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Chimera128
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Location: Washington DC, USA
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17-09-2017, 11:27 AM

ADVICE PLEASE: My Chihuahua is afraid of stairs...sometimes

Hello all. New to the forum. New to pet mommyship. Chimera is my 1.5yr old rescue dog. I just got her Friday. She was rescued from a Texas kill shelter. We love each other already! However comma I live on the 3rd floor and upon reaching my apartment, I realized she's TERRIFIED of stairs. The strange thing is if I pick her up and put her on the 3rd or 4th step she will go the rest of the way; either up or down. There are also times when she'll just go up or down a flight with no encouragement needed. And finally, IF she goes one flight, she will NOT go the 2nd flight. Mind you, the placing on a step always works for her to continue. I just don't understand. I figured after she saw that the stairs were ok or that she can navigate them without hurting herself or that there wasn't something terrible waiting at the other end, she would be ok.

Any insight or advice is greatly appreciated!! Thx
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Besoeker
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Location: Dunstable UK
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17-09-2017, 03:01 PM
Originally Posted by Chimera128 View Post
Hello all. New to the forum. New to pet mommyship. Chimera is my 1.5yr old rescue dog. I just got her Friday. She was rescued from a Texas kill shelter. We love each other already! However comma I live on the 3rd floor and upon reaching my apartment, I realized she's TERRIFIED of stairs. The strange thing is if I pick her up and put her on the 3rd or 4th step she will go the rest of the way; either up or down. There are also times when she'll just go up or down a flight with no encouragement needed. And finally, IF she goes one flight, she will NOT go the 2nd flight. Mind you, the placing on a step always works for her to continue. I just don't understand. I figured after she saw that the stairs were ok or that she can navigate them without hurting herself or that there wasn't something terrible waiting at the other end, she would be ok.

Any insight or advice is greatly appreciated!! Thx
She is quite a small dog. Can you just carry her up?
Or put her in a shopping bag - not a plastic one though?
Are the stairs open style like you can see between the treads to the floor below? If so, it's maybe the height that frightens her.
What about the distance between the treads? Is it maybe a bit much for the little dog?

Does your apartment building have an elevator? If so, would that work for her?

Sorry, I can't offer anything more constructive. It isn't a problem I've experienced.
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CaroleC
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17-09-2017, 04:24 PM
Two days is not very long to get used to her new surroundings, and three flights of stairs must look like Everest to a Chi. It sounds as if she's doing really well to me.
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Dibbythedog
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17-09-2017, 04:53 PM
Well done for rescuing an unwanted dog .

It early days yet . As has already been said , perhaps you could just carry her for now .
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Besoeker
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17-09-2017, 05:02 PM
Originally Posted by CaroleC View Post
Two days is not very long to get used to her new surroundings, and three flights of stairs must look like Everest to a Chi. It sounds as if she's doing really well to me.
I agree. And they are not really built for climbing.
And you are right - two days is not long at all.
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Interstellar
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22-09-2017, 12:58 AM
Work on building trust and developing a relationship with her before you expect her to tackle big, scary things like stairs. Chihuahuas are light weight, surely for the time being you can carry her up and down. She is in a brand new place and she needs time to be comfortable.
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