How to Teach a Puppy to Go Up and Down Stairs?

Although we think a puppy should know how to go up and down stairs easliy it is actually not a natural behavior at first. A puppy has poor depth perception and therefore thinks he/she will fall. You will need to carry your puppy up and down the stairs until his/her legs are long enough to reach the stairs.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Natural Balance dog treat roll
• Rug Grip

1. 

   Cut rug grip to go on every step of the stairs.

2. 

   Cut up small pieces of dog treats and place in a plastic zip lock bag.

3. Call your puppy to the bottom of the stairs. Give the puppy a treat for obeying.

4. Sit on the first step and place a treat on the first step, the puppy will take it.

5. Sit on the second step and place a treat on the first step and the second step. Be encourgaging and say good boy or girl.

6. Continue to move up the steps if the puppy continues to follow you.

7. If the puppy won't go further than the second step praise the puppy and try again the next day.

8. Continue process by placing a treat on every step until puppy can get up all steps.

9. Now begin at the top of the steps, although the puppy may be an expert at going up the stairs, going down can still be very scary. Start from the top and work your way down placing a treat on every step, be prepared to catch the puppy if they have unsure footing.

10. Leave the rug grip on the stairs for a month until the puppy becomes comfortable with the stairs, and begin removing grip off the stairs.

Tips & Warnings

• Be patient. This is a process and likely will take a week or two, but once the puppy figures it out, he/she will go barreling up the stairs.