fear of heights? - YorkieTalk.com Forums

buddysalley · 06-21-2006, 09:44 AM

My little guy is scared to jump off chairs, couches, beds ect. He has never been dropped unless the breeder did it before we got him. He is four months old and still refuses to jump up or down. We have tried coaxing gently scooting off and even putting a stool next to the couch so it is not such a long jump. Any ideas?

Lacy's Mom · 06-21-2006, 09:48 AM

Don't encourage the puppy to jump off the couch or the bed. Many Yorkies break their legs this way. You can buy the 3 steps at Target and Walmart or online at doggysteps.com. There is a 4 step (for high beds) and a 3 step model (for couches) that just snaps together and is covered by a sheepskin cover.

Oscar's Mummy · 06-21-2006, 09:57 AM

I do everything i can to keep Oscar from jumping off the couch, bed, etc! I don't know how big/small your puppy is, but jumping from any height can hurt them if their small - and if he's just 4mths I really wouldn't encourage it. They have such tiny bones in their legs that it doesn't take much to cause a fracture or break. I'd rather have Oscar wait until I put him on the floor than have him jump and hurt himself and have to pay a hefty vet bill. Oscar is 3lbs and at that size, I think he's quite fragile - so jumping is a no no. I've read posts on here about dogs who have jumped off couches and broken a leg - it happens... so I wouldn't fret too much if your dog seems afraid - he probably knows better!

Here's a long story…
I got Oscar when he was 4mths - he wasn't even 2lbs yet, just a little gaffer - and a week after I had him, he jumped off the couch. I was sitting on the couch with my bf and I was doing work - my bf was watching Oscar who was at the end of the couch. I had warned repeatedly "never let him jump down - if you see him close to the edge, pull him back because he WILL jump - they don't judge distance well and he WILL jump". Anyways, I'm focusing on my work, next thing I hear is this godawful crying/squealing/screaming sound over and over - and Oscar is on the floor and comes running over to me. My bf had been watching him and "didn't think he'd actually jump" and he did and slammed his nose into the floor when he landed. He ended up being fine after some cuddling - but now my bf understands why he's not to jump EVER if we can help it. We were lucky, it could have been so much worse than just a bump on the nose. I'm sure you can understand the heart attacks we both had when we heard the sound that came out of that dog!

Bailey's Peeps · 06-21-2006, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by buddysalley

My little guy is scared to jump off chairs, couches, beds ect. . . He is four months old and still refuses to jump up or down. . .

Sounds like a very good thing to me! Bailey is fearless, and I grab her every time she manages to get on anything very high. And it doesn't take much height to be "very high" for these little ones. At the vet's office, she tried to take a leap off of the examining table, but I grabbed her at the edge. If I could make her afraid to jump without hurting her in the process, I'd do it in a heartbeat!

buddysalley · 06-21-2006, 07:16 PM

I had no idea that they had such fragile bones I will not encourage him to jump off the couch anymore I guess he is a pretty smart dog.

06-21-2006, 09:44 AM	#1
buddysalley Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: fort smith Posts: 48	fear of heights? My little guy is scared to jump off chairs, couches, beds ect. He has never been dropped unless the breeder did it before we got him. He is four months old and still refuses to jump up or down. We have tried coaxing gently scooting off and even putting a stool next to the couch so it is not such a long jump. Any ideas? __________________ Hugs and kisses from Jack, Buddy, Paddington & Holly

06-21-2006, 09:57 AM	#3
Oscar's Mummy Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: May 2006 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,275	I do everything i can to keep Oscar from jumping off the couch, bed, etc! I don't know how big/small your puppy is, but jumping from any height can hurt them if their small - and if he's just 4mths I really wouldn't encourage it. They have such tiny bones in their legs that it doesn't take much to cause a fracture or break. I'd rather have Oscar wait until I put him on the floor than have him jump and hurt himself and have to pay a hefty vet bill. Oscar is 3lbs and at that size, I think he's quite fragile - so jumping is a no no. I've read posts on here about dogs who have jumped off couches and broken a leg - it happens... so I wouldn't fret too much if your dog seems afraid - he probably knows better! Here's a long story… I got Oscar when he was 4mths - he wasn't even 2lbs yet, just a little gaffer - and a week after I had him, he jumped off the couch. I was sitting on the couch with my bf and I was doing work - my bf was watching Oscar who was at the end of the couch. I had warned repeatedly "never let him jump down - if you see him close to the edge, pull him back because he WILL jump - they don't judge distance well and he WILL jump". Anyways, I'm focusing on my work, next thing I hear is this godawful crying/squealing/screaming sound over and over - and Oscar is on the floor and comes running over to me. My bf had been watching him and "didn't think he'd actually jump" and he did and slammed his nose into the floor when he landed. He ended up being fine after some cuddling - but now my bf understands why he's not to jump EVER if we can help it. We were lucky, it could have been so much worse than just a bump on the nose. I'm sure you can understand the heart attacks we both had when we heard the sound that came out of that dog! __________________ Janice, Oscar and Baby Ruth "The more people I meet, the more I love my dog."

06-21-2006, 07:16 PM	#5
buddysalley Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: fort smith Posts: 48	thanks for advice I had no idea that they had such fragile bones I will not encourage him to jump off the couch anymore I guess he is a pretty smart dog. __________________ Hugs and kisses from Jack, Buddy, Paddington & Holly

06-21-2006, 09:48 AM	#2
Lacy's Mom YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: El Paso, Texas Posts: 3,065	Don't encourage the puppy to jump off the couch or the bed. Many Yorkies break their legs this way. You can buy the 3 steps at Target and Walmart or online at doggysteps.com. There is a 4 step (for high beds) and a 3 step model (for couches) that just snaps together and is covered by a sheepskin cover.