How to Teach a Blind Dog to Walk Down Stairs

Dealing with a dog who has lost its vision can be quite difficult for doting dog owners. It is quite difficult to watch your four-legged friend struggle to find his way around. A particularly burdensome area for most blind dogs is the staircase. In the absence of sight, these dogs struggle to determine how far down or up the next step lies--and even if there is a next step at all. Help your dog become a master of the stairs as you allow it to become acclimated to its world and accommodate for its lack of sight.

Instructions

Step 1

Start small. If possible, start your dog on a small, one- or two-step flight. This allows the dog to practice the skill of stair climbing in relative safety.

Step 2

Leash the dog and lead him gently up and down the stairs. Try not to guide the dog with your hands, as this practice encourages the dog to depend too much on you. Attach your dog's leash and use it to guide the dog up or down.

Step 3

Say "step" as the dog goes up and down each stair. If you continue this practice, your dog will begin to connect the command "step" with going up or down the stairwell and know that when you say "step" you mean that you are in the process of either ascending or descending the stairs.

Step 4

Remain patient. Most blind dogs exhibit fear when they encounter stairs. Patience is of the utmost importance. If you try to rush your dog, you will likely only add to its aversion to the stairs. Allow your dog to move at its own pace to develop a familiarity with the stairs.

Step 5

Give your dog a treat at the top or bottom of the stairs. Once your dog has successfully navigated the stairs, reward and praise it. While it may seem like a minor accomplishment, the stairs are nearly an insurmountable obstacle to your struggling friend. Rewards it for its efforts.

Step 6

Practice regularly. Review this procedure with your dog again and again, allowing it to internalize the practice of stair climbing and become familiar with the sensation of moving up and down the stairs.

Step 7
Mark the top and bottom of the steps with a scented product, such as vanilla extract or pine. Placing minuscule dabs of these highly potent scents can be tremendously helpful. As your dog becomes more adept at navigating the stairs alone, it will begin to recognize the presence of the scent as an indication that it has reached the end of his climb or decent.fg