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You are here:  > Dog Talk > DOG TALK: Training > Robin MacFarlane: Ecollar Training Videos

Teaching Your Dog to Go Up and Down Stairs Politely is a Must


by Robin MacFarlane






Dogs are usually either afraid of stairs, or they bolt.

Dogs seem to possess one of two behaviors when they are around a set of stairs. Either they are afraid of them and won't proceed, or they bolt, taking them 2, 3 or more at a time.

Both situations are problematic. The dog that is fearful of stairs often ends up being carried, and thus they never learn to overcome their hesitation.

The bolter is just plain dangerous. They make the flying leap off the last few steps to the landing below risking potential injury to themselves. Not to mention the possible hazard to anyone else that may be attempting to go up or down that stairs at the same time. You best be hanging onto a railing when a bolter goes flying past and bumps into your knee!

There are two ways to go about teaching your dog some manners around stairs. One it to teach them to wait at the bottom (or top) until you give permission to go up or down.

The other is to teach them to accompany you step for step in such a way that they match your pace and don't trip you up.

In either case, one of the first things they need to understand is to take it one step at a time.

With young pups I often place a treat on each step, so they are motivated to pause on each individual step as they come down. Keeping the lure at the level of the tread works far better than floating it in the air in front of them on stairs. It keeps the pup's nose angled downward rather than "out" with leads to more potential for a misstep or the flying leap to get the food.

If the pup is really nervous or intimidated I work backwards by placing him on the next to last step so he only has to go down one before being at the bottom. Then I place him on the second to last step and the third etc. In this way you continue to build confidence about descending.

With an older dog that hasn't learned about stairs, I will often just accompany them step for step (keeping them on leash to prevent problems). I move with a speed that forces them to go step for step rather than bolting. It usually only takes a few passes before the dog are over the hesitation and can navigate up and down without much difficulty.

Once they get the basics of going step for step, I can then begin teaching them to either accompany me in a heel position or teach them to wait as I go first. But the process is always started by first showing them "how" to negotiate stairs.

Take a look at these young pointers as they experience a set of steps for the first time.
-- Robin
Next Article: Training at a Distance





Robin MacFarlane is a professional dog trainer and owner of That’s My Dog in Dubuque, Iowa. Her best-selling dog training DVDs, JUST RIGHT and JUST RIGHT 2 have helped thousands of dog owners teach their dogs basic obedience and fix problem behaviors through a system of training that you can easily work into your daily routine.
  • Robin writes for Gun Dog Supply on our E-collars Dog Training blog
  • Follow her on Facebook
  • Read her other posts here on RobinMacFarlane.com



    • Robin's Obedience DVD

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    Robin MacFarlane: Ecollar Training Videos

  • Does Your Dog Know Her Place?
  • Teaching a Recall? Start Slow and Make the Dog Successful
  • How Long Does My Dog have to Wear the E-Collar?
  • Consistency Without an E-collar
  • Skills Every Puppy Should Learn
  • Dogs and Doorbells -- Oh My!
  • Stop Your Dog from Bolting to the Door!
  • Use Food Lures to Shape Your Puppies Introduction to Sit, Stand and Down
  • Puppy Training 101: Play Biting Problem
  • Teaching Your Puppy to "Kennel Up"
  • Dog Tricks: How to Teach Your Dog to Walk Backwards
  • Want a Standing Ovation? Teach Your Dog to "Take A Bow!"
  • Want Your Dog to Come to You? Try Moving Away from Him.
  • "Catch me if you can!"
  • Before You Expect a Dog to Stay on a Place, Teach Him to get on Willingly.
  • Adding E-Collar Prompting to your Place Command
  • Impulse Control Games are a Time Well Spent Playing with your Dog!
  • Teaching the Down Command
  • Juggling All Your Training Equipment?
  • House Manners
  • "Pay Me!"
  • How to Strengthen Your Dog's Understanding of "Stay"
  • E-Collar, Leash, Treats, Toy, and the Dog. How to Manage it All!
  • Dog Tricks: Teaching Your Dog to Dance


    • How to Train Your Dog

  • Proper Fit of E-Collar
  • Is Your Dog Collar Wise?
  • "How long does my dog have to wear the collar?"
  • Pressure Necrosis
  • Using Treats in Training
  • Can I Use an E-Collar on My Small Dog?
  • I Need a Shock Collar!
  • Dog Training: Keeping it Real: Training Your Dog Should be Easy
  • Why Would I Want to Use an E-Collar on My Dog?
  • A Tired Dog is a Good Dog
  • Three Things You Must Know to Have a Reliably Trained Dog
  • Are Remote Collars Punishment, Negative Reinforcement, or Motivators?
  • The Best Way to Rescue a Dog
  • It is More than Just Pushing a Button: Part One
  • What About the Leash?
  • Tennis Ball, Tug or Cookie? What do Rewards Have to do with Good Training?
  • The More Important Tool: Part 4 of "It Is More Than Just Pushing a Button."
  • Do You Need Impeccable Timing in Order to Use a Remote Collar?
  • What Does Your Dog's Future Look Like?
  • 6 Essential Things to Teach to Have a Good Dog
  • The Top 3 Reasons Your Remote Collar Doesn't Seem to be Working
  • How Long Does It Take to Train My Dog?
  • Put a Plan Into Motion for Dealing With Your Dog's Behavior Problems!
  • Why are You Grateful for Your Dog?
  • Are You Struggling to Get Your Dog to Stay? Try This.
  • There are Only 3 Levels on a Remote Training Collar?
  • The One Thing You Must Know if You Want to Train with an E-Collar
  • How to Help Your Dog Understand What You Want
  • Photos: One Great Reason to Teach a Place Command to Your Dog
  • New Puppy Tips
  • Sit? or Sit! -- The Case for Intonation When Speaking to Your Dog
  • Number of Commands
  • So Your Dog Knows Sit. Now What?
  • 20 Reasons to Teach a Place Command
  • E-Collar Use: Training vs. Enforcing
  • Know How to Train a Dog, Know How to Use a Remote Collar?
  • 5 Ways to Enhance Feeding Time
  • "But my dog doesn't like it."
  • Outwit Your Dogs if You Want Better Behavior
  • Weaning Off E-Stim: Tap, Tell or Help
  • Proofing: How to Help Your Dog Really "Get It."
  • Should Your Dog Sleep on the Bed With You?
  • Human Body Language
  • Good Health: The Missing Link for a Happy and Well-Adjusted Dog?
  • Are You the Center of Your Dog's World?
  • E-Collar Training: Be Sure to Do This Before You Go Off Leash
  • What Behavior are You Rewarding the Most?
  • The Importance of Routine Nail Trims for Your Dog
  • When is the Right Time to Start Training My Dog?
  • Is it Important that a Dog Learn to Heel?
  • 3 Things to do Right Now to Avoid Separation Issues with Your Dog
  • Training Your Dog to Stop Barking
  • How to Use a No-Bark Collar

    • Pull-Quote= Expose your puppies to stairs early in life so they learn how to manage them.



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