Need advise please - Page 2

My basement stairs are open but there is a thin board behind them.  When Link (my boy that I lost in March) was a puppy, about 9 weeks, he went down after a ball and didn't know how to come up. I put the ball on the first step and he pushed it with his nose.  It rolled back out the bottom and he was amazed.  I put it on the second step, he put his front paws on the first step, pushed it again and it came out at the bottom after rolling off of the board.  I then carried him up.  Next thing I knew he was back down there with the ball, putting it on each step and waiting for it to roll back down!  I think he was amazed that no matter which step he put it on it came back to the same place.  He eventually worked his way to the top (within a week) and did all steps from then on.  You need to make some kind of game of it, make it fun but safe.

 Thanks for the help. The funny thing is that the dog is not afraid of anything else. He has been around my kids racing motocross, loud bikes ,tons of people and strange situations. I will try some of these suggestions.

Southtexan/Outlaw,
Just for clarification I was not advication you throw the ball up the stairs or do anything in a manner in which might set the dog back by getting hurt in any way. It is difficult to explain eveything in writing here. I was advicating small steps with the dog winning each progression, but ultimatly putting the dogs mind on something else that would take his mind off of the steps. Walking up the steps a few steps at a time holding the ball ( favorite toy ) where by his attention is on you and toy, not the steps. This works. We are talking about a 7 month old dog, not and 8 week old puppy that will be scared for life because he stumbled and hurt himself. We are also talking about indoor stairs that would reduce him getting hurt. Southtexan, I think you read too much into what I wrote, the methods I am describing will work because it is done safely and in small steps. Again, I cannot type every detail of what I am thinking, the reader has to be able to apply the principles. Thanks

olskoolgsds i understood what you meant.

jletcher I think it is a big deal that a 7 month old dog cannot go up the stairs. My last GSD would not touch stairs inside, but had no problem with huge stairs outside. The reasing for this was because as a puppy, she was never put near stairs. She was never properly introduced to stairs, the car, the crate, being taken out anywhere, slippery surfaces. And she never changed. It is very important that puppies (I'm talking like 8 week old puppies) be introduced to all of this. It helps stable their temperment.

Aandj, I did intruduce him to stairs. The first night at 8 weeks old he was going up and down a few outside stairs and he has no fear of my deck steps. I keep the upstairs in the house blocked off because i dont want my dogs to go up there. I guess i will just to work with him daily and let him know it is ok. I spent a lot of time up until around six months old socializing. He traveled with us racing and walked around tracks with approx. 1500 people and other dogs. Like i said earlier nothing else seems to bother him.

Have you had his hips and elbows checked yet? If it isn't pain I bet it is that you have now just changed the rules. He has had no access to the stairs since 8 weeks old and now, you want him to go up. He may feel he is breaking a rule. I would try sitting on the last few steps and play with him, scratch him and talk with him. Scoot up a few more steps when he looks comfortable. Try some treats, toy, your company, whatever you feel will work best for your dog. If he is high prey, what olskools said will work too.

Good luck and I hope he improves quickly.

 " I would try sitting on the last few steps and play with him, scratch him and talk with him".  This is the point, however you do it he  needs to associate the stairs with something good, ie fun, positive etc. You should be able to figure it out from here. This is a part of working with dogs that is exciting, reading his eyes, looking for the fear to be gone and then rewarding. These types of situations open up a whole new world to knowing your dog and how to relate to him so he becomes all he can be. Good luck and let us know how it goes.

Sounds like everyone has it down pat....try all .....I imprint pups before they leave my property....I take  them up stairs to the barn and up grated stairs, and into a building with gobs of tools, boxes, junk, and they wander and then the air compressor, big Max, comes on and oboy   do they get a lesson...but they dont care,,,,,they are following ganny....on steps  I go up a few  , stomp my feet as I go, swishing a set of keys,,or a nosey toy, or act like a clown , tease him ,call him ,,,and go one step at a time,,,,,praise him  ,,if he make 5 steps,,,stop and sit and talk , pet and praise ,,,if he turns a goes down   good deall   go down,,,and turn around and flop flop your feet and clap hands....I inprint pups with the clapping of hands..so that wont work with you, i guess, unless you do clap hands to get attention....I make it all fun,,,,its scary to all of a sudden know that they got up  and now what.....some pups go right up,,,,and some just need a little motivation ....chances are if you had done this months ago,,,it wouldnt have been a problem.....I bet the next pup , yu will go to the steps first....doesnt matter that he cant go up there without you...that is what the gate is for....start them early before the  fear factor sets in    All germans have a period of fear factor and it is from6 mos to 1 year old....and guess what period you are in.......and its not necessarily a fear of everything,  just some unordinary things like stairs going up in the air.....after you get the stairs whipped.....you can start him on hurdles in the back yard ,.......or walking beams    up on boards accross a ladder.....start 1 foot off ground,  then advance....something to look forward to....take your time     do not rush this pup......he will follow you......might try letting him be very hungry     fast him  so he will want his food......meat    .....but make it funny   and praising him all the way......let us know what happens      do you have a cam corder.????have someone else take the video of him when he finally gets it...then you can laugh at it in later years.....

I brought Titan to work today where i have about 20 steps leading up to my office. At first he didnt want any part of them so i just left him and went on about my work upstairs. Next thing i know he was up, then down then up again. He is currently running around like he owns the place.  I think because he is in a new environment he didnt want to let me out of his sight. Now i will go home and try the house steps. Thank to All !