Staircase - does your corgi use it?

[MVons]

Would you have a corgi use a wood staircase? We have a long inside staircase. The first 4 stairs are carpeted with a tiny landing after the 3rd as it turns, then the remaining stairs are wood.

Pepper was carried the last 2 years because of hurting her back/hip jumping off the stairs or a chair, we'll never know but I believe it was the stairs because she was upstairs when I left that day.

The stairs we put a backing to the steps because Pepper was laying on one looking out the window and slid through! I heard a noise and came running to find her standing on top of our microwave, standing like a statue in shock and wonder. Yes, so glad the microwave was there at the time to catch her.

I never let her go up the open staircase outside that was twice as steep.

Once our puppy is old enough to use stairs, is a long staircase okay? Do the boys "clear" the stairs okay? I mean Harry Potter's chest has about a 2 inch clearance maximum in looking at the Westminster photos. I understand up is a lot easier than down...for us all, safety wise.

It has been too long since having a mobile young dog, thus my question. I know I may be a worry wart and when we allow our puppy to use the stairs, he might fly up them. We'll see going down them as Pepper was always cautious but that may have been because of the sliding through episode. Just wonder if I should allow the dog to ever go down them.

Merrie

[Fluffypants]

I'm probably a worry wart too, but I wouldn't. Just judging by how much Jackie slides in the wood floors, and how clumsy she looks going up & down our (carpeted) stairs, I don't think I would let her go up and down wood stairs, especially if they are open like you described (that must have been quite a scare for you & Pepper!). But that's just me - I always lean towards the overprotective . . .

[CorgiMum]

I'd say no as well. (What a scary time that was for you both!) We have a closed in, carpeted staircase to the loft and it's out of bounds for corgis.

[Jespah]

Merrie, I live in a three story walk-up apartment - on the 3rd floor! It's 3 flights of terrazzo tile floors for my two 4 times a day. They are fine - we all have great leg muscles!

Both Riley (my first Corgi) and Rupert were carried up and down for the first 4 or 5 months so it wouldn't damage their bones - mostly on the going down part. Jemma I got at 7 months - she was afraid of the stairs at first, but after 3 days she was fine and now gallops up and down with Rupert.

My concern would be that they are open, that may be the main thing to worry about.

[corgimom]

I agree, I would not let the dog go up or down a wooden staircase. Our stairs to the second floor are carpeted and Cody does fine going up and down.

[MVons]

We did close the stairs except the top 3 (need the heat to go up) after Pepper's first fall. I think her senior fall was because the spiral triangle shape of the last four. If you go down the tiny triangle side, you will slide or fall.

Sounds like someone needs to invent a staircase that with a switch changes into a slide when you go down! What am I thinking, my mom did put in a ramp and Pepper would jump over the side a foot before it ended. I guess it may be up to the dog. If I have one who dreams of agility, he'll beat me up the staircase. Or I might have the type that expects the elevator service for life because he got it as a puppy. Glad Pepper's requirement to carry her got me in shape for a puppy!

Hearing that a corgi can handle tile staircase 3 floors up is good. Guess the key is to have the staircase be supervised only. I won't go downstairs unless the dog is downstairs no matter how old.

Merrie

*** you have made me consider putting carpet back on them. I will look into having a low pile one. The shag, I trip on.

[CorgiMum]

It's 3 flights of terrazzo tile floors for my two 4 times a day. They are fine - we all have great leg muscles!


That's the trick I think, your dogs are supervised, and you are all used to that exercise.

To quote our Vet: " It's the non athletes that get hurt."

[Fluffypants]

Sounds like someone needs to invent a staircase that with a switch changes into a slide when you go down!

