Are stairs bad for French Bulldog?
Here's a short answer to the question:
there're dangers of stairs for them and because of that stairs aren't the best for Frenchies.
But why? What could you do against it? We'd like to help you, so let's begin.
It has nothing to do with the Frenchie's age, the height, the stairs, it's because of the breed itself and their built. Going up and down stairs requires balance. French Bulldogs have short legs which makes their steps small and not enough to give them the required balancet o shift their weights from one step to another.
Most of them learn to climb upstairs but find it difficult to go downstairs. Frenchies are lower to the ground and it affects their ability.
Even though it's difficult for them and they do it with a little struggle, you can help your pup learn how to climb stairs.
The best time to train your Frenchie is during puppyhood. Introduce your dog to stairs gradually and slowly, and don't forget – always supervise them when they're trying to climb to stop them from falling over or slipping.
Here is what you can do to to train them:
Clear the steps of any ostacles
Distract your puppy with playful actions
Start with a small flight of stairs
Keep the session short
Use treat and positive reinforcement treats act as a reward for your Frenchie's efforts and a source of motivation
Practice a few times a week
As they get better at it, start to get further away
Teach them to pace themselves. Train them to stop jumping early on
Be patient, consistent
Keep training fun and dynamic to capture your Frenchie's interest
Frenchies are more scared to go down the stairs and may need more time to learn how to go downstairs,
Here are some safety tips that can make stairs safer for your French Bulldog:
Install dog ramps
Avoid slippery staircases
Put grip surfaces on stairs (carpets, rubbized runners)
Use gates
Having stairs in your house shouldn’t stop you from buying or keeping a Frenchie.
