Why does my dog struggle with stairs?

Plenty of dogs struggle with stairs, especially as they get older. Here are a few ways you can help your dog conquer these mountains they have to climb, safely and confidently.

1. Grip

If your steps are linoleum, tile or hardwood, they may simply be too slippery, especially for a dog bounding up and down them. One wrong step and your dog can slip and tumble. That may already have happened, and they now have some confidence issues about approaching the stairs at all.

What helps: stick-on stair treads on each step. They fix the grip, and they take away the noise and the slide.

2. A sling or a support harness

Larger dogs often develop hip or joint problems as they get older, which makes stairs difficult to navigate. Going up, a dog shifts their weight onto their hind quarters, which is exactly what makes climbing painful.

What helps: take the weight off the hind legs with a sling, or better, a support harness. These hold the hind end up and keep load off sore hips, lower back and hind limb joints. A towel is a cheap version of the same idea, but it is far less effective, and a harness can stay on so it is there for the sudden slips.

3. A fearful or unsure dog

Plenty of dogs were never desensitized to stairs as puppies, so they are simply unsure of them.

What helps: there is a very good chance your dog’s love of food, toys or you outweighs their worry about the stairs. Put their bowl next to the stairs. If they eat without hesitating, move it onto the first step the next night. Keep going until they are climbing confidently to reach dinner. You may need to stay on one step for a few days before they are ready to move up.

4. When pain is behind the struggle with stairs

Some problems make stairs much harder than they look, and the signs can be invisible on flat ground. Once a dog goes up a flight of stairs, those same signs become obvious, and that is the point at which it is worth seeing your veterinarian.

As a chiropractor, what I am assessing is why a dog is struggling with stairs and how we can help them manage better. Done properly that does more than ease the symptom; it addresses what is behind the refusal. Improving mobility, reducing interference in the nervous system, correcting compensation patterns and managing chronic conditions are all part of it.

Small changes that help at home

• Gate the stairs when you are not there to help, so a slip cannot happen unsupervised.
• Light the stairs well, especially for older dogs whose eyesight is changing.
• Put a non-slip rug at the bottom, where dogs land and turn.
• Keep nails trimmed and the fur between paw pads short, so their feet can grip.
• Carry small dogs on bad days rather than letting them push through.

If your dog is slowing down in other ways too, our page on why your dog may be slowing down explains what can be behind it.

Related reading: Five ways to help your senior dog · How do I know if my dog is in pain?

Questions Pet Parents ask

Why is my dog suddenly scared of the stairs?

Often a slip or a fall has knocked their confidence, or something has started to hurt. If it came on suddenly, it is worth having your dog checked.

Is it better for older dogs to avoid stairs?

Not always. With good grip and support, stairs can be part of keeping a dog strong. If they find stairs painful or unsafe, block them off and use a ramp or carry them until they have been checked.

Can rehabilitation help a dog with stairs?

Yes. Strengthening the hind end, improving balance and treating pain can all make stairs easier again. We start by working out why your dog is struggling.