How do I get a 2 yr old dog to go down only 2 steps?

[1bgfamily]

I rescued a GermanShepherd/Husky from a shelter and the only problem I have with him is that he is afraid to descend 2 steps going out of my kitchen to the back door. He doesn't seem to have a problem stepping off the front steps. How do I get him to go down just 2 steps?

[logman]

This one you may have already tried but in any case i think it may be worth persevering with. Try coaxing him with some of his favourite treats. If he's anything like mine his main motivation is food. Good Luck..Keep us posted..

[bigelaine2]

Does he have any problems coming back up the 2 steps? If not take him out the front door , round to the back door --- have a fun time outside perhaps playing with a ball and in the 'heat' of the game throw the ball up the steps. Hopefully he will run in to get it and rush back out to you so that you can throw it again. Make the area outside a happy place and he will want to go down the 2 steps to get there. Hope this helps.

[dotjhawkes]

In his vision he may not be seeing that the first step only drops to the next step, he may be missing it and thinking it is a bigger drop, try to use that hazard tape to help his perspective work it out.

[1bgfamily]

Thanks for all your suggestions, but I have tried all these and none of them work. He just sits at the top of the stairs and whines or barks at me. Could he have a medical problem?

[drgnrdr]

How large is the area you are trying to get him down and how close together are the steps?Which way does the door open, does it lead to back yard? How long have you had him, how old is he? I am trying to get a visual on what he is seeing and what he may not see, and if he had any bad experience when he first came to your home it could have been something so subtle you did not register it in your brain but he did in his, since it close to the kitchen, sounds, noises smells, deter allot of dogs from things so it seems like he is afraid of that area or those steps, from the association of whatever happend to him in that situation, it could have happend from somewhere else also. You'll need to desensitize him with the steps and then counter condition him to associate pleasant things with them. This may take awhile...tell me EXACTLY what you've tried and his response, since I can't see and watch you do this stuff I need a picture in my head and details.. , let me know and I might be able to help you...Check with a vet if your worried he might have a nerve pinch or something that prevents him from going down these particular steps if they are steep or situated differently than the front ones.

[1bgfamily]

drgnrdr

The dog is around 2 years old and they told me at the shelter I got him from that he is afraid of steps. Also said he may have been abused or insecure. The area is small from the 2 regular sized steps to the back door about 2 feet. It leads to the backyard. He balks about coming thru the back door and when I have him in the house, he balks about stepping down off the hallway to the second step going to the back door. Sometimes I can coax him halfway through the door, but once he sees the steps he backs out and sits down and whines or barks at me.1 When I first got him, a week ago, he didn't do too bad. He will come in at night, but won't come in during the day. I have tried to coax him with treats, toys, but to no avail. I usually have to take him to the front door and it has one step up. He comes right in. He also has very short nails, maybe he can't get a feel for the steps.

[drgnrdr]

Well let's see you have only had him a week, you are trying to go to fast for a dog who has a bad experience with this. We need to slow it down and take it at his pace. Dogs fight resistance, if you try to pull him he will balk at it, he doesn't trust you enough yet, he's only been with you for a short time, and he's had a bad life for the last couple of years. Let's try something:

Now since I can not see what you are doing I am going to have to give info sight unseen, this is difficult to do, I would rather show you than talk you thru it, but we'll see...

Put him on leash, get the most tastey, most drool release kind of treats you can find, chicken or hot dogs or something really good, what HE likes. Try to do this as often as possible, the more you do it the more desensitized he will get alot sooner, but you can not go to fast, watch him he will let you know if you have gone to fast, he will get nervous and bark or whine or pace. This is where I would like to see it but I can't. Okay, sit at the top of the steps don't force him to come to the edge with you he will have to come to you to get a treat, when he does, PRAISE him, "Good Boy!!" (make it very exciting not yelling but higher pitch and make it known to him that he did the right thing) and then give him a treat, praise the whole time, the treats do not have to be large, dogs don't know size, they can be cut up into the size of your thumb nail, if he backs away from the steps don't do anything, just sit and don't say anything don't try to coax him, and don't talk soothingly like you would a child, dogs don't understand this, they just think you are praising them for being nervous and afraid. (con't)

[drgnrdr]

Now if he just sits at the end of the leash then you might need to let him know you are having an really good time, so with your back to him act like you have found a very interesting bit, be exciting and make like you found a gold nugget, he will wonder what you are doing if he comes towards you, give him a treat and PRAISE him. If you act happy and make it like their is no big deal with the steps he may also, this usually works with the dog that trust you, so we shall see how much he trust you.m You will keep doing this until he can sit at the top of the steps all relaxed like it's no big deal, then you will have to sit on the next step and do the same thing, YES this will take time, desensitizing is not an easy thing, because he is afraid of something with the stairs, we have to convince him that the stairs are fine, they are fun, they are rewarding (treats). Dogs will repeat a behavior they find something pleasant with, and not repeat a behavior if they find an unpleasant thing with it. You'll just have to take him out the other way until we get him use to this. MAKE SURE HE IS HUNGRY WHEN YOU GO TO WORK WITH HIM, if he's not hungry he won't care the fear will over ride his stomach. Try to do this 3-4 times a day if you can (try 5 if you can ), you can try for 5 minutes at first to see if he will even go towards the step with you sitting on it, as he starts to get treats from you try 10 minutes sitting there, he needs to relax and enjoy treats from you, praise is important also, be happy and he will see your not nervous why should he be?

Try this for the next couple of weeks, it is up to you and him how you progress, he dictates the speed at which you go. Let us know how it goes. This is harder to describe than for me to just show you, so I hope I have explained it well enough...Good Luck.

[drgnrdr]

If this doesn't help you try to get

The Cautious Canine
How to Help Dogs Conquer Their Fears by
Patricia B. McConnell, Ph.D.

It might give you more info and maybe explain a bit better.