While hardwood floors are an increasingly popular home design choice, Arnoldy says carpeted stairs or runners will provide good footing and reduce the risk of your dog slipping. Those without carpeting can try putting grips on their dog's toes, Wood adds.
As pet and dog owners, we want nothing more than to keep our furry friends healthy and happy. And that's why it's so important to understand the effects that stairs can have on our dogs. Think about it – climbing stairs can provide a fantastic workout for our pups. It helps keep them physically fit and active.
When your dog is going up and down stairs, it does require a greater range of motion in the front and back joints, compared to when they're strolling along on flat ground. And if your dog is getting older and showing signs of stiffness, going up and down stairs can put extra pressure on their joints.
Puppies, older dogs, and breeds with long spines (like Dachshunds, Basset Hounds, and Corgis) tend to have trouble around stairs, Arnoldy says. It's important for owners to do what they can to set up their canine companions for success.
Dogs use their back legs to push themselves up the stairs, and as they age, this becomes more difficult. They tire easily and, in some cases, using the stairs may even be painful for them. Whether it's climbing or descending the stairs, many senior dogs experience difficulty.
We advise puppy owners to carry their puppies up and down stairs for at least the first 6 months, but this depends a lot on the breed and size of a puppy. At some stage, puppies do need to learn how to negotiate stairs, but in a safe and controlled way.
Older dogs may develop arthritis, which causes severe pain while stepping up or climbing downstairs. If a younger dog refuses stairs, she may have an injury, congenital issue (hip dysplasia) or torn pad. Some dogs slip when walking up and downstairs, and become afraid to navigate stairs again.
After 3 to 4 months your puppy should be ready to try the stairs. If it is a small dog, waiting until 4 months or so is important to make sure his legs are long enough.
Consider investing in a pet-friendly mat for stairwells if you have children or pets. Stair carpet protection is essential to keep your stairs looking great and protect them from dirt, dust, and other debris that can damage the surface over time.
Place the dog on the first stair and use a few treats to lure them to move up or down to subsequent stairs. Praise them when they reach a new step. Remain patient, and don't force them to move faster than they can manage, given their fear.
However, if a dog suddenly becomes scared of stairs, then it's time for a veterinary visit. Older dogs may develop arthritis, which causes severe pain while stepping up or climbing downstairs. If a younger dog refuses stairs, she may have an injury, congenital issue (hip dysplasia) or torn pad.
Dogs that fall from heights can suffer sprains, broken bones, head trauma, and chest or abdominal injuries. Small dogs can incur the same degree of injury falling from much smaller distances.
Lure away from stairs
When your dog approaches the stairs say “no”. Lure your dog away from the gate and reward him in his area with a teat, attention and play.
There are dogs who struggle to go up and down the stairs, but it is far more common for dogs or puppies who lack experience with them to be especially resistant to going down. Luckily, most dogs respond well if they are taught how to negotiate stairs in an (appropriately named) step-by-step process.
Your Dog's Exercise Tolerance
Most dogs can tolerate a daily 20–30-minute walk if they have a relatively good body condition. Dogs in great physical health can tolerate walks for up to two hours or go hiking for hours at a time.
Puppies raised on slippery surfaces or with access to stairs when they are less than 3 months old have a higher risk of hip dysplasia,while those who are allowed off-lead exercise on soft, uneven ground (such as in a park) have a lower risk (Krontveit et al 2012).
2 years+ About 8,000+ Steps. By this age they should be very active. Not to mention full of energy ... so if you have the time, go for it!
In fact, some dogs can eventually develop separation anxiety. Dogs are capable of feeling bored out of their minds just as humans are. When they become bored, they may start to wreak havoc on your house, or annoy your neighbors with endless barking.
If they are not used to more than a 10-minute walk or playtime, suddenly expecting more than an hour of activity can set them up for injury and medical problems. If they're over-extended, they may be resistant to exercise or develop mobility issues, anxiety, and exhaustion/lethargy.
Small dogs are considered senior citizens of the canine community when they reach 11-12 years of age. Their medium-sized friends become seniors at 10 years of age. Their larger-sized colleagues are seniors at 8 years of age. And, finally, their giant-breed counterparts are seniors at 7 years old.
Check your dog for any surface injuries such as cuts, scrapes, or protruding bones. Look at the dog's front and back legs. If a limb is broken, it may appear disfigured, being bent or held at an odd angle. Some broken bones might not be visible.
If you notice your dog exhibiting pain when walking, it can be indicative of a medical condition such as hip dysplasia. If you notice your dog has been limping and struggling to navigate up and down the stairs, hip dysplasia may be another medical condition to look into.
Several problems can make jumping painful for dogs. Back pain is one of the most common causes of reluctance to jump. Back pain also frequently leads to a non-wagging tail. Dogs may develop back pain after suffering major or minor trauma, or after suffering no trauma whatsoever.