My puppy fell off our bed a few nights ago and now he’s too scared to jump back on. We love having him sleep with us, but now it’s a whole thing to get him back on the bed. Any tips to help him feel safe and comfortable jumping back up again?
Try getting those dog stairs for him! I used them with my dog after a similar thing happened, and it worked great. You can use treats to help him get comfortable.
JacquelineJoy said:
Try getting those dog stairs for him! I used them with my dog after a similar thing happened, and it worked great. You can use treats to help him get comfortable.
Oh, dog stairs sound like a great idea! Probably better for his joints too, right?
@Mitchell
Exactly! Plus, it gives him confidence to get up there on his own without relying on you to help every time.
When you’re training him with the stairs, use something he really loves, like small chicken pieces. Let him figure it out on his own—don’t coax him too much, or he might get even more nervous.
Riley said:
When you’re training him with the stairs, use something he really loves, like small chicken pieces. Let him figure it out on his own—don’t coax him too much, or he might get even more nervous.
Oh, I didn’t think about that. So I shouldn’t be like ‘come on, come on’? Just let him explore?
@Mitchell
Yep, exactly! Dogs tend to feel more confident if they can discover it themselves. Too much coaxing can make them wary.
If he’s scared of other stuff too, it could be part of his personality. My dog’s scared of loud noises and bikes—it’s just who he is. You might need to take it slow and consistent.
Lily said:
If he’s scared of other stuff too, it could be part of his personality. My dog’s scared of loud noises and bikes—it’s just who he is. You might need to take it slow and consistent.
Yeah, he is kind of a nervous little guy. Do you think I’m doing something wrong when he freaks out at things like bikes or cars?
@Mitchell
Not necessarily! If he freaks out, try redirecting him to a quieter spot instead of forcing him to face it. Build trust over time.
@Mitchell
Also, have you tried desensitizing him to noises? There are traffic noise tracks you can play at low volume to help him get used to it.
If he’s scared of random stuff like noises, maybe it’s worth looking into noise-canceling headphones for dogs. My dog used to shake during storms, and they helped a lot.
K9Commander said:
If he’s scared of random stuff like noises, maybe it’s worth looking into noise-canceling headphones for dogs. My dog used to shake during storms, and they helped a lot.
Wait, they make headphones for dogs? That’s wild. Do they actually wear them comfortably?
@Mitchell
Yeah, they do! My dog comes to me when he hears something scary so I can put them on. Definitely worth a try if he’s super sensitive to noise.
What about neutering him? Sometimes waiting longer can help with confidence, but it’s a personal choice.
LizCampbell said:
What about neutering him? Sometimes waiting longer can help with confidence, but it’s a personal choice.
He’s 6 months old now. I was thinking of waiting until he’s closer to 10 months or even a year. Does that sound about right?
@Mitchell
Sounds good! Some people wait up to 2 years depending on the dog. You can always ask your vet for their advice.