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.
In general, puppies can climb stairs safely once they reach around 12 to 16 weeks of age. But that's only the short answer.
Even experts cannot yet say exactly whether it is actually harmful to puppies. Therefore, the best option is not to let the puppy walk up and down the stairs alone for the first few months. Then you can be sure no late damage will occur. Nevertheless, sooner or later, dogs must get used to climbing stairs.
Only puppies older than 12 weeks should be let to use the stairs, according to veterinarians. Your dog needs to learn how to use the stairs properly gradually. You should begin training your dog once he is a few months old. He should never climb the stairs alone to prevent joint or bone damage.
Fortunately, most veterinarians agree that the majority of puppies can begin climbing stairs when they are 3 months old. However, puppies should be supervised for several weeks to ensure their safety. And some dogs who are prone to hip dysplasia should use the stairs as little as possible.
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, 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.
It is more intense than running as each step requires the lifting up of a dog's entire body weight through the height of the stair. Going down the stairs involves negative contraction which intensifies the workout greatly.
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.
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).
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.
The Dog Has Never Seen Stairs Before
Puppies facing stairs for the first time are understandably scared — the stairs are big and high up! Of course, puppies must learn from scratch how to deal with stairs safely, just like toddlers do, so there's plenty of room for fear. Older dogs may have the same issue.
However, most dogs can start to try stairs at about 12 weeks old. That means, depending on the breed, your puppy may be able to take step after step at quite a young age. That being said, bigger dogs such as border collies, labradors, the Staffordshire terrier, and more should be kept away from stairs for longer.
But in all honesty, there's no 'right time' for a puppy to go to sleep, as long as it's the same every night. While this may be the case, do note that your puppy will need, on average, around 8-10 hours of sleep per night.
Most puppies require 6-10 hours of sleep at night, as well as 20 hours during the day.
Repeatedly going up and down stairs can gradually injure joints and may lead to hip dysplasia in dogs that are susceptible to the disease.
Choose a soft toy or ball and find an area free of breakable items. Toss the toy between participants, encouraging your pup to run between you. If your dog starts looking tired or frustrated, give him a turn to catch the toy so he feels satisfied and can take a little break.
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.
Climbing stairs is the perfect way to build up your leg muscles. Place your dog on a leash and walk up and down your stairs. Be sure to mix it up and throw in some high steps and side steps to work various muscle groups.
The answer to this is yes and no. Climbing stairs, whether it be specific to climbing up on the couch safely or just stairs which lead from one level to another, is crucial for your dog to learn to navigate. So you should start training your puppy to use stairs. You don't want to start them too young, however.
Dogs with a straight spine and equal distribution throughout the body have better chances of adjusting to the stair-life. Breeds like Shiba Inu, Akita, German Shorthaired Pointer have greater endurance for a home with stairs as their entire body weight is evenly distributed and well borne by all four legs.
There could be many reasons why your dog is afraid to use the stairs. They may be new to him, he might have had a scary fall, or he could just be overly careful. Whatever your dog's reasons for being anxious around steps, never force him to use the stairs.
Walking on a leash is an essential skill which can be learned by puppies as early as eight weeks old. Some master leash training quickly, while others take a little longer. Either way, it's important to remain consistent, positive – and above all, patient.