How to help a large dog afraid of stairs after wearing a cone?

This is a very common problem! Most dogs have to be taught how to use the stairs at first. I would recommend going very slowly, and using treats to reward her for each tiny step in the right direction. So instead of putting treats on the stairs, if this is too challenging for her, start by putting a treat on the very first step so she can eat it easily. Do this several times. Then, try holding the treat in your hand and luring her nose up and forward, to see if she'll put a single paw on the first step - praise and let her have the treat as soon as she does. If this is too hard for her, give her the treat just for lifting her front paw - then work up from there. The key is to break it down into tiny steps that are manageable for her. Do short sessions (no more than 3-5 minutes at a time) several times a day. If you're still having trouble, consider calling a good reward-based trainer to come and get you started on the right track. You can search for a qualified trainer in your area here: www.ccpdt.org

It may be instinctive to try comforting her, but that is counterproductive. Just go on as usual, giving her the impression that there is nothing to fear. You could try putting a treat on each stair (before her daily meal, so she is hungry). Each time she goes up a step to get the treat, praise her a bit. You can do the same with the settee. She may need some time to get over this trauma, so be patient with her. If you need additional help, just click on the prompt to initiate a consult.

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Nico!! Good question and it really does depend on the individual puppy and what size/breed they are. Smaller breeds with shorter legs might take longer to get accustomed to using stairs. You might want to use treats or food rewards to coax him to start using the stairs. Otherwise, let mother nature take her course and I'm sure in time Nico will get the hang of it. He is just probably a little scared and intimidated right now. Good luck with Nico.

Poor Kota! It is possible she wasn't socialized very well as a puppy (mastiffs especially require a lot of socialization with lots of different people, places, and things to help them feel comfortable) and so is still scared from that. It may take a long time with lots of patient practice to help her feel more comfortable. Positive reinforcement with a favorite treat and taking new situations slow (and removing her from the situation if it is too scary and then trying again later) can help. I also highly recommend speaking with a veterinary behaviorist in your area. They are veterinarians trained in both behavior and medicine, and can work with you on a medication and training routine to help reduce Kota's stress and fear and start on positive training to help her relax and adjust. You can learn more and find a behaviorist here: http://www.dacvb.org/about/member-directory/

Sounds like your dog is having quite a few mobility issues. I'm not sure your how old your dog is, but with these symptoms I would suspect an older dog. There are things you can do to help (to a point) like adding a ramp or pet stairs to make going up and down easier, a good memory foam bed to soothe achy bones, glucosamine will help lubricate her joints so she moves a little easier, your vet may be able to offer some pain meds for the bad days but these are all temporary solutions. If she is an older pet this is where considering quality of life becomes important. She may be an older pet where these conditions get worse until she can't get outside to the bathroom and get to the food bowl. Simply getting to the necessities becomes a chore, that is not a life. It would be best to let her have her dignity and let her go if that is the case. Enjoy the time you have left together.

If there is any chance your dog has a back issue you need to insure she does not climb, jump, or go down stairs at all for a few weeks. This is not a common issue in large breed dogs. She certainly sounds painful however and I would make sure she has some pain medication available like tramadol or gabapentin in addition to the steroids (pred).

While I typically do recommend avoiding stairs, when it is not possible I have people use a leash on stairs to make sure the dog goes slow and does not cause too much stress on the incision. Double check with your vet to make sure that will be okay.