How To Carry Dog Down Stairs

Even though it can be difficult, living with dogs on multiple floors is possible. Find out how to get your dog down the stairs and back up again without making it uncomfortable.

How To Carry Dog Down Stairs

Problems arise for dog owners who reside in multistory homes, especially if their canine companion is very large or hefty, or if the dog is phobic of descending stairs. Giving your dog plenty of time to acclimate to activity is an important part of responsible dog ownership.

Dogs are not at risk of injury from utilising stairs, and they won’t accidentally tumble down them. A dog that hasn’t had any training may be hesitant to do so.

In an effort to save time, some pet owners may choose to carry their dogs down the stairs on their shoulders. You might be worried about bringing your large pet downstairs.

Your dog’s safety depends on your knowledge of where and how to hold it as you descend. Both the owner and the pet are in grave danger if the owner does not know the right procedure for navigating the stairs. See below for pointers on bringing Fido down the steps.

The way you hold the dog is the single most important factor in safely transporting it downstairs. Your dog has four massive limbs, so much of the effort goes into maintaining balance. In all likelihood, your dog will sit still, but he or she will make you work for it. You also can’t just abandon your dog.
Securing two sets of paws is the most secure way to hold a dog. Wrap one arm around the animal’s front paws/legs, then reach under its body to capture its hind legs. Very similar to front-carrying a baby.

If your dog is known for being calm and still, you can also carry it by placing its head to one side and its paws on your shoulders. Making your dog feel safe is crucial. Unless you take action, your dog may decide to shift, putting you in harm’s way as you plummet.

Keeping your dog at a comfortable height is also essential. We ask that you not release your dog from such a great height, since doing so would make it harder to regulate your descent. If you’re carrying a dog down stairs, your centre of gravity should be at stomach level so that you and your pet may both avoid falls.
If you lift the dog up to your chest, you may find it more difficult to maintain your equilibrium. Slipping is also less likely if you carry your dog on your tummy.

Make sure you have done lots of trial runs on flat terrain before trying to take your dog downstairs. If your dog won’t leave your bedroom, one solution is to walk him or her clockwise around the room in a carrier. You can get a sense of your dog’s weight distribution and the amount of time you’ll need per step by practising on flat terrain.
You can also gauge your dog’s reaction to being carried by you while you make movements while practising on level ground. If a dog can be walked properly and reacts negatively when held near and taken, then we can consider them well-behaved. However, if you’re in a new place, your dog may be anxious about its surroundings, leading to undesirable behaviour that makes getting around even more difficult.

How Do I Get My Dog to Go Down Stairs?

Dogs can be enticed to go downstairs by promising them treats. But positive conditioning is long-lasting and may be used to a wide range of dog-ownership issues.

Positive reinforcement with words your dog is familiar with should help it get over its reluctance to take the stairs alone. Dogs may not be able to communicate with you verbally, but they can retain what they hear, so using happy, encouraging words you’ve used before should help get your dog moving down the steps.

Additional steps that can help your dog include:

Get everyone out of the way when practising descents. Your dog may be easily sidetracked if there are any obstacles in his path on the staircase.
If you can tell that the dog is scared, don’t make it lie down. Make the activity into a game instead of pushing your dog to participate. Dogs have a high propensity for social interaction and are avid players of virtually any type of game.
If a fearful dog can keep up with its owner, the dog is less likely to remember its phobia. A dog’s owner is the only constant in its life, making you the most reliable source of comfort. Your dog will benefit from regular stair climbing and descending.
To encourage your dog to move, have some snacks on hand. The dog should learn that going up and down the stairs means getting treats.
A dog’s effectiveness will depend greatly on the degree to which the animal is afraid of the situation. A dog’s initial reluctance to use the stairs increases as the severity of its dread increases.

Should I Carry My Dog Down the Stairs?

As a temporary solution, carrying your dog is OK if you don’t have much time to train it in the next few weeks. But in the long run, your dog needs to figure it out on his own. You should learn about the many techniques used to train and motivate canines to perform specific movements.

If you have multiple dogs at home, and none of them seem interested in taking the stairs by themselves, you’ll want to brush up on what you know about basic obedience training for dogs.

It’s possible that the dog is hesitant to utilise the stairs because he or she finds them unfamiliar. The good news is that with some time, effort, and affection, you can teach your dog to overcome its fear.