The first few weeks I had my pup, he had a very horrible scare while going down the stairs. He got so excited about playing with a ball I had that his foot slipped and he slid down half way to the bottom where I was there to catch him.
Well after that he would constantly go up the stairs, but refuse to go down them. It got pretty irritating when he'd go up the stairs and whimper for me to come and get him.
I ended up getting frustrated about the whole thing and decided to attack his fear head on. I cut up tiny pieces of hot dog, and when he ran up the stairs and started wining again I gave him a piece of hot dog so he knew what type of treat it was, then I placed 3-4 pieces on each step.
It was sad and funny at the same time. He was scared to go down a step, but at the same time that hot dog just tasted so good that he really wanted to. He'd get close to the stair, lift up his paw and think about how to get down a step then put it back down, back away from the stairs. Then he'd repeat it all again.
He did this for about 10 min straight and that was when the break through happened. He found a way to get down one stair that made him feel safe, he ate all the hot dog pieces on that stair and I praised him for getting down. Then he spotted the hot dogs on the next stair...well he got down again and again....
I did this for 2-3 days and that was about all it really took to overcome his fear. Now my pup runs down those stairs faster than me.
I think you could apply the same type of concept to your pup. Grab a few patio pavers and just place them out on your lawn then put the treats on those pavers in order to lure your pup out onto the grass. Praise him/her every time they wander out into the grass.
After a day or two of that if he/she is still not comfortable in the grass grab a lawn chair and sit in the middle of your lawn then just toss treats towards her and shorten the distance you throw them until he/she's out in the grass with you.
It really shouldn't take long for the pup to realize there isn't a whole lot to fear out in the grass.
Well after that he would constantly go up the stairs, but refuse to go down them. It got pretty irritating when he'd go up the stairs and whimper for me to come and get him.
I ended up getting frustrated about the whole thing and decided to attack his fear head on. I cut up tiny pieces of hot dog, and when he ran up the stairs and started wining again I gave him a piece of hot dog so he knew what type of treat it was, then I placed 3-4 pieces on each step.
It was sad and funny at the same time. He was scared to go down a step, but at the same time that hot dog just tasted so good that he really wanted to. He'd get close to the stair, lift up his paw and think about how to get down a step then put it back down, back away from the stairs. Then he'd repeat it all again.
He did this for about 10 min straight and that was when the break through happened. He found a way to get down one stair that made him feel safe, he ate all the hot dog pieces on that stair and I praised him for getting down. Then he spotted the hot dogs on the next stair...well he got down again and again....
I did this for 2-3 days and that was about all it really took to overcome his fear. Now my pup runs down those stairs faster than me.
I think you could apply the same type of concept to your pup. Grab a few patio pavers and just place them out on your lawn then put the treats on those pavers in order to lure your pup out onto the grass. Praise him/her every time they wander out into the grass.
After a day or two of that if he/she is still not comfortable in the grass grab a lawn chair and sit in the middle of your lawn then just toss treats towards her and shorten the distance you throw them until he/she's out in the grass with you.
It really shouldn't take long for the pup to realize there isn't a whole lot to fear out in the grass.
