Mastering Stairs
Stairs are a unique challenge for many dogs. If they haven't encountered them as puppies and learned how to negotiate them through trial and error, they are usually timid about using them at a later date. Even if they have been exposed to stairs at an earlier age, many puppies find uncarpeted or open-backed stairs a special challenge. There is hope for your Golden, however, in learning to happily negotiate just about any kind of stairs.
If your stairs are uncarpeted and slippery, consider installing step grips. These are sold in most hardware stores, and they will make your staircase easier to negotiate for your puppy.
Here are the shaping steps for teaching your Golden to negotiate stairs.
For two days in a row, feed your dog his meals at the foot of the staircase.
On day three, put a treat on the first step and if he reaches for it, click and treat.
Using your hand as a target, move it slowly up to the second step and if he reaches for it, click and treat.
Stay at the first two steps for six to eight repetitions, using food in your target hand.
Repeat the hand movements without the food in your hand. If he reaches for your hand with his nose, click and treat. If he doesn't, go back to food in your hand for three or four times and then try it again without treats.
Once he is readily targeting your hand without food in it, begin to toss the treat away from the stairs so he has to get down to get it.
Gradually move your hand up the stairs so that he is climbing more steps to touch your hand for a click and treat.
Continue to throw the treat down to the bottom of the stairs to encourage him to move away and come back.
If at any point he seems afraid or unsure of himself, go back a step and rebuild his confidence.
Use jackpots (more than one treat) to signify exceptional bravery (climbing more than one step, for instance).
If your stairs are uncarpeted and slippery consider installing step grips sold in most hardware stores which will make the stairs easier to negotiate.
Consider using your dog's meals to train this skill — nothing like working for your dinner to make the process go faster.
As with the other surfaces that you are teaching your dog to negotiate, it is important to practice in short sessions and stay at the dog's pace. You will ultimately accomplish more by doing less if you are patient and let your dog figure this out at his own speed. These life skills will go a long way toward making your Golden a more confident and enjoyable pet.