OMG Merrie! That would be SO COOL!!!!!:NOTWORTHY:

We have those triangle turning stairs also - and the triangle step is one of Jackie's favorite sleeping spots!!! :BIGLAUGH:

[love2corgis]

OMG Merrie! That would be SO COOL!!!!!:NOTWORTHY:

We have those triangle turning stairs also - and the triangle step is one of Jackie's favorite sleeping spots!!! :BIGLAUGH:

And Sooty's too. :CUTE:

[Squeaker]

Rosie-Clogs lives in a house where both the adults have intermittant bad backs, and there are 2 sets of wooden stairs, both uncarpeted and one open, so she has had to learn to go up and down on her own. We got her throught the young-and-growing stage by carrying her, but our back problems eventually made this a frequent impossibility. She knows that she isn't allowed to go unaccompanied, so waits at the top/bottom for the "Go slowly" command. The only real difficulty arises if all three of us have bad backs at the same time! The steps are out of bounds for her then.

The bus, however, has really steep, high steps, so she is allowed to go in, but not out. That is definitely a lift-down!

[MVons]

Do you remember how you did the go slowly command, that would really be ideal. Did you have your hand in front to force Rosie-clogs to go slowly? I know Pepper did the stairs fine, when she went slowly.

The bus stairs, what a nightmare they were when I was on crutches, twice I fell like I was falling forward trying to maneuver going down. Where you do live that allows dogs on buses? sigh, only seeing eye are allowed in San Diego.

Merrie

[Squeaker]

Do you remember how you did the go slowly command, that would really be ideal. Did you have your hand in front to force Rosie-clogs to go slowly? I know Pepper did the stairs fine, when she went slowly.

That is just what I did initially - held my hand in front of her nose and made her go slowly. It also works in other situations too, like if I want her to walk slowly anywhere. :)

The bus stairs, what a nightmare they were when I was on crutches, twice I fell like I was falling forward trying to maneuver going down. Where you do live that allows dogs on buses? sigh, only seeing eye are allowed in San Diego.

Merrie

I live in New Zealand, Merrie. Normal buses don;t allow dogs except for seeing eyes, but we have our own bus that we travel in and that we will live in one day (soon!! I hope!).

[disraeli ears]

I'm worried about my two. Our new apartment in DC is on the second floor. I just started taking them up and down the concrete open stairs at our current complex. Rhys doesn't like it, but can do it. But Andy is sooooo scared of coming down the stairs.
HOw can I make it easier?

[Squeaker]

I'm worried about my two. Our new apartment in DC is on the second floor. I just started taking them up and down the concrete open stairs at our current complex. Rhys doesn't like it, but can do it. But Andy is sooooo scared of coming down the stairs.
HOw can I make it easier?

Rosie was afraid of our open stairs too, at first. What helped her was to lift her up onto around the fourth or fifth step, so she didn't have to go all the way down and let her come down slowly, with my hand in front of her nose and me below her to stop her rushing fearfully. Once she had done that a few times, I took her halfway up and repeated the experience a number of times. After a day or two (maybe three...was a long time ago...) of "practising" three times a day, she was fine.
Oh, and she got a wee food treat each time she got to the bottom, too. :)

[Jespah]

Jemma was terrified of going up and down the stairs when I got her last summer Tana. It only took 3 days and she was fine. I just went very slowly with her, offered her treats and even seeing Rupert doing it helped. It's just a matter of getting used to it - so time will help.

[MrsGrace]

This is a thread I am following closely. I have 2 small flights of stairs in bamboo hardwood and we'll have a 10 week old puppy.

So I guess I'll be carrying him for a while up and down the stairs? How soon until I can let him try the stairs?

And should I get carpet pieces for the stairs for him to run up and down on?

[MVons]

We decided we are waiting until 6 or 7 months for the stairs as we consider them a jump down (no jumping desired so young). Then we'll train on the outside shorter, less steep front staircase. Put a treat on the step below and yes, the corgi will overcome any fear. But great time to train the go slowly.

My 76 yr old mom votes to keep the bare stairs, she has tripped too much on carpeted ones. Nice to have all points of view. The type of carpet is also a concern, catching a nail, etc.

Merrie

[corgimom]

This is a thread I am following closely. I have 2 small flights of stairs in bamboo hardwood and we'll have a 10 week old puppy.

So I guess I'll be carrying him for a while up and down the stairs? How soon until I can let him try the stairs?

