mini daschund training

Question
Will he ever be able to go down steps? Our dog is 8 months old and can run up steps but will only stand there looking at them if you let him down.  He is 9 pounds and very tiny.So far training has been a bust but we have done some reading here and think we got something. Also, he still does not go to the door when he wants  out any suggestions there?Our other dog was trained in no time, but he is a mini boarder collie.

Answer
Hi Kareen,

It's not really a bad thing that your puppy isn't catching on as to how climb the stairs. As you may know, Dachshunds are be prone to back problems from their elongated backs (especially as they grow older). It's best to avoid letting them jump up or down or go up and down stairs to avoid injury, and carry him up the stairs yourself. Remember when carrying a Dachshund to hold him properly. You need to make sure that both the front and the back end of the dog are supported at all times.

That said, you can read how to train your puppy to walk the stairs here:

http://www.ehow.com/how_2283662_train-scared-dog-down-stairs.html

http://www.smalldogsparadise.com/dog-training-tips/how-to-train-new-puppies-to-c...

Best of luck,

Patti