Does your dog hesitate at the first sight of stairs? Whether it’s a fear of ascending, descending, or even both, this behaviour is surprisingly common among our furry friends! Understanding why your dog may be afraid of stairs, and knowing how to help them, can make a huge difference in their comfort and confidence. Keep reading for our expert tips on helping them overcome their fears in and around the home.
The Challenge of Stairs
For a dog, stairs can be a daunting obstacle. Your pooch may tremble, cry, or back away, and it’s not always clear why. This fear may be specific to certain stairs, or it may simply be all stairs they come across. While there’s no single reason that explains why dogs are sometimes scared of stairs, here are a few of the more common explanations behind this behaviour:
- Physical Design: Let’s not forget that stairs are designed for humans, not dogs! Steep stairs can be intimidating, while slippery surfaces such as smooth stone, marble, or laminate can be challenging for canine paws. Open or floating designs, where you can see below the steps to the floor below, can also be frightening.
- First-Time Encounters: Stairs can be particularly scary for puppies when they encounter them for the first time. Each individual step is usually around 20cm tall: quite the leap for a small pooch! It’s also possible that some dogs may simply have never come across stairs before. For example, if they’ve previously lived in a bungalow and haven’t come across stairs on walks, they may not be sure how to move on them.
- Aging or Health Issues: Older dogs might struggle with stairs due to sore joints or weaker muscles. Vision changes can also affect their ability to judge depth and navigate stairs safely. This may explain why a dog is afraid of stairs when they weren’t before.
- Hidden Injuries: Another reason why dogs might appear to pick up a new or sudden fear of steps could potentially be an underlying injury. Injuries are often invisible when your dog is moving on a level surface, but they can make going up and down the stairs uncomfortable. If you’re concerned your pooch may be in discomfort, consult a vet. They’ll be able to give your pup a full check-over, let you know if there’s anything to be aware of, and put together a suitable care plan.
- Previous Experiences: Occasionally a dog can be scared to go up or down stairs after a negative experience. For instance, they may have tripped, or perhaps there was a loud noise that frightened them while they were using a set of steps.
Overcoming A Dog’s Fear Of Stairs
While there could be any number of reasons why a dog is afraid of stairs, there are fortunately several things we can do to help them overcome their fears:
- Training and Positive Reinforcement: Gradual exposure and positive reinforcement are often all that’s needed to help a fearful dog. Begin by rewarding them for simply approaching the stairs. You can then progress to placing treats on the steps and encouraging them to climb or descend one step at a time.
- Environmental Adjustments: Making the stairs safer can be another big help. This includes clearing clutter, adding non-slip materials, repairing damaged areas, and potentially even using ramps or blocks for stairs with an open or floating design. On this note, keeping your dog’s nails trimmed is also important to ensure they can grip the steps properly.
- Creating a Calm Environment: Using calming plug-ins for dogs, like ADAPTIL Calm diffuser, is the perfect way to create a more reassuring environment in your home. These diffusers release appeasing pheromones that help emanate a sense of safety and calm, making the overall process of overcoming fear more manageable for our four-legged friends.
- Seeking Professional Help: If your dog suddenly develops a fear of stairs, or if you’re struggling to help them get over these fears, consulting a veterinarian or a qualified behaviourist is advisable. They can help identify any underlying issues or develop a tailored plan to address your dog’s specific fears.
Understanding and addressing your dog’s fear of stairs requires patience and empathy. But with the right approach, and by using calming plug-ins for dogs, you can help your furry friend conquer their fear. Just remember, you should never use force to make a dog go up or down the stairs. Instead, work in short sessions, use positive reinforcement, and stop before your dog becomes stressed.
Are you interested in learning more about how you can help your dog overcome challenging situations or want to know exactly how our ADAPTIL Calm diffuser works? Get in touch! We love hearing your stories and helping in any way we can. You can also stay informed with our latest tips, guides, and product information by signing up to our newsletter.