8 Month Bullmastiff fear of the going up steps... Help...

[JennyC]

I have a 8 month old Bullmastiff named Timmy who has always gone up and down the stairs in our split level home. There are two different sets of stairs he can go up to get to the main floor and there are only 6 steps total. We brought home an 8 week old puppy a week ago and as of 4 days ago Timmy stopped going up the stairs in the house. Timmy and the new Bullmastiff puppy get along great so I know it has nothing to do with him. I believe maybe my cat got him when he got to the top of the steps and now is afraid. He has been going outside around the house and up the deck stairs to the ground floor where his food is and the living room. I don't know how to get him up the steps in the house. He puts his front paws on the first three steps and then keeps his back paws on the floor and cry's. He wants to come up but he is so afraid. I have tried food and all the treats he likes to get him up the steps but it hasn't worked yet. Today he put one back paw on the step but then went down. Any suggestions would be great.. i hate that he doesn't come up and he is alone downstairs...

 

[Jakesmum]

It does sound like something spooked him. I had issues when Jake was a pup, one thing that worked for me is putting his leash on him and walking with him up the stairs. Lots of praise and a treat when he did it.

 

[JennyC]

Thanks I'll try that and see how that works... I hate to see him cry while the puppy is going up and down the stairs all day and he just looks at me so sad from downstairs.. thanks for help

 

[DennasMom]

Just make him. He's done it before, he can do it again. No coddling! Putting him on leash and walking with him hopefully will get him past the mental barrier he's built...

 

[teodora]

Jack hated any kind of stairs and the only way I could make him do it was drag him on leash. After a high drama, the third time he did it himself. We had the same issue with bridges, it's just that he made up his mind after many tries and DID IT himself, lol!

 

[EverythingEnglishMastiff]

I'd have to agree with DennasMom. Calmly and matter of factly take him up the stairs.

 

[JennyC]

Thanks I'll try anything because it's getting old.. This is all of a sudden he has been up and down the steps since we got him in June and the last week he won't go up the steps inside anymore.. It's pathetic hearing a 120lb 8month BM cry because he's scared to come upstairs. This weekend this fear of his will be gone... Thanks for all your input.

 

[Hector]

Make sure it's not pain related.

 

[season]

Solo was the same. I put on his prong and leash and took him up. He resisted and it looked messy but dogs like humans will resist as much as they are allowed to. After a couple of trips he did it on his own. If u allow them to resist and throw a fit to get out of it they will.


"Today is victory over yourself of yesterday."
- Miyamoto Musashi

 

[JennyC]

Thanks for help everyone, It's just so crazy Timmy can stand at the bottom of the stair and stretch and reaches the top yet won't go up them. Our 2nd BM runs up and down the stairs and Timmy just watches. Hopefully in the next two days he will do it on his own. Thanks for all the advice.