If your dog won’t go upstairs, this post will show you likely reasons why and what you can do about them.
So, why won’t my dog go upstairs? Likely reasons why your dog will not go upstairs are that they are injured, unable to due to being too young or old, or that they are fearful of something upstairs.
There are a number of possible reasons why your dog won’t go upstairs and it might be due to a combination of them. However, there are some things you can consider to help figure out the main cause and there are some things you can do about it.
Why won’t my dog go upstairs?
Below are likely causes and what would make each of them more likely.
Injury
The cause might be that your dog has gotten an injury. This would be more likely if your dog has stopped going upstairs suddenly and if your dog has been doing things such as limping a lot or whining. In this case, the best option would be to take them to a vet.
Fearfulness
It might also be the case that something has been causing your dog to be fearful. This would be more likely if your dog won’t go upstairs at a certain time such as when other pets or certain people are up there or when there are loud noises up there.
Separation anxiety
It might also be the case that your dog has separation anxiety. This would be more likely if your dog won’t go upstairs when you are downstairs but your dog will go upstairs when you are up there yourself.
Inability
It could also be the case that your dog is unable to go up or down stairs due to their age. If your dog is elderly or still a puppy, it would be more likely to be due to their age.
Your dog simply does not want to
It could also be the case that your dog simply does not want to be upstairs. This could be due to things such as it being too hot upstairs or because your dog likes a particular spot downstairs.
Things to consider
Below are some things to consider to help figure out the main reason why your dog has been doing it.
If your dog did go upstairs before
If your dog stopped going upstairs suddenly, it would help to consider what else happened when the behavior first started. If your dog did stop going upstairs suddenly, it could be due to things such as getting injured or an event that happened upstairs causing your dog to no longer want to go up there.
If your dog does go upstairs sometimes
If your dog does go upstairs sometimes, it would also help to consider what is different when your dog does go upstairs. For example, if your dog will go up there when you are up there, it would be more likely that your dog has separation anxiety.
How to get my dog to go upstairs?
Below are some options you have when dealing with the behavior.
Ensure it is not due to an injury
If it seems like your dog has been doing it due to an injury, the best option would be to take them to a vet. By doing so, you should be able to get expert advice tailored towards your particular dog and to rule out injury as a cause.
Encourage your dog to go up stairs using treats
One option to try would be to encourage your dog to go upstairs by placing treats on the steps and to encourage your dog to go up the stairs.
Use a dog sling
If it seems like your dog has been doing it due to weakness, you could also try using a dog sling like this one. By doing so, you should be able to make it easier for your dog to get up and down the stairs.