Any Ideas On Training An Ex Racing Greyhound To Climb Stairs?
Filed under Care & Training Q&As
Just adopted an ex racer and he is really struggling with the stairs, going up and down. Does anyone have any suggestions?
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I adopted my first 2 greys straight from the track and they’d obviously never seen stairs either and we live in a 4 level split so they had to learn right away.
What I did was keep them on a leash because I had one who wanted to take the whole flight in 1 step! Keep the leash very short and stay close to the dog’s side. You walk up one step and encourage him to come up with you – pick up his front foot and place it if necessary – talk him through it with lots of encouragement. Walk up with him, placing his feet if you need to. After a couple of steps, he’ll get the hang of it. Let him walk up close to a wall, he’ll feel more secure.
If you have a friend with a dog he can watch that helps, too. If he can watch another dog go up the stairs, he’ll pick it up really quickly. If not, you walking up with him just a time or two, and he’ll get it.
Down bothers them more I’ve found if the stairs aren’t well lit. If they can see really well, they’re better. Again, go down with him the first few times. Greys are extremely trusting of “their” people and that helps. Just talk him through it, calmly and quietly and keep giving him quiet praise. These guys tend to do want to do anything to please, he just needs to figure out what you want and he’ll do it.
As I don’t know your dog, I cannot pass judgement but have you ruled out that he’s not in any pain? Any animal, including humans, that are exposed to heightened levels of exercise put their bodies at risk of damage (joint inflammation etc). If you know that he’s fit and healthy, then just give him time and he should get used to stairs. As soon as he does go upstairs, give him plenty of praise. But does he really need to climb the stairs at home? Many dogs are taught not to go upstairs anyway and if his water, food and bed are downstairs what’s the problem?
Training isnt needed. Give your dog time. Stairs is obviously foreign to him, unless he’s got a leg or a hip problem and it hurts him to go up and down. Make sure that this is not the case. If it’s just that he may be a little frightened because he doesnt really know what stairs are, give him time, he will soon start to climb them. Dont make a fuss about him not going up or down. Just leave him, if he catches you fussing over it, it will just make matters worse because you’re nurturing the anxious state of mind he’s in. I reckon it’s better that you just go about your daily activity, make sure you yourself are going up and down the stairs so he sees you doing it. If he’s sitting at the stairs pondering whether to use them, dont prompt him. Give him a huge pat and praise however when he finally goes up or down them.
Hope i’ve helped. Your dog will do it himself, dont worry, just give him time.
He’s never encountered stairs before and doesn’t know what he’s supposed to do. He may also be afraid of them. Practice just going up and down curbs. If you can get him to a place that has a flight of 3 or 4 stairs, that will be helpful. Reward him for any progress. If he’s afraid to go near them, then I would reward for even approaching the stairs. If he is ok approaching, then I would reward for lifting a paw. Work on going up first, I think it’s less intimidating than going down. Treats on the steps out of his reach may help to encourage him as well.
Good luck!
or you could use a behaviour he already has…..drag a lure up the stairs if hes fit he’ll chase.
By the way good on you for adopting a greyhound you wont be sorry they are one of the best house dogs often referred to as the hundred mile an hour couch potato they need little but quality exercise the rest of the time they’ll just lol about.
And the alternative to them being adopted is very unpleasant
you can use treats to encourage if you want him going up and down but many dogs will quite happily wait for you at the bottom of the stairs.
Even if he struggles with your house steps he will be fine on steps in the outside world, dogs adapt and learn very easily without our help