The Stairs

When discussing the behaviors we need to work on at Casa Curtin-Hess, a friend asked me how I expected Foster to not go up the stairs to the bonus room without a baby gate. I told her I'd never used baby gates as a nanny or a dog owner; it's just not something I've ever considered. Maybe I make things too hard on myself? I don't see it that way. I see Foster's comfort with walking up whatever stairs he wants and pooping in our bonus room as a lack of strength in our relationship. Foster has only been with us for 2 weeks. I shouldn't expect our relationship to be strong enough to override his survival instincts.

I have very little idea what Foster's life was like before becoming a member of The Pack. While interesting if I knew them, the details of his earlier life aren't necessary for me to build his trust in us so that he'll comfortably do whatever we demand. I don't need to know where he came from to earn his respect so that he'll want to follow our rules regardless of our presence. Every day is a new day for dogs, and they usually want to please humans because really great things come from living with us.

We are providing some really great things for Foster The Dog: cozy places to lay like in cushy beds and by fireplaces, walks in the woods, crunchy meals at 7am and 5pm, Milkbone and marshmallow treats, perfect companions in Luna & Jason, and snuggles from people all day long. None of these things kept him from jumping up on the counter or pooping in the house. We have to build a relationship in which Foster not only understands what I want and what I don't want, but in which he respects what I want - in which he respects me.

So how do you train respect? I think the respect of my dogs comes from the hundreds of interactions in our every day. Respect is built during our walks when we don't move if there is tension in the leash. It's built when I wait for my dogs to sit, be calm, and look to me instead of at the food before I feed them. It's built when they have to follow me through doorways and down the driveway and through the woods. Or when I tell them where they have to lie while I cook. I give them a million directions a day...until they get it, and make the choice I want them to make on their own. I make all of their choices until they learn how to make the right ones.

I'm not saying I know everything there is to know about raising dogs. I've read dozens of books on the human-canine bond and dog training, and I still refer to them often. I feel good about the way we nurture our family at Casa Curtin-Hess, but I try not to tell anyone else what to do...sometimes people ask, but if they don't, I'm learning to keep my mouth shut! Some things that dogs do don't bother other people. I get it. I try to think of what is best for my dogs, and even if it doesn't bother others, or even me, if it's not what's best for my dogs, I have to train for a different choice.

Stairs. They mean so much. Stairs take you from one location to an entirely different one. They separate sounds. When my dogs are in the gym with Jason, they look to the ceiling as they hear me come home and run up the stairs to find me. Stairs can unveil the fun surprise of who is making that noise up there! They can also be unsafe. You can trip up the stairs and break a wrist or slide down the stairs and break your butt. If your dog is on the stairs with you, he or she can trip you up in a heartbeat and then you're broken. I train about the stairs. And Foster really really really needs this right now!

Training your dog to wait for you at the top or bottom of the stairs is a great relationship builder. It reinforces sit, stay and come. It reinforces you as the leader. It reinforces the different levels as your spaces because you enter new territories first. It reinforces your dog needing your permission to enter a new territory. It makes stairs more safe! It's just great.

Here's how I do it...and how I'll be doing it over and over and over with Foster The Dog for the next 5 or 6 weeks.

1. Your dog needs to have the foundation of the commands Sit, Stay and Come.
2. Have your dog sit at the top or bottom of a stairway.
3. Tell her to Stay.
4. Begin walking the stairs.
If your dog breaks her Stay, put her back to the Exact Same Spot and command her to Stay again. I recommend a hand in a "stop" position so that you don't have to say "Stay. Stay. Stay. Stay." too many times. A leash can be helpful if you need to "catch" her, as long as there is nothing for it to get caught on, and you won't trip on it.


Guess they were tired from the day already...they laid down even!

5. Once you reach the end of the stairway, face your dog, pause a few seconds and then command your dog to Come.


Still staying...

You can also return to your dog if Come isn't a solid command, or just to switch it up a bit.


Foster is learning his name and that good things happen when he comes to it!

Praise her for her excellent skills in following your directions!
Treats for a Good Dog can make the game/lesson even more fun.
6. Repeat a few times.
You can do this a few times each day to strengthen your relationship and to give your dog something fun to do.
ALWAYS end on a success. Don't give up if it's not going perfectly. End when your dog does what you want - even if it's just Sit.

You may not have stairs in your home, but you may have them out your front door, or somewhere along your walks. You can do this exercise anywhere. It's always fun for your dog.

Luna has this lesson perfected.

Luna stayed even though I called Foster and he received a treat.
She is so awesome and we hope Foster is watching her as much as watching us!

Foster is learning. I'm planning on teaching him not just about the safety of the stairs, but that Yes, they lead to the bonus room, and he needs my permission to climb them!