The Stairs – Part 3
Every morning now we are doing a stair session. I am working on both going up them backwards and going up the forward. I’m personally interested in what way she learns faster and if learning one way makes being on the stairs easier in general. Today I also added one short session on trying to get her to down the stairs.
For backing up the stairs she is now putting both back feet on the first step right away. She is routinely putting one of the front feet on the step. Interestingly she is alternating which front foot she puts up first. In yesterday’s session she actually got both front feet up on the step. (YEAH!) She did this 3 times in the session. Each time I would click and go to feed and she would not eat the treat while all 4 feet where on the step together. A little stressed? I think so! Today in the session she was using the front foot to actually push herself up to get the other foot up on the step. She never actually got all 4 feet on the step.
As for going forward up the stairs she can put both front feet on the second step up and she is starting to independently move the back feet. She has yet to put either of the back feet up on the first step.
With going down the stairs facing forward she was able to approach the edge and do a hand touch over the edge. Her body posture is very scared dog and she is not ready to have her feet break the plane of the edge of the landing.
To be continued….
Tags: clicking away fear, fearful dog, rear-end awarenes, stairs
Comments (4)
Okay, I just have to ask…what does Rizzo do when she sees the other girls bounding up or down the stairs? I’m surprised she doesn’t follow by example.
Maybe I’m simplifying the process too much, but it seems like that would be an incentive in itself.
Just curious,
Lori
The reason I did NOTHING about the stairs for so long is that I figured her desire/want to be with people or the other dogs would take over at some point. Nope – she just stands with her paws on the first step or sitting at the base of the stairs some times barking, some times howling like a beagle, and some times just quietly waiting. She never leaves the bottom of the steps just sits there and waits. We have even left the gate open at the top of the deck stairs while Callan & I were playing on the driveway and that was not enough. I personally find it very interesting since not much phases her.
So far the only time I have seen behavior that is kind of the same is in water. We have tried to go swimming 3 times every time she is willing to get in the water and get a bumper but not sure about the whole swimming thing – even is Dara is there with her.
Today I got her to put all 4 up on the steps. I know that eventually it will come and I won’t even remember this phase.
Funny little creatures…go figure.
I think she may just be waiting for you to carry her, whether it’s patiently or not. So, I have one more question, since you are so vigorously training stairs, are you not carrying her either up or down during this period?
You are right I have stopped carrying her up & down at home. The only time I am carrying her is to start training sessions. She is actually rather “fearful” when I am carrying her on the stairs. Her little legs are going trying to get out. I do carry her at other times but man is she getting heavy! She is up to 19 heavy boned but skinny pounds. The only other time I will carry her on stairs is if we find some out & about while we are working on socializing. With Mark being in a wheelchair I am pretty good about knowing my way around a set of stairs though. Go read the next installment!