Dog help please!

[java]

My lab has lost it. She's always been a bit off- afraid of the strangest things- like the vacuum(which I can understand - the noise) a chair in the wrong place and she's never been a fan of stairs.

In fact she doesn't ever go upstairs in our house. She just won't go up the stairs.

Up and down the 2 front steps on our house has never been an issue.....Until now. It's like she forgot how to do it?
She wasn't injured at any point going up or down. So that's not it. She just one day decided - oh no I'm not doing that.
It takes 10 minutes to get her up now= with the "good girl" Come on girl... and then finally with her favorite treat- cheese after about 5 minutes with that she'll come up.

I don't know what to do? Any ideas on how to retrain her on the steps. She is a 2 year old dog - so it isn't age. And she's not injured- we went to the vet to see if that's the problem. Help!!

 

[Spinning]

We had this happen with our lab. Believe it or not it ended up being Lymes. She wouldn't go down our basement steps to our rec room. few days later she had a limp. We think she thought it was due to the stairs. It took her a long time to start going down the steps again.
Granted she didn't have to go to the basement unlike your house where she has to go out side. But it is a thought.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

If you have an insecure dog, you have to be confident in the training. I have a lab mix that is afraid as well.

A. No praising for bad behavior. You are actually reinforcing it with "good girl". Praise is earned AFTER the exercise is finished.

B. No talking at all while you are training. A dog's mind is not listening to you when they are "in fear".

C. Leash the dog and train. You go up the stairs, down the stairs, up the stairs. You have to be patient and confident.

A handy trick is to pull up on the leash so the legs are moving forward and you walk. On stairs that would be a little difficult. You could use a flexi if you are afraid of falling.

Remember....no talking during the training. That is key. The dog gets praise once the exercise is over. So make sure you have the time to sit there in your power struggle. Think in your mind, you are coming down the stairs. The dog will get your vibe. It is natural for a dog to follow you.

If you can use food as bait that is helpful. However in the beginning, most dogs will not respond to food. You can add it in later sessions if the dog does not respond initially.

My dog was afraid of EVERYTHING. You must get them out there and face their fear. Lots of training over time and confidence on your part will teach the dog to trust in you.

 

[slo]

Personally, I wouldn't try to get her to go upstairs in your house. If she doesn't HAVE to be there, then keep her downstairs. She may eventually come up there when she's feeling left out downstairs.

You have to get her comfortable with the stairs outside, and I personally would get something even better than the cheese to excite her. Have you tried cut up hotdogs? I would put that on one stair, and when she goes up it, then she gets it, and then do it again for the 2nd stair. After that starts going well, then I would just put it on the 2nd stair. After that starts going well, than I would just put it in the door. After that starts going well, then I would just give it to her after she's in the house. During all this, I would really give her alot of praise, so she knows she's doing something FANTASTIC (even if to us it seems so easy to do).

Good luck, and you'll have to keep us posted on how it goes.

 

[LuvOrlando]

-

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Just wanted to add, since the dog is afraid of a chair out of place, etc...start with that if you want to boost your own confidence.

Use the method of walking with confidence and pulling up on the leash as you are walking past the chair out of place. Walk quickly getting closer to the chair till eventually you are walking past the evil chair.

Use no words and only think in your mind that the dog can trust you and that the dog is going to walk past the evil chair.

 

[slo]

My MIL's Golden did this when she became an adult because the steps were too steep for her to navigate. These are big dogs and the speed at which their little feet need to move is dizzying. Maybe in time the dog will follow you up just because you're up there... just have some treats for a reward when she does join you and hope it passes.

I am such a believer in small treats for incentive to good behavior
I use Charlie Bears ALOT. They are like an oyster cracker, and you can even keep them in your pocket to give whenever you feel the dog needs to be rewarded. I have a cabinet right next to my door, with a decorative bowl full of these treats, so everytime my dog comes in the house, she gets a small treat for being good. I also keep them upstairs, and she gets a treat everytime she goes into her crate at night for sleep. My dog is so good, and that's because she's not stressed out. She knows that when she does something good, that she's rewarded for it

 

[java]

Oh boy thanks everyone! I'll keep you posted with how it goes. I spoke to her because when she's nervous she does the "I'm not looking at you" thing- like looking off into the distance- the if I can't see it it's not there thing. So I talk to get her to refocus.
She's 100 pounds and strong. So when she doesn't want to go up she'll pull back. Today I kept her on a very short leash and tried to just get her up and she was having the freak out- pulling twisting stuff.

So later I am trying the no speaking short leash. And up we go. Fingers crossed. Oh and I don't have hotdogs- but I have ham! I'll reward with that.

What is a little funny is that my other dog will go up and down the stairs to show her that it's easy I think- or she could be just showing off.
Wish me luck!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

It takes time. If I can rehab my dog who is afraid of everything you can do the stairs. I mean when we got Butters he was even afraid of the wind.

