Stairs can be risky, especially for our furry companions, regardless of their age. That’s why it’s important to teach them to use stairs slowly to avoid any potential hazards.
In this post, we’ll discuss how to train our dogs to use stairs slowly and reduce any associated nuisances. We’ll explore why dogs tend to get used to stairs quickly, how to train them to use stairs slowly, and other important facts about this concern.
By following the right approach and taking the necessary precautions, we can help our beloved furry friends navigate stairs safely and confidently. Let’s dive into the world of stairs and dogs and learn how to keep our furry companions safe and happy.
Why does your dog use stairs so fast?
Although climbing upstairs is tiring work for us, dogs do not feel so. Also, by nature, they are not concerned about safety at all when descending stairs.
They always try to ascend and descend stairs too fast. Let’s see why dogs tend to use stairs so fast.
1. The high energy nature of the dogs
This high-energy nature of the dogs is a brain issue due to their breeds.
They are out of control, and they can’t even regulate themselves properly. So when using stairs, they show hyper actions like running up and down quickly.
Exactly like crazed animals! HAHA! But we have to set some parental boundaries to calm them down.
2. Maybe due to a lack of day-to-day exercise.
Dogs need an outlet to release their pent-up energy.
So they need regular exercise. If the dog is not getting enough exercise, he has no way to release his energy.
So climbing up and down the stairs quickly is a good way for him to release energy. Thus, the dog can remain so fit and healthy. This is one reason why our dogs use stairs so quickly.
3. Maybe obsessed with getting up and down stairs.
Our dog can get used to ascending and descending the stairs so fast because he may sometimes be bored and feel lethargic or need to release stress.
Using the stairs so quickly may have calmed his mood, so he may be obsessed with that. That will cause his fastness on the stairs.
4. For relaxing and releasing heat.
In general, Dogs have a small number of sweat glands compared to us.
So they usually release the most amount of heat from the body by panting and a little through their skin. They need to spend their body energy panting.
If there is no other way to increase body temperature, they will get the maximum use of the staircase. This also gives dogs a reason to use stairs so fast.
When it comes to our dogs, stairs aren’t always a bad thing. In fact, the vast majority of dogs are pleased with them, and there is very little space to risk as they use stairs so quickly.
We must be cautious with that bit of space as it can cause our pet to lose his arms or become disabled for the rest of his life.
Teaching him to go up and down stairs slowly using various methods like training with a leash or using treats or praise will reduce the risk of injury.
Miss. Thilini Anuradha
How to teach a dog to descend stairs slowly?
As we have mentioned above, for many reasons, dogs go up and downstairs so fast. That will be so dangerous. Therefore, we must try to teach our pet dog to use stairs slowly. So let’s consider the most appropriate ways to teach our dog to descend stairs slowly.
1. Take the dog downstairs with you step by step.
We can always take the dog with us when going down the stairs.
We can make him follow us downstairs. Either by keeping our hand on his head or touching his back, we can walk down together.
By repeating this as often as we can, the dog will get used to going downstairs slowly.
2. We can use a short set of stairs for the dog at first.
First, see if you can find some short sets of steps (no more than 3-5 stairs) to practice on.
As space is limited on a staircase with 4-5 steps, our dog won’t try to be quick at that moment.
It can also be beneficial to practice fast-slow-fast-slow on level ground to truly establish the idea of sticking with you regardless of your speed.
3. Let them incorporate new sets of stairs from time to time.
This is also an excellent way to convince the dog of the risk of the stairs and train him to be slow when coming downstairs.
When the dog comes over different stairs, his speed of coming downstairs will pause for a while. He would take his time because the surroundings were unfamiliar.
This is because I believe he will be more likely to understand what you are attempting to teach him in a new setting than in one where he is accustomed to rushing up and down under his own power.
In this way, we can also teach our dog to be slow when coming downstairs. This method is so good when slowing down our dog when ascending stairs too.
Suggested reading: How to carry a large dog upstairs?
How to teach a dog to climb upstairs slowly?
As our pet dog descends stairs slowly and safely, climbing up stairs slowly and safely must be concerned.
So, let’s see how we can teach him to be slow on the stairs while climbing up.
1. Can hold his collar or leash while walking up the stairs.
While going upstairs, we can hold our pet’s leash or collar.
So he can follow us without going too fast as before.
