Stairs without risers

LOLOL

I was going to admit to all of you that I was totally freaked out by these stairs when I was a child and I still look more up than down when I take them, but I thought that all of you would think I was more nuttier than you already do!

I also worry that my fear is still there and he is feeling it.
 
RonandJan said:
LOLOL

I was going to admit to all of you that I was totally freaked out by these stairs when I was a child and I still look more up than down when I take them, but I thought that all of you would think I was more nuttier than you already do!

I also worry that my fear is still there and he is feeling it.
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Ohh I think you're probably in good company.

When I was a little girl, one of my friends from school lived in a very modern sort of house. It was very "architectural" and there were some really neat things about it. But... the stairs without risers? Yikes! They went all the way up to the second floor. I never said anything to her about it (even as a little kid I knew that would be impolite!) but I did not think those stairs looked very safe.
 
Poor MMM! I wonder if it's genetic, LOL. His mom won't go up those stairs either. We have them to above our garage and to our basement. Actually, we've only ever had one Sheltie who would go up and down non-riser stairs. None of the others will do them, and I'm with you guys...I'm not fond of them either.

So don't feel bad, Jan, it's not just you! The training plan Dr. Shelli described seems like a great idea. Patience is probably the key. Good luck and enjoy the new place!
 
Cranberry does not like that type of stair either. One of the motels we stayed at on one of our trips last year had that type up to the second floor where our room was. Happy and Callie were fine (well Callie was as good with those stairs as any other stairs- she doesn't like going up any stairs) but Cran did not appreciate them. not sure about Dixie yet :winkgrin:
 
Have tried training him in steps (no pun intended :wink2:), like you would do with clicker training? First, treat him for just being near the stairs, then treat him for sniffing the stairs, putting one paw on the step, then two paws, etc, etc. Take it very slow.

We have about 6 stairs like this on my deck. Bailey recently fell through one of them. It was sort of my fault. :( She bolted down the stairs while attached to her leash. Since I was still on the top of the deck when she ran, she fell backwards through the stairs. She was perfectly fine, although I was terrified! Thankfully, this incident didn't effect her because she still uses the stairs.
 
Update

I worked with MMM this morning. Standing on the first landing and he on the first step down from me, like Dr. Shelli said and he did come up in fact rather quickly. So we did all three floors (technically 6 flights with landings), making a big "McKinley is a good boy party" at every landing and floor.

The second time we did it, it was so funny (later in the morning).

Now know that landings have no doors into the condos. I stopped at the 1st landing and he came up the one step and THEN went up the whole entire next flight of stairs ALL BY HIMSELF to the floor with doors and tried to go in what would be Amber's apartment if she lived on the second floor.

HOWEVER, when I thought, "well maybe he is over it and started him onto the next landing and the 3rd floor, HUH HUH:no::no:. went the little Sheltie face.

So I carried him to the top step set him down and I went up the next step to the landing AND.......... he came up the last step straightaway to the landing and then bolted up to the floor with doors ALL BY HIMSELF again and went immediately to her door.

What goes through their little minds??? How I wish I knew!

And that is where we are at the moment in his getting over the fear of steps. So I guess the good news is that he is going to get over it and my back is going to be spared!
 
MMM here.......

Poor Boopka, your bio-ped not carrying you up and down the evil deck stairs. I will overcome my fear. I will overcome my fear. If my Boopka can deal with scary ol' steps, then I can too!

Yours truly and yours only,

MMM
 
Get a training leash and go up where he has to do one step for food and to get to you. If MMM is even close to Sca he can over come one step for food after some thought. Then go to 2 and etc.

In the mean time have daughter come carry him up to her place :lol:
 
Katy was terrified of the porch steps which have no backs. We had to use a leash to train her to go up and down them. Bailey was fine. Now she flys up and down with ease.
 
RonandJan said:
And that is where we are at the moment in his getting over the fear of steps. So I guess the good news is that he is going to get over it and my back is going to be spared!
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What a GOOD BOY, McKinley! But don't do it all the time...keep your hooman guessing and that will keep the treats coming, trust me on this. Once you make it easy, the treats will stop. And above all, never NEVER let the hooman know what you are thinking! Keep her guessing! Works for your momma. :yes:

Licks,
Momma Checkers
 
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