Resist the urge to talk or praise until the dog has completed the stairs. I am telling you that is the key.

 

[ckay87]

Do your thing, but be mindful of what Spinning mentioned about Lymes. That was the first way Lymes surfaced in my beagle as well. I never saw that she had a tick or anything, but she ended up getting Lymes disease. It is far more common than I had thought.

My beagle is like your dog in that she has weird quirks and fears. Know what helped her? Getting another dog! When she saw that new doggie was not afraid of, for example, the gas grill, she was all better too. So....there you go. Get another dog!

 

[java]

Do your thing, but be mindful of what Spinning mentioned about Lymes. That was the first way Lymes surfaced in my beagle as well. I never saw that she had a tick or anything, but she ended up getting Lymes disease. It is far more common than I had thought.

My beagle is like your dog in that she has weird quirks and fears. Know what helped her? Getting another dog! When she saw that new doggie was not afraid of, for example, the gas grill, she was all better too. So....there you go. Get another dog!

We have 2 dogs and I want to get another one! LOL! But really the lab is taking it's toll on me. She is more needy than my kids. But she also is the most loving. *well next to my Harry the English Bulldog. - We have a french bulldog and the lab currently.
And yes I am going to have her checked for Lyme just in case. Thank you to Spinning for mentioning that because I never would have thought it.

 

[yoopermom]

Despite having seen the vet, my first thought would be physical: vision issue, lymes disease, early onset of hip/knee issues, even something neurological.

I hate to see you force train the dog until these are all ruled out. If they are ruled out, then follow the advice given, it's all been good.

Terri

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Despite having seen the vet, my first thought would be physical: vision issue, lymes disease, early onset of hip/knee issues, even something neurological.

I hate to see you force train the dog until these are all ruled out. If they are ruled out, then follow the advice given, it's all been good.

Terri

Yes, but she said the dog has always been insecure or "off" so that I am assuming that this is just more of the same.

However getting tested is certainly something to do if she suspects something, it can't hurt, well maybe not for the dog getting his blood drawn.

 

[yoopermom]

MM, I hear what you're saying. I have a year old hound at home who hasn't been quite "right" since birth in much the same way, she was the runt of the litter, and we suspect has either neurologic issues due to this. (Her name is "Olive" after "Olive the other Reindeer", she is quite odd!) We treat her with various homeopathic "remedies", plus she's on glucosomine for some growth joint issues, etc.

I forgot to recommend a good beginning obedience class, too, to build up the dog's confidence. One that offers training towards AKC's good canine citizen certificate would help, too. The one thing I would hate to see any owner of a dog like this do would be to "feed the fear".

Good luck OP, and good for you for being willing to work with your dog!
Terri

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Butters is 3 now and while he is over objects at home, even when they are moved, if you are carrying something, forget it.

He can actually smell the trash can now in the kitchen. Which may seem like nothing to some but for him it is a big deal, because you know trash cans are evil.

It is a constant rehab with him. Always something new to deal with. He was born in a shelter and taken away from his mother at 2 weeks.

 

[yoopermom]

MM,
It's a shame MI and MO are so far apart, because Butters and Olive sound like two of a kind! Good thing there are good hearted people like us in the world to give them a hug...

Terri

 

[java]

This is the dog that barked like an intruder was in the house when I walked in with a ponytail. (I never put my hair up) she didn't recognize me and was growling and barking. Then I take out the pony tail and the tail starts wagging and the barking stops!

(not the brightest bulb from the litter I suspect)

 

[yoopermom]

Java,
I'm a blonde, and we just call those the "blonde" dogs of the litter, no matter what their actual color! Gotta love 'em!

Terri

 

[The Mystery Machine]

This is the dog that barked like an intruder was in the house when I walked in with a ponytail. (I never put my hair up) she didn't recognize me and was growling and barking. Then I take out the pony tail and the tail starts wagging and the barking stops!

(not the brightest bulb from the litter I suspect)

Yep, insecure. Our dog will do this as well.

You need to work with a leash in the house and start tackling his fears. It is doable. I have done it, well the whole family helps.

When he shows a fear in the house, leash him and force him to meet his fear. Outside same thing.

I cannot tell you how many times we had to walk by trash cans on driveways on trash day to get him over that.
Same with strollers, bikes, etc...

We finally got him over that stuff. But he is not "cured" however he is over 100 fears, which helps.

I cannot tell you the joy that the animal will show when he has conquered a fear. They get sooooo happy. They want to be normal. You just have to help them.

Right now our project is aggression. We are working with it at the window. Making good progress, but it is slow.

Next up, we will have a fence TODAY and we will be working back there. AACK! My kids were not this much work.

 

[daisax]

Please don't give your dog ham! The last thing you need is a dog with pancreatitis.

The dog could have a form of panic disorder (heck, people get it, why not pets?) I'd rule out lyme and then speak with a behaviorist about training and possible drug therapy to go along with it.