When taking your dog down the stairs, you can support him with a mobility sling or lifting harness that wraps around the dog's torso and helps to bear his weight. As long as you are holding on to the handle of the mobility harness/walking harness, your senior dog won't strain his shoulders or fall down the stairs.
Lift heavier dogs with care.
One person will be at the head of the dog with one arm under the neck and the other under the chest. The other person gets a hand under the belly and their other hand scoops under the rump. Lift at the same time.
Carry Your Dog
If you have any misgivings about allowing your dog or puppy to climb or descend the stairs, simply pick them up and carry them instead. If you can't physically carry your dog, be sure that everything he needs is on the main floor of your home, and there's no need to use stairs at all.
How to Carry a Large Dog. If you need to pick up a large dog, remember to bend at your knees first rather than at your waist. Wrap one of your arms across his front (supporting his chest in front of his front legs but below his throat.) Then put your other arm around his back legs, supporting his rump.
A dog stretcher is ideal for safely lifting your dog securely. A stretcher keeps your dog's body level without twisting the dog's neck or back which may worsen your dog's injury.
* The Chest Cradle.
To lift a medium or large dog comfortably, you want to cradle her in your arms – with one arm around the front of the chest and the other around her hind legs, below her tail and above her hocks, mid-thigh.
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.
Most puppies can safely navigate stairs after 3 months. Just don't be premature with stair use and keep it in moderation. Unless a breeder or trainer requires it, there is probably no reason to wait 12 months for your dog to use the stairs. In some households, it simply may not be possible to avoid stairs.
The delicate joints and bones of puppies are not fully resilient until they are about 1.5 years old. Until then, you should only let your puppy climb stairs under supervision and very slowly.
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.
Most people approach dogs from the front, lean over, and extend their hand to allow the dog to sniff it or to try to pet the dog. There are several elements in this approach that directly threaten the dog: the direct, frontal approach; making eye contact; leaning over; and reaching out over the dog's head.
Use a mobility aid to guide your dog up the stairs.
If you have a small dog, you can carry it up and down the stairs. If you often lift and support your dog, choose a mobility sling or lifting aid harness. If your dog needs a little help getting started, consider getting the walking harness with a handle.
The front and rear harnesses can be used separately or combined to give your dog complete lifting support. While wearing a full support harness, a pet is supported in both the front and back, which makes a total body harnesses durable and safe enough to lift your dog completely off the ground when needed.
Don't pick up a dog by the scruff of the neck. Don't pick them up by the front legs (or “underarms”) like a baby—it can strain their ligaments. A fresh way to feed your pet. The Farmer's Dog delivers fresh, pre-portioned, and ready-to-serve pet food straight to your door.
Older dogs, puppies, and especially small dogs may find staircases challenging and have trouble going down them. It is more common for dogs to have trouble traveling downstairs than up.
They can be physically demanding, especially for older dogs or those with mobility issues. And, if the stairs are in rough shape or if our dogs struggle to navigate them, the risk of injury goes up.
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).
Setting up a baby gate, or more specifically a dog gate, is a sure way to make sure your dog steers clear of the steps. A dog gate is much like a baby gate in that it is specifically for preventing dogs from getting to the steps.
Puppies shouldn't be asked to jump in extreme or competitive situations until they're at least 12-15 months old (or older for giant/slow-maturing breeds). This is because puppy growth plates aren't closed until at least 12 months of age and jumping on open growth plates can cause long term damage.
Be sure to not let them run around the entire house for the first few weeks to avoid any unwanted behaviors. Baby gates are a great way to block off a smaller area of your home for your puppy to explore. If you have other pets, have their first interactions be in a controlled environment.
A dog that likes to be carried will remain still but not stiff in your arms, will keep their ears in a neutral or attentive position, and won't make noise except perhaps for some light panting. Pay attention to your dog's body language, behavior, and energy to make sure they enjoy being carried.
Almost all dogs are loyal to their owners, and this attachment makes them more likely to stick close to their sides. Therefore, carrying them around makes them feel safe and secure because they're near you.
In his April 13, 2016, Psychology Today column, Canine Corner, dog-loving psychology professor Stanley Coren writes that dogs are “cursorial animals.” That means they are designed to run fast. A dog's first instinct in the face of danger is to run away. And being held prevents him from doing that.