And should I get carpet pieces for the stairs for him to run up and down on?

We have carpeted stairs to our second floor and Cody was about 7 months old when we tried to train him to come down - at first he was afraid and would frap like crazy anytime I tried to get him follow me down. Eventually my daughter put on his leash and lured him down step by step with treats - in a matter of a few days he was coming down on his own no problem.

I will say the other day he was carrying around a big stuffed lobster of his and made an attempt to come down the stairs with it and slipped - I was at the bottom and caught him midway sliding down the steps - scared me. So no more big stuffed toys will be allowed upstairs.

[taflar]

This is a thread I am following closely. I have 2 small flights of stairs in bamboo hardwood and we'll have a 10 week old puppy.

So I guess I'll be carrying him for a while up and down the stairs? How soon until I can let him try the stairs?

And should I get carpet pieces for the stairs for him to run up and down on?

A corgi puppy of either breed should not regularly use the stairs until they are about a year old.

Now I don't get fanicital but that's the advice I was given when I got my first puppy and have followed all these years.

Most of a corgis weight is in the front end and that can be hard on growing bones, joints and ligaments. Better to carry them than risk injury. Going down is worse than up.

The same applies to jumping. They should not be jumping over or on and off things till over a year old.

Peggy

[mtoy]

We're not letting Link go down the basement stairs at all. So far he's not interested so it's been pretty easy. We have a 3-step porch thing at our back door that also has a doggy ramp for Millie. He usually uses (and loves) the ramp but he also uses the steps. There is no way to keep him off those, but at least they are small.

[MVons]

I was re-reading this thread as Chester approaches 6 months. Well Chester has been jumping for 2 weeks. It is a 6 inch drop from the deck to the soil. This started when I dropped a bag of dog food and missed those kernels in the soil. Chester learned to trust his nose finding food for 3 days.

I doubt I can carry Chester up the stairs until he is one. But going down the stairs is easier and sounds more important for their heavy fronts so I'll continue that until my back screams "no". We are putting a gate at the top of the stairs. Chester busted through the bottom of the barricade (toolbox, filebox, oil drip pan) and made it up the stairs last week to find a very shocked son. I carried Chester down. I don't think he'll have any problem going up stairs.

When he escorts me to our trashcans, he goes up one step on the open steep staircase and I stop that procession immediately. I may have to look at installing a gate at the bottom for my sanity. Chester did also sail up our front staircase outside chasing a dog of course - the jack russell he plays with. We now guide them away from the staircase. Chester did briefly pause before he went, but I could see him saying "she went up it, so can I". A true follower. I'll have to work on the "go slowly" when she isn't around!

Question, is it necessary to go slowly going up, or is it just going down?

I can see when I need him to start going up the stairs himself, he will be bummed at night, when he is so sleepy going from day bed to night bed. Somehow, I think a treat will fix that "problem". The power of food.

Has Link stayed out of the basement?

[mtoy]

Has Link stayed out of the basement?

I'll give you one guess, and here are a couple hints:

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1002/1326104790_094e24c802_m.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1144/1326108038_6d67901d99_m.jpg

That's what happened the first day of school while I was in the shower with his favorite toy - toilet paper. He hides toys down there so Millie can't get them, the little stinker.

The landing at the bottom of the stairs is now called "Linky's Crib". I know we could put a gate at the top but it would be dangerous for us humans the way it's set up and with our traffic patterns. So while we don't encourage him to use the steps we can't keep him off them all the time either. At least with the door at the bottom he doesn't go too fast.

We have a temporary wood deck (well really just a landing with a few steps outside our patio door, temporary because since our addition we haven't got to the deck/patio that's supposed to be there yet) that he goes up/down several times a day. Even though we have a ramp there he uses the steps unless he's playing (he fraps on the ramp - a ramp frapper).

Sometimes when he's zooming around with Millie he tries to hide under the steps. Last time he got stuck:

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1069/1326086210_a880e97577.jpg

[Artos]

Hahahahahahahahahahahaha....>!!!!!! Loved it!
What a clever dog. Haha.

