Those with smaller dogs ??

Do you have steps or a ramp so your dog can get on and off a bed or couch?

I bought the stairs and she wants to have nothing to do with it, I tried everything from putting treats on it, walking up and down myself so she gets the idea , nothing works.

My friend suggested getting a ramp instead and before I spend the money, wanted to see if this would be a better option or is my dog just a stubborn princess

Re: Those with smaller dogs ??

I have a Chihuahua and I bought him steps. Like your pup, he wanted nothing to do with them. I used all your tricks and got him to the point where he would go down but he wouldn't go up. He is deathly afraid of height so I dont think he will ever use them. They are sitting out in my garage waiting to be put up in Craigslist. I guess I will be his human elevator for the rest of his life. Thankfully, he can jump up on the couch (barely )

Message edited 3/24/2009 12:15:41 PM.

Re: Those with smaller dogs ??

Bruno HATED the steps.
We now have those small leather ottomans and they both use them with no problems to get on all the beds.
My guess is the ottoman feels more secure than the steps being it's solid.
We have wood floors and I think the stairs slid too much.

Re: Those with smaller dogs ??

Refuses to go near them same as you.. Finally my nephew tried to step on them and they broke.. What a waste of money.. I have to pick her up too..

Re: Those with smaller dogs ??

Daisy doesn't use them. My MIL has them, but it's for her senior yorkie who has trouble walking. Daisy jumps and runs all over, so she needs no help getting in bed/couches, etc

Re: Those with smaller dogs ??

My dog uses a ramp. It is harder to teach them to go down than to go up, because they can jump faster than they can use the ramp.

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I have steps for the bed. Petunia isn't very fond of them and will only use them to look out of the window

Re: Those with smaller dogs ??

rocky wouldnt have it @ all. he was scared, meatball wont either. I used pillows bari & just pilled em up , that worked ....

Re: Those with smaller dogs ??

Re: Those with smaller dogs ??

Our Westie can jump on our den couch, but nothing else. I rather him not be able to jump on the bed or our formal living room couch. MIL wants to buy us the stairs for him so he can but I told her no.

Re: Those with smaller dogs ??

Posted by Mrs-D-Girl

Posted by toni-mike

rocky wouldnt have it @ all. he was scared, meatball wont either. I used pillows bari & just pilled em up , that worked ....

She does not have any issues getting on and off the couch, but my bed is so high and that is the problem. She can jump off, but she can't jump on so if she jumps off in the middle of the night, she will scratch and cry to get back on

It's funny, when she was a puppy we used to pile the pillows up also for her to get on the couch.

Re: Those with smaller dogs ??

They have no problem getting on the couch.
Is there a way to keep them off??? We want nice new couches eventually and my chi sees this couch as a racetrack


As for the bed, they are not allowed.

Re: Those with smaller dogs ??

I paid a bunch for the steps when my little girl was a puppy...she wanted nothing to do with them! I tried everything. She would climb down but not up. So i gave them away..lol

Now our routine to the bed is if she wants to get down she stands on my chest and I have to let her down, and she barks when she wants to get back up..lol It stinks but it works!

Re: Those with smaller dogs ??

I have the doggie steps! she loves them! lol

Re: Those with smaller dogs ??

My question for you is are you sure you want her on the bed and couch? He just jumps up...and has been doing that since he was about 5 months old. Now we can not get him to stop. My couch is practically ruined from him laying on the couch after he peed. Also we are having territorial issues. From what I've read dogs will only feel they can lay with or climb on peers. If you allow him in your bed, he may look at you as a peer. I did not think twice until he started trying to gain dominance. Now we have to re-train him. As cute as it is, if you do not mind a little advice, I think it would be better in the long run to keep the dog off the furniture. If she won't go on now, I would try to keep it that way.

Re: Those with smaller dogs ??

Re: Those with smaller dogs ??

Is your dog a Shih Tzu like mine? Then they are stubborn!! I bought the stairs and he wants nothing to do with it. Instead he puts his front paws up on the mattress and expects me pick him up and if I encourage him to jump up he taps his paw on the matress like "come on". It's pretty funny. So, yea I'm totally whipped by my Shih Tzu!

He also hates the stairs in our house. I sometimes have to give him a little push!

Re: Those with smaller dogs ??

Surprisingly, my 2 chihuahuas have no problems getting on and off the bed and our bed is a little on higher side, I think..

Re: Those with smaller dogs ??

Otis will use the steps only to get up on the bed and then he will jump off.

Re: Those with smaller dogs ??

my pug had neck and brain surgery at 10 months old. Since then the vet had told us no jumping off anything. So DH had built him steps so he could go on the bed with us. He doesn't really go on anything else. the steps DH made are like real steps so he doesn't know the difference. He would also freak if he couldn't get on the bed so he eventually used them. we did have to show him it was okay by rewarding him with treats and telling him he was a good boy a lot of times. Eventually he got it

here's a pic of them