.

If your dog is not showing any cutoff signals, its ok to manipulate their body a little. Stress a little. If your dog struggles, gets unhappy when you pick them up or touch them, they are saying please stop. Be sure to watch for that and respect those wishes.

When you first start working with your dog on overcoming their fear of using the stairs, you might have to help them and lift their legs onto the first step. Do this gently and watch for cut off signals like pulling the paw away. If this happens, try a partial reach (without touching the paw), then retract your hand and give a treat. Try that a few times then reach a little further. Its a process, but if you go slow, your dog will feel more relaxed. And a relaxed is important when training a dog to use the stairs.

Going up the stairs is usually easier for dogs than coming down. You’ll want to have plenty of high-value treats on hand, or your furry friend’s favorite toy to help keep them motivated. Don’t be discouraged, it takes some dogs longer than others to navigate steps.

To help his Odin’s family remember our stair training lesson and the other tips we shared in this in-home dog training session, we recorded a roadmap to success video that you can check out below.