[Kassie]

Looks like we'll be starting "stair wars" soon! Our house is a walkout...enter at level with kitchen,dining and bedrooms, living room downstairs. We usually only go downstairs on weekends (multiple bad backs/knees.) The stairs arecarpeted, but steep. Maeve does fine, but only with us as they are gated. We had to carry our old ones. Maybe we can carry Aine down and let her climb up. We probably will stay up more than down with her for a while though since we have hardwood up here and carpet downstairs.:WINK::WINK:

Loved the tp stairs and the captive photo!:LAUGH:

[MVons]

Sometimes when he's zooming around with Millie he tries to hide under the steps. Last time he got stuckPoor Link doesn't realize how big he has gotten! I noticed Chester is realizing he can't fit easily in a couple puppy places.

My son and I reading this description of Link's adventures made us say, Chester would have SO much fun playing with Link.:TONGUE: But taking a cross country trip is not in the near future."NO:": Probably in 6 years when Erec checks out colleges..:SHOCKED: Then Link and Chester would be middle age!

[mtoy]

Poor Link doesn't realize how big he has gotten! I noticed Chester is realizing he can't fit easily in a couple puppy places.

My son and I reading this description of Link's adventures made us say, Chester would have SO much fun playing with Link.:TONGUE: But taking a cross country trip is not in the near future."NO:": Probably in 6 years when Erec checks out colleges..:SHOCKED: Then Link and Chester would be middle age!

Oh I wish Link had Chester to play with! He needs a young friend to tumble with and play chase. Millie will play chase, but the minute Link touches her she gets mad.

This summer I was looking forward to Link being able to play with the in-laws dogs when we visited. They have a 2 yr old bichon and a mini dachshund the same age as Link. What a fiasco that was! When Link met the puppy he barked and did a bow (like friendly dogs do, right?). Well my father in law took that as a sign of aggression (huh?), scooped up his puppy and wouldn't let the two dogs near each other for the rest of the visit. The bichon just wasn't interested in Link at all, was very aloof. So much for that.

[MVons]

Bummer, why is it the dogs we think will get along, the situation doesn't work out? For Chester the sheltie has a house mate from **** - a rescue newfie. But then the french bulldog I was uneasy about, they love each other, but hard to get together.

Maybe I'll walk Chester in town this weekend. He might meet new dogs, if not, he still gets lots of attention from men especially. Well, let me rephrase that. When I was at my mom's and my husband was walking Chester, a lot of women stopped and asked if he was a corgi.:TWITCHY:

[MVons]

Email response from Pepper's Dad's breeder:

I caution buyers to not let a Cardigan puppy do a lot of jumping, like over agility jumps or off of porches or from heights out of vehicles, until the growth plates are closed which is about 10 - 12 months. At our San Diego place we had a flight of wood stairs to the backyard, 12 risers in all with no padding. As soon as my young dogs were able to go up and down safely without falling, I didn't restrict them from the stairs. We lived there 28 years and never had a front problem.

So describe your stairs and I'll tell you how silly someone was to tell you that you had to carry a Cardigan puppy UP the stairs!


Tomorrow we are having Chester practice going up the front outside stairs that are 1/2 as steep as inside. We are installing a gate at the top of the inside stairs because Chester can't go down unless we are there because at the landing before the 3 turn triangle steps he will have to stop and we'll carry him down those because they are too great a temptation to jump. Pepper proved that to us. I will check to see if the gate could go at the landing, but I doubt it has the support needed. I'll carry him down the stairs until he is ready and eager. So far not eager, and I do fine with him going down.

I have no regrets carrying him up the stairs until now (25 pounds) because we needed him to grow so he couldn't slip through the top 3 stairs, the rest have backs. His chest/shoulders are so large, he can't fit through now.

I know this means the staircase racetrack will soon be open - Erec vs Chester, sigh.

[jakobandbrandonsmom]

We have a ranch style house so no stairs, but I think I'd worry too!