Our poor yellow lab is having a hard time adjusting to our new house.
You see, our new house is a two story house, but the stairs are hardwood.
Apparently, Boulder is a scaredy dog & won't go DOWN the stairs (unless Kevin is carrying her)
She goes up them just fine, but is too scared to come down them.She will sit at the top of the stairs whimpering & shaking. It is quite sad.
Our old house was 2 stories, but the stairs had carpet.
We think she is scared of slipping down the stairs because they are hardwood?!?
Kevin has been carrying her downstairs, but this weekend he decided to try and train her to walk down the stairs.He tried putting a few pieces of her dog food on each stair to entice her down the stairs (if you have a lab, you know that they love food & will eat anything in sight). But, this didnt really work for Boulder at first, she stood there shaking & whining.
Finally, after 20 minutes & a lot of dog kibble later, she finally walked down the stairs.
Kate was there cheering her on.
Go Boulder, Go!
But, I wouldn't call it success, because that is the only time she did it.
She went back upstairs later on yesterday afternoon & didn't come back downstairs until Kevin carried her down to take her out to go potty.
Same thing today.... I had to carry her downstairs when I got home from school so that she could go to the bathroom.It is so pathetic (but funny at the same time).
Looks like we don't have a very effective watch dog, but instead we have a high maintenance scaredy dog.
Oh that's so adorable! I'm so excited for our dog to learn steps, we have tried only our little puppy on three fabric stairs. I'm scared he will be scared of the wood stairs because he always slides on the hardwood floor! Good luck and I heard on one of the dog shows that it helps if you put the treats on the stairs repetitively to help them learn that stairs are good... But who knows! Good luck training her!
ReplyDeleteAwww...poor Boulder! I know he must be scared, if he didn't go after the kibble. You're absolutely right, Labs let nothing get in their way of food! I hope that with continued training, Boulder becomes accustomed to the steps.
ReplyDeleteLOL, that is so sad! but funny. Maybe borrow a Cat and put it at the bottom of the stairs? Maybe he'd chase it?
ReplyDeleteLOL! Cracks me up.
ReplyDeleteBless her sweet heart. You should put in an elevator for her.
ReplyDeleteThat is too funny! Love that second to last pic of your hubby carrying Boulder down the stairs. Hopefully he gets used to them soon!
ReplyDeleteAnd from what I can see of it, I love that rug underneath your dining room table! :)
We had a german shepherd with the same problem when we moved into our current house. She finally got over it but it took weeks. Unfortunately, as she was already a little older, she did have problems every now and then with slipping all the way the stairs. We finally gated it so she had to stay down because we were afraid she'd break a hip. You may try a carpet runner down the stairs....good luck!
ReplyDeletepoor girl! that is how my mom's dogs are with our stairs when they come to visit. lol!
ReplyDeleteAww..poor Boulder! :( Our lab is scared of her own shadow! Maybe a few more times of coaxing her w/ treats will do the trick. Good luck!
ReplyDeletePoor thing, I can see the scared little look in her eyes!
ReplyDeleteFriends of ours had and still have the same problem with their Lab in Tahoe. They have hardwood stairs and bought a carpet runner to throw down when they are there because the dog was just too scared and would get stuck! A little different in your permanent home-which by the way, I'm dying to see! :)
What a sweet girl!!! Hopefully, she'll get over her fear soon enough. Boulder is gorgeous, and so are those hardwood stairs!!!
ReplyDeleteoh, poor puppy. I hope she gets over it...and soon!
ReplyDeletepoor girl! cute pics though :) hope she gets used to them soon!
ReplyDeleteWe had the same problem. Our dog actually got over the fear but then accidently slipped once at night and refuses to go up/down the stairs. We ended up buying carpet stair treds that we put on our hardwood stairs and it works like a charm. They actually made the stairs look great too!
ReplyDeleteOh poor baby! That is really funny though. And must be one strong woman!! Wow. Loved this post! Did you end up getting those chairs from pottery barn for your girls?
ReplyDeleteHave a fun little giveaway you might be interested in on thr blog today :)
Those are the cutest pictures EVER. That last one made me melt. Kevin is adorable with Boulder!
ReplyDelete(Oh and I'm cracking up-- sooo funny. :)
That is the cutest story ever. Try bacon.
ReplyDeleteXOXO
Too funny! Love the bacon idea. ;)
ReplyDeleteWhat a cute post.
ReplyDeleteSounds like the Dog Whisperer is needed.. that or some rugs on the steps.. LOL
Promise me that if Cesar Milan comes to your house, you let me know. I have two freak-o pooches that could use a little therapy. Boulder sure is a cutie!
ReplyDeleteOur dog did this too, he learned, have no fear Boulder, attack those stairs!!!!
ReplyDeleteToo funny! I think my Lucy could be your dog's twin, in personality and in looks!
ReplyDelete~Keri
Awh! Poor Boulder - I hope she gets used to them soon. {Leila has the same jammies as Kate!}
ReplyDeleteToo funny! My sheltie would be the same way. He won't go outside to pee if it's raining out. Thank God it barely rains in Az! =)
ReplyDelete