[Skylar]

My bunny rabbit minipoo is trying very hard to jump up on the couch. At 12 weeks he can get up one step but not stairs.

What age was your minipoos when they were able to consistently jump up on the couch or navigate a carpeted staircase?

 

[Raindrops]

I think Misha was able to do stairs probably by 12 weeks but I didn't allow him to go down them for a while to protect his joints. Same with the couch. I trained Misha to ask for help to get down and he firmly believed he was unable to do it by himself until I convinced him to try around 6 months. I'm sure he could have by 4 months if he had really tried.

 

[Rose n Poos]

My mpoo boys were born April 29. This is from my journal August 17, so not quite 4 months old...

They've been going up the patio steps for a while but just learned to go down them in the last week or so. Now they go up to bed under their own power (half-flight carpeted stairs). They're also pretty good about just going right to their crates and getting in. Neo jumped up on the sofa for the first time yesterday so no more peace there

They didn't have access to the inside stairs except at bedtime.

I'd started training going up first on the three steps up/down from the house to the patio. Once they were doing ok on going up those, we worked on the carpeted stairs inside, only 1 or 2 at a time. Going up seemed less scary to them than going down. It must be like looking down into the Grand Canyon to them.

 

[fjm]

I think safe take off and landing are key - non slip rugs if necessary - and jumping up is safer than jumping down. I really like the idea of teaching a wait to be helped down - it would be a useful cue later in life in case of injury.

 

[Skylar]

fjm I have large bath mats in front of the couches and beds already for Babykins for a safer take off and landing.

That’s good advice to train down is waiting to be helped down.

Looks like there is a range of ages and 12 weeks is potentially when he can accomplish stairs and couch.

Going to be honest, haha, I’m not looking forward to this because right now that’s Babykins place to get away from him when she wants away time from him but not me.

 

[fjm]

It might be a good idea to teach him only to get up when invited - that way Babykins still has a safe place.

 

[Skylar]

It might be a good idea to teach him only to get up when invited - that way Babykins still has a safe place.

Definitely

 

[Brownie_mom]

Ruger is 5-1/2 month now. He is good with going up the stairs. He also goes down the deck stairs with no issues (12 ft high stairs but not steep). In the house we have a relatively steep hardwood staircase and he hesitates to go down. He loves to run up and then sits there and waits for me to take him down. If I do not come for several minutes to get him, he starts barking to get my attention.

 

[Skylar]

Ruger is a smart boy. He knows when it’s not safe.

 

[Carolinek]

I don’t remember when Gracie was able to do this but I remember thinking the same thing- when she did learn there was no safe haven for the older dogs!

It was probably around twelve weeks. She was still young enough that we were watching her all the time I know that. Once they learn, it’s very hard to keep them down and I just monitored that she was doing it safely. Certainly training boundaries around the behavior would be good, but that was not within my bandwidth. You have to pick your battles!

 

[Skylar]

CarolineK. You’re right. I have to pick my battles because training a baby is overwhelming, so much to teach.

 

[JJ❤cavaliers]

I second all the posts above. You could try a ramp for your couch and other surfaces if you think it might help with your pup's joints

 

[Brownie_mom]

Ruger is a smart boy. He knows when it’s not safe.

Thank you Skylar. He is a super smart dog. The only problem with the upstairs is - he does not think about it to be a part of his den, so sometimes he runs there to poop. I have no idea what to do about it. I try watch him all the time, but he is smart enough to snick up there for pooping minute I do not watch him. Not every day, perhaps once a week this happens. I do walk him every 1 to 2 hours, based on his sleeping etc.

 

[cowpony]

Galen, who was small for his age, got confident on stairs at around 4 months.

I used a baby gate at the top of my stairs for the first couple years I had Pogo and Snarky. It stopped them from rough housing on the stairs, kept them from getting into mischief in the bedrooms, and gave the cat a quiet zone. We let the dogs come upstairs at bed time, at which time the baby gate prevented the dogs from going back down and getting into mischief downstairs. I'm probably going to use a baby gate again with my next puppy.

 

[Rose n Poos]

The only problem with the upstairs is - he does not think about it to be a part of his den, so sometimes he runs there to poop

I kept the stairs baby-gated off until I knew they were reliable in the house, 7-8 months old but could have been a bit sooner if not for the holidays.

By gating access, mine could only go up when accompanied. That might be an option for you.

 

[Brownie_mom]

I kept the stairs baby-gated off until I knew they were reliable in the house, 7-8 months old but could have been a bit sooner if not for the holidays.

By gating access, mine could only go up when accompanied. That might be an option for you.

I tried, he really fast find a way to open the gates, so I took them off LOL.

 

[Carolinek]

For sure- these poodle babies keep you on your toes!

 

[Skylar]

I second all the posts above. You could try a ramp for your couch and other surfaces if you think it might help with your pup's joints

. JJ. I have large bath mats in front of all beds and couch. I don’t think most minipoos need a ramp. If I had a small tpoo I definitely would use a ramp.

The only problem with the upstairs is - he does not think about it to be a part of his den, so sometimes he runs there to poop. I have no idea what to do about it. I try watch him all the time, but he is smart enough to snick up there for pooping minute I do not watch him. Not every day, perhaps once a week this happens. I do walk him every 1 to 2 hours, based on his sleeping etc.

Brownie_mom you need to block the stairs. If the gate didn’t work try a large piece of cardboard across or plastic bins on the steps...what ever you have to stop him from choosing to go upstairs. Or keep him tethered to you 100% blocking him easy access for several months. Use a black light to check for any accidents that need to be cleaned up with a enzyme based cleaner. He only gets to go upstairs with you after he has been out to potty so you know he won’t have any accidents. Set him up for success. Plan to visit all rooms in your house including unfinished basement, tethered to you. Play games or have a training session etc. build up a sense of this is part of his crate. Do the same when you visit friends and family or other spaces where he should never potty. Dogs need to learn where to potty and where not to potty. It won’t take long before he gets it.

Cowpony that’s a great idea, I hadn’t thought of the dogs rough housing at the top of the stairs could lead to an accident.

 

[PowersPup]

I discourage my 6-month old mini poodle from jumping off the couch or chairs, or going down stairs. My previous dog suffered a slipped disk jumping off our bed and it plagued him for a couple of years. We block off the stairs and carry Topper up and down the front and back steps outside. We probably will continue to do this until his growth plates have closed and he develops more muscle. Once in a while we let him go up the back steps, which aren't as steep.

I bought some pet stairs so Topper can join me on the couch when I invite him, but had to teach him how to use them. I taught him "paws up" and lured him up the steps with treats and favorite toys. Going down was more difficult for him, but he's gaining confidence with them. He still waits for me to invite him to join me. Such a little gentleman!

 

[Brownie_mom]

Brownie_mom you need to block the stairs.

Skylar,
I totally agree that he should not go up there by himself. He is really good in following me around the house, and I take him outside on a regular basis. The few times that he messed on the second floor was when I was not home and he was with my hubby. He believes (my hubby) that dogs have to have freedom and they have to learn to be independent etc. I do not fight this - useless.
Ruger is really active and I feel he is strong for his age. He is also overgrown - looks larger already then the average grownup mini. He easily jumps on and off the coach. And he is fast, so I cannot catch him on the coach to take him off when he is in a zummy mode. If he is just napping next to me, I take him down when he gives me the sign that he is ready to go.
I also slowly train him to go down the stairs. One step per couple days. Right now he is good with 6 steps. I pick him up from the top of the stairs and let him finish the last few steps on his own.