Arrrrggghhhh Stairs!

[rachmc]

help!
Any ideas how to get my terrified boy up and down? he watches calmly as my lurchers show him how.......then comes down 3 steps, freezes and wont budge! going up i have to shove him up from behind, cant leave him downstairs my other dogs sleep up with us on cushions. tried leaving him down but he got halfway the turned round and landed in a heap at the bottom!
any ideas?
rachel

[Johnny]

That sounds like a case for a proper dog behaviourist.
He seems to have a mental block when it comes to the stairs.
I suppose you've tried the "stick-and-carrot" method? - encouraging him up and down using food?

[rachmc]

thanks
he is getting more confident, now he will try on his own, i walk with him and praise him loads, hes not as terrified and has stopped freezing! so we are making progress.
rachel

[Sara]

Nice one Rachel - was going to suggest perseverance but it sounds like he's well on the way

poor boy's most probably not come across stairs before bless him