Coton de Tulear is afraid of stairs

by cathy
(miamisburg ohio)

I just got a 10 month old Coton de Tulear and he won't go down the stairs inside or outside. Any suggestions?

Comments for Coton de Tulear is afraid of stairs

Average Rating

Click here to add your own comments

Aug 31, 2015
Rating

Afraid of steps! NEW
by: Kim

I have two Coton de Tulears same age they are almost six months old and my female "Dira" has been going up and down (wooden staircase to second floor) no problem seems like just a few weeks after we got them at 9 weeks! My male "Pino" is about 1 lb bigger and he will go up steps ....no problem...but he will howl and bark if he runs up there with her ...then she comes down and he is stuck! When I go up to get him I just go to pick him up and he backs up and seems a little embarrassed that he can't do it.....I have never forced him and I figure he will "get it" when he is ready....I don't make a big deal about it. I love this site I did a search on "afraid of steps" and now I feel better knowing it's not unusual!
I would really enjoy knowing the age of the puppies as people comment, I personally would find that helpful....thanks to everyone for helping me out😊

Jan 04, 2012
Rating

training to use stairs
by: Carolann

My Coton wouldn't go up or down any stairs until he was about 9 months old. He would stand at the top and whine with anxiety. Dogs have a problem with depth perception so that can add to their difficulty. I live in a 2 story house so I was getting a sore back carrying him up and down stairs to go out to pee etc. 5 and 6 times a day. How I trained him was pick one way first and going up seems to be easier for them than going down. Sit him on the 2nd to last step and sit above him and encourage him with a treat or whatever until he comes up the 1 or 2 steps. Do that for awhile until he does it without hesitation. Then increase another step and so on until you are finally starting him at the bottom of the stairs. After he is confident with that then start him with the same process going downstairs - start at the 2nd to last step and work your way slowly up. It takes a long time but eventually your dog will get it. It's all a matter of confidence.

Jun 11, 2011
Rating

They can go down staircase
by: Helen

my almost 6 moths old boy just learned to go down stairs now (hardwood stairscase at home), after the training lesson yesterday.

I have to thank my trainer teaching me how to do that with our leash guiding correctly.
I agree when going downstairs, they panic. but we have to trust They Can Do It.

My trainer actually train us at the park, leading our dogs to go up the bench and back down on the ground. we practise couple of times and make sure they are able to do it.
Then we practise it at home by leading the leash down, a little force down (to guide only), then my puppy go down step by step without any problem.
You have to stand beside him to watch out for the process and for guiding.
After he reached all the way down, we praise him by massaging his chest. Now we are so proud and with a lot of confident to go up and down any time together!

by the way, during our training, we have to keep our mouth silent! no need to say "come on" "you can do it" etc. Just body language and a firm leash guiding is more than words!

Good Luck!

May 31, 2011
Rating

stairs
by: Dee

Spanky just started using the stairs... depending on the depth, he wont go down, but so far, up seems a better alternative. I don't blame him, our stoop is very steep so looking down at it is scarry. I prefer he doesn't actually. But, he did only start going up and down stairs recently. Give it time, they are little and it looks high for them (he also just started jumping off the coutch (but wont jump up).

May 30, 2011
Rating

Stairs
by: Iris Miller

Tuffy was insecure about climbing up or down the uncarpeted wood stairs because they were slippery.He had no problem with the carpeted stairs.

May 30, 2011
Rating

STAIRS
by: KATHY

YES, I AGREE, GIVE IT TIME. TRISCUIT TOOK AWHILE TO GO DOWN THE STAIRS, AND NOW SHE GOES DOWN ALL THE TIME.....NOW I HAVE TO GET HER TO COME BACK UP ON HER OWN!!! I GUESS THAT IS ONE WAY OF GETTING MY EXCERCISE. THEY ALL LEARN EVENTUALLY....THEY ARE JUST TOO DARN CUTE...NOW MATTER WHAT! KATHY AND TRISCUIT

May 30, 2011
Rating

stairs
by: palle

I'm sure that your dog can learn to walk the stairs one day. Our coton Kenzo learned it by placing a little piece of his favorite food/treat on every step. My daughter and her cousin called him and encouraged kenzo to go one step by step. And he just loved to please all people and naturally to eat.
Best wishes and good work
palle

May 30, 2011
Rating

Coton and Stairs
by: Chris

Agree with all other comments posted here. Our coton did the steps when she was ready. Provided the dog is well adjusted and is being trained well in other areas, in time the steps will become "old hat" also. Patience is the name of the game!

May 30, 2011
Rating

Stairs
by: Cindy

I agree, just give it time. We purchased an older Coton,Ollie, that had not really been trained or socialized in anyway. He had never had a collar on, was afraid of stairs and going through doors and just about everything else. Even his kennel, he would bark and become so upset. Now, four months later he is running through the doors, up the stairs, wearing a collar and going to the Groomer(which he was out of sorts about also). When I say "Go to your Bed Ollie", he runs right into his kennel and sits. He is such a joy, and we love him so very much!

May 30, 2011
Rating

afraid of stairs
by: Anonymous

Give it time. Mine was almost a year old before he felt comfortable going up and down stairs.

May 30, 2011
Rating

Be careful what you ask for
by: Anonymous

I had the same problem with my Coton de Tulear - I had to carry him up and down the stairs because he just didn't seem to "get it".

But then one day I was upstairs getting dressed and THERE HE WAS. I was so excited - almost as much as my kid's first steps :)

Now I have to have a baby gate to keep him from going up the stairs when I'm not home because he's such a clown and gets into everything.

Don't worry - they figure it out.

May 30, 2011
Rating

Try with a toy or treats
by: Sevi

Hi!
If he is afraid to go down the stairs, try to get his attention with a toy or bsicuits/treats he likes. This way he will be persuaded to go down the stairs. They need motivation in every possible way. Good luck :)

May 30, 2011
Rating

Stairs
by: Margie

He will, give him time. They are so smart. Mine even rings a bell to go to the bathroom.

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to Dog Behavior Question.