The Ups and Downs of Stairs
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Congrats to Bailey! My old sheepie never learned how to walk up and down stairs prior to my hubby rescueing him so he used to go up and down with his feet together. My beagle figured it out at 7mos and eventually showed my old sheepie how to do stairs like walking. Then last week with new sheepie pup, my beagle gave one on one lessons on the short flight of stairs outside. And then last Thursday (drumroll) after whining that I left sheepies sight to go downstairs (standard flight of stairs) and change laundry, he followed me down. I got to watch him walk down half the stairs and then after he reveled in making it down the stairs, he walked back up on his own  Good thing he can do stairs b/c I put him on the scale yesterday and he gained 4 lbs. since last Tuesday.
No wonder my arms feel more muscular...lol!  |
| Hi,
It must have been hilarious to see Bailey at the top of the stairs peering down. You told the story so well I could visualize the little tyke up there! You know you'll probably have to repeat this when Bailey ages (no worries however as that's another 10-15 years away) Seems they can manage going up but not down when they age. Just thought I'd mention this so you'll be prepared and can take up weight lifting in order to prepare. :O) I hope you get the photo thing figured out as I'd love to see the pics!!! Marianne and the boys |
| Watching them on the stairs is always fun. Our main stairs go up 6 steps to a landing, then turn 90 deg to the right and go up another 7 stairs. After a bath (upstairs bathroom), Drez would charge down the stairs, race around the first floor, then charge back up the stairs. I swear she never touched the steps on the way down - just flew down to the landing, then down to the main floor.
Our basement steps have open backs, and they always scared her a little more. But when Mommy was down there doing laundry, she had to make sure she kept an eye on me, so she'd brave the mean old steps and trot down. What a character! I miss her antics on the stairs so much and would give just about anything to have her be able to maneuver them painlessly again. 
Chris |
| Clyde figured out how to go before he was brave enough to come down. So, he would run up the stairs, realize that he was alone and then stand at the top and bark until someone carried him down, big oaf that he is! Finally I realized that if I didn't put a stop to it, I'd be carrying a 100 pound sheepie down the stairs. We taught him with treats how to go down but he was sooooo bad at it at first. He acted like he was blind and hugged the wall going all slow, then he'd go crooked and go to the other wall. It was so funny to see. Now, he goes down so fast I can't believe he doesn't fall! |
| What's the "safe" age for stair climbing? When they figure it out on their own or should they wait until they get older?
8 weeks to ????? We have carpeted inside stairs, I'm not worried about those, but outside from the deck to the ground is open back steps. |
| I'd say when they can figure it out on their own and when you can kind of keep an eye on them. I know going up was always easy once he figured it out, but going down was more of a challenge-- that's when I watched him more because he looked like he could topple over at any minute. Clyde still won't go down the basement steps but it's safer that way since they aren't carpeted and the basement is definitely not puppy proofed! |
When we had our first OES he never had a problem going upstairs when we went to bed but would NEVER go down the basement stairs. When we were down there we would entice him with treats but he wouldn't go down. Poor Flash would lay at the top of the stairs and wait for someone to come up and play with him, looking forlorn and abandoned  |
| Lucy's like that too. It makes me feel like they know about something evil lurking in the basement that I can't see! |
in our case it was me  |
| Bunkie flies down the stairs. Especially if there is food or the potential of food. Like the dishwasher or Fridge opening. SHe learned how to go up and down the second day I got here at 9 weeks. She had to keep up to my Mom's Dog. Now she just bugs Casey. |
| Dermott flies down our stairs too. You wouldn't want to get in front of him. Trouble is, our kitchen - with 110 year old pine floorboards - lies at the bottom of the stairs. He builds up speed down the stairs and gallops through the kitchen (usually) on his way to the front door. As a result, our 110 year old pine floorboards now bear some very deep Dermott toe-nail grooves! |
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