Puppies are always curious to explore their environment.
They want adventure around the house. They want to climb up and down the stairs at will. It’s fun to watch those feeble knees and hips stretch and relax.
But in reality, is this safe? Should puppies go up and down stairs? Here’s what RSPCA Animal Training Behavior Center:
Puppies below 12 weeks old should not be allowed to go up and down stairs. It’s best for puppies to be carried by the owners up and down stairs, until the puppies are grown and ready to negotiate stairs safely.
Puppies love to run up and down, and this is something that they can do when they are young and small.
The reason for this is that they need to see the world differently and to be able to take in all the sights and smells.
And if you’re going to have puppies, then you should make sure that you have plenty of fresh air and water for them to enjoy.
Dogs are great runners. They need to feel the air on their backs and to have something to run against.
When you have your puppies, you should make sure that you give them plenty of exercise.
And because they’re not used to running, it’s going to be hard at first. But as time goes by, they will get used to running up and down stairs.
Introducing puppies to stairs
If you’re planning to have dogs in the future, then it’s a good idea to start introducing them to stairs as early as possible.
You can even buy a small dog stairlift so that you can use stairs for your dog whenever you want.
When they grow older, they’ll be happy to know that you’ll be having them up and down.
They may also be glad to learn how to walk along with you up and down the stairs.
If your dog doesn't like stairs, then you should try to find a place where you can leave them up and down for a while.
And if you don’t want to leave them up and down, then you can just keep them in a crate or some other place away from the main house.
Just make sure that your dogs are safe and secure.
Puppies love to feel a breeze, and if you keep them running around a lot, then you should take them out frequently, as well.
By having a few walks with your puppies, you can keep them physically fit and healthy.
Puppies should be encouraged to enjoy playing and running, and being active in the first years of their lives, before they have any problems with stairs.
Because puppies don’t know how to walk up and down, it’s going to be difficult at first for them to understand this and they’re going to need to have accidents and learn overtime.
Are stairs bad for puppies joints?
Is it safe to give puppies stairs? This is one of the most common questions asked by people who are planning to get a new puppy.
We will be looking into the reasons why stairs should not be given to a dog and how you can give your dog a nice home away from his old home.
Are stairs recommended for puppies?
Stairs in many cases can lead to your puppy developing arthritis in his joints.
This is an especially dangerous fact, if you are expecting your puppy to be left alone while you are at work.
It’s because stairs are so dangerous that you should avoid them at all costs.
The most dangerous part of stairs is where your puppy’s knees are going to hit.
Because they are so small, they can easily bump into each other and get injured.
If you plan to leave your puppy outside, make sure that you use rugs or mats instead of wooden steps.
The bad news is that there are not many things you can do about it other than to keep an eye on them.
If your puppy starts to get painful and starts chewing his paws a lot, it is important that you immediately take him to the veterinarian.
Give puppies stretching regime
The good news is that this problem is usually very easy to solve.
All you need to do is to give your puppy a proper stretching regime and use some anti-inflammatory medications that are commonly available.
One thing that you have to make sure of is that your puppy will not be allowed to use the stairs if he starts chewing his paws because it’s quite normal for a dog to do so.
This is so you can make sure that your puppy will not develop arthritis in his knees.
It’s also a good idea to make your puppies favorite toys as well.
You can give him a nice piece of cloth and let him play with it. This is a great way for him to exercise.
It’s also important that you never pick up your dog’s teeth up too hard.
While it may be natural to pull your puppy’s teeth if he starts barking a lot, it’s vital to make sure that you do not do that since the dog will become quite sensitive to this touch.
If you have decided that you are ready to bring your new puppy home, you should know that you need to make your puppy feel comfortable in his new surroundings — this will help him grow healthy and strong.
At what age can puppies go down stairs?
Every dog is different and the age of their puppy is just one factor in how quickly they learn to use stairs properly.
In most cases, a puppy needs to be 12 weeks old before they should be allowed to use the stairs. If it’s a large dog breed such as Labrador or Retriever, you need to about 15 weeks — because the large breeds are more prone to hip problems.
It’s important to understand that when you introduce your dog to stairs, it will take a little time for them to become accustomed to the idea.
But once they are there, they will be able to use them just as well as you.
Building confidence in your puppy
Show your dog that they can go down stairs. If you are standing right behind him, then make sure that he knows that you are going to go down there with him.
This is very important and will help you and your dog get used to going up and down the stairs without having to yell at him for breaking your rule.
You will find that once your dog is used to going up and down the stairs with you, he will quickly learn how to use them just as well.
Get your puppies used to going up and down the stairs
Once you have shown your dog that they can go down stairs, you will want to get him used to going up and down the stairs without you.
It’s important to realize that this takes some time and may not happen overnight.
So, keep in mind that when you are first getting him used to going down and up stairs, it may take a while for him to get used to the idea but with patience you will be successful.
You may have to move his crate from the bottom of the stairs to the top before you will be able to let your dog go down and up them without you.
You may have to make changes in his routine a couple of times before the first time that they are allowed on the stairs.
As you continue to practice this, you will find that it becomes easier for your dog to go up and down the stairs without you.
There are also some things that you can do to help encourage your dog to use the stairs when you are not around.
For instance, you can place a small toy, such as a squeaky toy, on the stairs when you are not present.
Your dog will soon associate that sound with stairs and will want to go up and down the stairs to play with the toy.
If you want to be even more effective, you may want to use a crate in the room where you are not home all the time because the crate will make your dog feel safe and secure when you are not around.
The age of your dog will play a big role in whether or not they can go down the stairs when they are first introduced to the idea.
If your puppy is still an infant, it is important that you introduce the idea slowly to them because they may not know how to handle stairs.
Conclusion
Also, if your dog has never been on the stairs before, then it’s also important to use your judgment so that you do not hurt or frighten your dog by telling them to stop.
As your dog gets older, they will become more comfortable on the stairs and will be able to go up and down the stairs on their own.