How to Train Your Puppy to Go Down Stairs

There's something that tugs on the heartstrings about seeing a puppy whimpering at the top of a flight of steps. The pup may hug the wall or approach the edge of the stair and then back off again. However, there is a serious side to this because to a puppy, a flight of stairs must look like he's expected to jump off a cliff. 

Just think about the relative size of the puppy and the step. For an averagely sized pup, a single stair is going to stand higher than his shoulders. How would you feel about being asked to jump (repeatedly) off an object that is taller than you? Intimidating, isn't it! 

Teaching a puppy to use stairs is a vital skill, especially if the adult dog is going to be too heavy to comfortably carry.  Be aware that a puppy's mind is open to learning new skills and so take firm advantage of this by educating him from a young age about the safe way to tackle stairs. 

Each pup is different and has a different confidence level. For some, coming downstairs will seem a hugely frightening thing and they will hesitate, refusing to move. For other pups, they don't know how to coordinate their legs to tackle stairs and will attempt to jump or 'fly' down them all at once. Neither of these options is desirable, so your task as an owner is to teach the pup a safe and appropriate way to come down. 

Teaching a dog to use the stairs should be done slowly, and it's best to teach going 'up' independently of going 'down' so as not to overwhelm the pup. Where necessary, teach the pup to go up and then be prepared to carry him back down rather than face him with another intimidating task, which may be a step too far. 

Always be mindful of the pup's safety, so that he doesn't tumble down a flight of steps, and as with any dog training make sure the pup has fun and gets a sense of achievement out of what he's done. 

Chose a training time when the pup isn't bouncing around with unspent energy, but neither is he tired and wanting to sleep. It's best to work in short 5 to 10-minute sessions, but to repeat this two or three times during the day. 

You need little by the way of special equipment, but if your dog is a toy breed then you may wish to mock up some steps using books, in order not to overwhelm a tiny pup with a full-scale staircase. Conversely, if you have a large or giant breed dog, a narrow step can be difficult for a large dog to physically fit on and makes him more likely to tumble off or attempt to jump down the whole flight. This being the case you may wish to start with wide shallow steps (such as found in garden terracing) in order to build his confidence. 

In addition, you will need: 

• Tasty bite-sized treats that are scrumptious but don't take long to eat
• A pouch or bag to keep the treats handy at all times
• Books from which to mock up a staircase for a toy breed pup
• A scarf or towel to use as a sling to support the dog
• Collar and leash