So the dog will understand why we are holding him in this position, and he may begin to slow his ascending stairs.
2. Train him to follow us step-for-step up the stairs.
As we train the dog to come downstairs slowly while following us step by step, we can teach him to be slow while going up the stairs in this way.
The dog can accompany us step for step in a way that matches our pace and never trips you or becomes hyper.
This could be used to train our dog to climb both downstairs and upstairs slowly.
3. You can use treats and praise them.
With the leash on, you can tell the dog not to go upstairs so quickly and hold onto any step.
If he obeys your words, you can give him a treat or praise him. You can also keep a treat in each step so he can stop and get his treat.
In this way, your loving pooch will learn that he gets treats and praise if he slows down the stairs. This method also can be applied to both going up and downstairs too.
By the way, read this to understand whether you should allow upstairs for your dog.
What happens if your dog goes up and down the stairs too fast?
We are so happy to see our pet dog going here and there, climbing up and down the stairs so delightfully most of the time, as it is good exercise for the dog.
But if he uses the stairs so fast without control, it seems to be a painful injury to the dog.
Let’s see the possible dangers of the pet dog going up and downstairs so fast.
1. The dog can fall down from the stairs.
The dog can lose its balance while going up and down the stairs.
If he could not regulate his own balance, it could be the reason for the fall.
Falling down from a stair can cause broken bones, spine problems, head traumas, sprains, or psychological fear of taking the next step as well.
2. The elderly are prone to hip dysplasia and arthritis.
Although older dogs try to be fast on stairs, their strength has been limited to some extent, with their age and bones also weaker than a young dog.
So if they use the stairs so fast, sometimes it can cause hip dysplasia and arthritis. The healthiness of an older dog can be fully ruined through this.
So it is good to train him to use the stairs slowly.
3. Small breeds and puppies can cause bone fractures, limps, and much more.
Small dog breeds like dachshunds, Pomeranians, chihuahuas, and almost all the puppies of any breed have short legs.
Therefore, you need to understand that climbing up and down the stairs is somewhat complicated for them.
If they start to ascend and descend stairs so fast, it can cause massive damage to their bones.
They may have to live with bone fractures, limps, or internal fractures throughout their lives.
As a result, it is critical to exercise caution when small dog breeds and puppies use the stairs quickly and train them to be slow on the stairs.
Things to be aware of.
So far, we’ve talked about what happens if our pet dog rushes up the stairs and how to teach him to take his time to be slow on the stairs.
But throughout this process, there are many things to be aware of. Let’s see what they are.
1. There should be a better grip on the stairs than a slippery staircase.
Although our pet uses the stairs quickly or slowly, it doesn’t matter whether there is a better grip on the stairs.
If the stairs are slippery, our healthy, careful dog can also fall down without any other clue.
We can put a carpet or a new floor polish or whatever to increase the grip on the stairs. It can reduce the number of injuries that can be caused to our dogs.
2. Check the visibility of the dog.
A vision check or eye check is compulsory for a dog. If he has any disordered vision, he would not be able to use stairs.
Without proper vision, he can’t use stairs. If the dog tries to go up and down the stairs as usual (fastly), he may end up with a severe injury.
So checking the dog’s vision is essential, teaching him to be slow on the stairs.
3. Never let him jump over stairs downward.
As dogs are high-tempered and sometimes overjoyed, they do weird things. No matter where it is.
If the dog jumps over the stairs in such an instance, he will probably fall down and be injured. So, it is our responsibility to avoid him doing such nonsense.
We have to be alert to this as it can happen all of a sudden.
4. Ear infections can cause imbalance in dogs.
An ear infection will cause our dog’s fall downstairs, as it puts the dog off balance. Vertigo and some other issues occur when there is an ear infection.
So it will be very dangerous to our pet dog who uses the stairs very often. So you must seek veterinary advice immediately if he shows some symptoms like that.
Suggested Reading: Why does your dog pee upstairs?
Conclusion.
No matter how many steps there are on your staircase, it can lead to an accident. An excited dog who climbs up or down the stairs can slip and be injured all of a sudden. Older dogs, small breeds, and puppies are the most common injured dogs. So far, we’ve mostly discussed how to teach our dog to take it slow on the stairs in order to reduce the damage and injuries it can cause. So, I think you have grabbed so many important things by reading this article about your dog when he is using the stairs. I hope to meet you with another important matter like this.
