ideas for finley??

[RhodyNewf]

Finley is doing very well on three legs, but every once in a while he falls because he is moving TOO fast. He does everything at a run, and that did not change after his surgery. But a couple time he has fallen down the stairs because he moves to fast, today being one of them. My question is, how do I teach him to slow down? Leashing him and working with him on stairs I am afraid will be dangerous for us both since he hops... and ideas?

 

[Jager's Mom]

Oh geesh....that's a hard one. If it were me, I would first put baby gates up on the stairs... at least that way you can control "when" he uses the stairs. And possibly they will help to slow him down before he goes up or down them.

Other than that, I'm not much help... but I wish you lots of luck... and hopefully others will have better ideas.

 

[jane]

May sound crazy, but when Roger had his injuries I trained him to slow down when I said "easy". I would take him by the collar and repeat "easy" over and over as we slowly moved. Right now we are dealing with a lot of ice. When he's outside on the move I just tell him "easy" and he slows and watches his step better. I know it sounds nut's but it worked. I do the same thing when he goes out the door.

 

[blaue_augen]

I was going to suggest baby gates too. But even then he might tear up or down once you open it. I think the teaching "easy" sounds like it might help! Good luck!

 

[YorkvilleNewfie]

May sound crazy, but when Roger had his injuries I trained him to slow down when I said "easy". I would take him by the collar and repeat "easy" over and over as we slowly moved. Right now we are dealing with a lot of ice. When he's outside on the move I just tell him "easy" and he slows and watches his step better. I know it sounds nut's but it worked. I do the same thing when he goes out the door.

I've taught Mila "easy" too. Really, really works. For her anyway

 

[RhodyNewf]

i would need a different command... easy means take a treat without taking the tips off my fingers...

 

[Angela]

Teach "slowly", sort of drawl it out.

 

[R Taft]

Or teach "wait"/ "steady", just like you do in agility. Teach it on leash and reward what you want and "rubbish" and ignore the other.
Must be the Golden....Tessa is always in a hurry. We have taught her both and "wait" will stop her dead now, even in mid-run. "Steady" slows her down.

And the tougher action is Finley is not stupid, so maybe a couple of tumbles will teach him what happens. The only problem is he could get injured. But you cannot be there all the time.

Just tought of something. If he likes food.......Put a treat on every second step or every third step. He will have to go slow to get each bit of food. Do it randomly and not in a straight run, zig zag.......See how that slows him down. Make slowing down a habit for him (checking out to see if there is a surprise. So occasionally in the future leave a treat there, so he stays slow. It might work ( just of the top of my head)

 

[padkins]

I taught mine the command of "wait" for the steps. I tell them to wait and they stop at the top of the steps and wait for me to release them. Our only steps are the ones outside and they can be slick in certain types of weather. I have also taught them the command of "slow down" when we are walking and they are moving too fast. I use "easy" for taking food or treats from my hand.

 

[new_2_newf]

I've had that issue with a few of my fosters...it's almost like they need to work up courage to go down the stairs and they pull a hail mary and fly down them. I teach them to 'wait' at the top so that I can get down ahead of them to block their way. Then I grab the collar and tell them 'slowly' and we move down the stairs together. I lets me hold them in one hand, the rail in the other and block their body with mine so we don't both go down butt over tea kettle. I taught Sulley the same thing and now he knows to 'wait' at the top of the stairs until I'm off of them before he goes down which is handy...also very important when we are visiting my parents and grandparents.

Having them wait at the top of the stairs also helps calm them down....normally when we descend from the top floor, good things happen...that's where the toys are, the food is, the 'potty door' the 'car door', etc, so the fosters can get REALLY excited when we get up in the morning and they figure out where we are going.

 

[lacey9875]

May sound crazy, but when Roger had his injuries I trained him to slow down when I said "easy". I would take him by the collar and repeat "easy" over and over as we slowly moved. Right now we are dealing with a lot of ice. When he's outside on the move I just tell him "easy" and he slows and watches his step better. I know it sounds nut's but it worked. I do the same thing when he goes out the door.

I taught Maggie "slow down" because until I get my surgery, I can't walk fast on our walkies. She'll move reallllllly slow until I'm next to her. She picked it up pretty quickly.

 

[RhodyNewf]

Or teach "wait"/ "steady", just like you do in agility. Teach it on leash and reward what you want and "rubbish" and ignore the other.
Must be the Golden....Tessa is always in a hurry. We have taught her both and "wait" will stop her dead now, even in mid-run. "Steady" slows her down.

And the tougher action is Finley is not stupid, so maybe a couple of tumbles will teach him what happens. The only problem is he could get injured. But you cannot be there all the time.

Just tought of something. If he likes food.......Put a treat on every second step or every third step. He will have to go slow to get each bit of food. Do it randomly and not in a straight run, zig zag.......See how that slows him down. Make slowing down a habit for him (checking out to see if there is a surprise. So occasionally in the future leave a treat there, so he stays slow. It might work ( just of the top of my head)

I like the idea of food on the stairs.

one thing though...finley is a bit stupid. :whistling: He likes to do everything FAST. He knows wait and stay. If I have him wait at the top of the stairs, when I release him, he is off like a rocket. It is trying to figure out how to release, and go slow...

 

[new_2_newf]

you'll have to physically control his speed which is interesting on stairs, that's why I hold them and block with my body. I don't move until they settle down and the we go down another step.

 

[RhodyNewf]

just noticed something- he was going downstairs into the basement holding a stuffie in his mouth and he went very slow. So I did a few test runs-- it seems like if he is carrying something, he is slow and deliberate.

 

[Lori]

Good boy Finley!! He just wants to make sure his baby is safe on the way down, which will keep him safe too.

 

[TerriW]

Great ideas, all. I had to laugh at the 'easyyyy' meaning, don't bite my fingers off. Same here!

 

[R Taft]

just noticed something- he was going downstairs into the basement holding a stuffie in his mouth and he went very slow. So I did a few test runs-- it seems like if he is carrying something, he is slow and deliberate.

Good observation