Our little guy is 8 weeks old now and we are loving every minute of it! We are taking as much care as possible with him. However I'm a little concerned as I know stairs are very bad for a puppies hips but we have two steps from our dining room into our lounge and there is no way I can think of stopping the little guy going up and down them. Any options gratefully received
Sorry can't get my picture to upload but it's two steps and about 7 ft wide so stair gate isn't a option
I don't think there is any firm research on stairs and hips. At 8 weeks probably the greatest danger is falling down the steps. Our breeder said no running up and down full flights of stairs but that they do need to learn how to negotiate stairs. Our house is a four level side split so has three flights of 7 stairs each. We figured a puppy could get hurt falling down 7 stairs so the OH built gates out of old crib sides. You could build your own gates or you CAN buy extensions to cover a 7 foot gap. I think with a mere 2 steps you have an ideal teaching opportunity with little danger. My guess is, from our puppies, in about two more weeks when he is 10 weeks old he'll be able to negotiate those just fine. You are going to have to watch him like a hawk for several months anyway so he doesn't destroy something and hurt himself in the process so you can help him on the steps till he's able to handle them. If the stairs are hardwood, like ours are, they will be more slippery than carpeted. Either way, hardwood or carpet, nice short toenails are less slippery than too long ones, toenails are definitely a factor.
Here is a good article - http://www.thelabradorsite.com/labrador-puppy-exercise-how-much-is-too-much/ .
Some I interesting views and articles there. Maybe I'm just worrying to much the steps aren't steep and they are carpeted so not too slippy. I guess most puppies are brought up with steps of some sort even door steps can be steep for a puppy.
I would try to minimise the number of times a young puppy is up and down the steps, more important to ensure that puppy learns to go up and down without charging so longer flights are no problem in the future. I hunk at only 8 weeks I would be tempted to also do some lifting up and down, but it does depend upon how frequently puppy needs to be using the steps.
We have a step up to our front door and a step down out the back door. I never considered the them a problem, the little guy was quite happy with the step down to the garden from what I remember but actually was probably carried out most times for the first week or so. We put up a board just high enough for us to step over for the long flight to upstairs. I'd be careful and teach him to negotiate the steps but in a few weeks he should be fine.
I carry my pups up and down steps for as long as I can, when they get too heavy (about 14 weeks) I let them do it themselves. They have to learn to do all kinds of steps and stairs but I limit it to two or three times a week. . .
ummmm for sure im trying to carry him up there but trouble is he follows me every where and a lot of the time hes up or down them before I have time to react. It also seems to be his favorite place to sleep.So from what everyone is saying its more a risk of damaging the hips from a fall rather than just going up and down them? It doesn't help its the main room of our house so no getting away from him using them.
Hi Boogs If it makes you less worried, I can tell you that our boy Pongo (who was 10 weeks old when he arrived) spent his entire puppyhood galloping around our garden which is on a 3:1 hillside....we couldn't stop him, and he seemed to get on OK. It may not be best best practice, but....
I wouldn't worry too much about a couple of steps, particularly if they are covered in carpet. I definitely would not have a young puppy running up and down flights of steps, and I would (and did) carry a young puppy up flights of steps and stairs at first. Once they get too heavy, up and down slowly on lead and not too often. We only have one study that seems reliable for young puppies and hip dysplasia, from Norway, and the critical period to worry about is up to 3 months. http://www.nvh.no/en/Home/News/News...ffect-the-incidence-of-hip-dysplasia-in-dogs/
Ok thanks everyone I'm trying to put a picture of the little guy fast asleep on the steps but it won't let me do it. Am I missing something
https://www.facebook.com/alex.wright.9887/posts/10206217403858485 Edited to add your pic for those not on FB. Jac.
Sorry for the Facebook link but is the only way I could get the picture to upload! As you can see we've covered the steps with blankets so it shouldn't be too harsh on the little guy?
Because he's missing mum and his litter mates and is lonely, and probably scared, in this new place. He sleeps all morning because he's exhausted from his crying. I had my pup in the bedroom in her crate for the first few weeks. No crying or fuss and then to the kitchen in the crate. Again with no fuss or crying
