My Guess is Casey was kept in a basement

[Banner]

I just went down stairs to our basement family room to watch a movie, eat popcorn and relax. Casey hadn't been down there yet so I grabbed a couple dog treats and he came to the top of the stairs. He looked at the stairs and backed up. I thought, I'll just guide him by the collar and coax him with the treat. He dug in and whined. I thought he may be afraid of the black slippery steps so I'll carry him. As soon as I picked him up he started crying something terrible. When I got down stairs his eyes were full of fear. I set him down and went to give him the treat and he went over to an area rug and peed. It makes me so mad, someone either mistreated him in a basement or he was kept locked up in a basement for extended periods. Now I have to help him get through this.

Any suggestions?

Thanks, Dan

[SalemWitchChild]

Well I do not think it was a good idea to carry him. I would keep a leash on him so he can't run away from the door. Stay on the steps and offer him the treats. Keep talking to him and keep coaxing him to come down. It will take awhile so don't get discouraged. But he has to come down in his own time.

[Moo]

Haha, sorry, I had to comment on this first. Our male human count is up to what, 5, now?

Poor Casey, but I wouldn't bother, at least for a while. If there's a door, leave it open at all hours, if there's a light/windows, leave them on/open. Otherwise, no sense forcing it. Start with treats at the top of the stairs, and then the first step. If he's not going to go down by himself willingly, bringing him down is not better.

[EllyMay]

Hi Banner, I do not knwo that much about Casey and where he came from-is he used to stairs at all?

[Reyven]

This is definitely something that is going to take Casey time to get over. Don't force him to go down, work with him daily to start going down the stairs. Every step is a positive thing, so give treats and/or lots of praise.
Maybe sit on the top step and pet him and just talk to him, make him feel more relaxed, and then work your way slowly down the steps until he feel comfortable going downstairs with you

[Banner]

Originally Posted by EllyMay

Hi Banner, I do not knwo that much about Casey and where he came from-is he used to stairs at all?

Casey is from our local shelter. We have had Casey for 4 days now. He has been all over the house and he and our Golden Retriever sleep in our bedroom upstairs. Until this episode I didn't think he had any issues. He appeared confident and well adjusted. After seeing his reaction to the stairs and the basement I'm pretty sure he had a very bad experience in a basement. It makes me so mad.

[Banner]

Originally Posted by SalemWitchChild

Well I do not think it was a good idea to carry him.

Your right it wasn't. I didn't realize that until I got to the basement. Our sheppard mix had a terrible time slipping on the basement steps so I would carry him. When I got him down he was fine.

Originally Posted by SalemWitchChild

I would keep a leash on him so he can't run away from the door. Stay on the steps and offer him the treats. Keep talking to him and keep coaxing him to come down. It will take awhile so don't get discouraged. But he has to come down in his own time.

Thank you. You have made some very good suggestions.

Now that I know that this is an issue, I will not force him. He will only come down when he is ready. I have been going up and down the stairs with Ripley so he can see that we come back up and nothing bad happens. Then I give treats.

[Banner]

Originally Posted by Reyven

Maybe sit on the top step and pet him and just talk to him, make him feel more relaxed,

Thats a great plan. Thank you!

Dan

[Banner]

Originally Posted by Moo

Haha, sorry, I had to comment on this first. Our male human count is up to what, 5, now?

The ratio is fine with me!

Originally Posted by Moo

Poor Casey, but I wouldn't bother, at least for a while. If there's a door, leave it open at all hours, if there's a light/windows, leave them on/open. Otherwise, no sense forcing it. Start with treats at the top of the stairs, and then the first step. If he's not going to go down by himself willingly, bringing him down is not better.

The door is allways open to the basement. It's funny but Amy and I had just talked about how he looks at us funny when we go down stairs. Amy would take a load of laundry or I would go down to feed the cats etc.

We hadn't spent any time down there in the last 4 days so we never really gave it a second thought. I felt so bad after I realized he felt traumatized.

[Dignity]

I'd give him awhile and let him get used to you and his new environment... as we all learned in 'what about Bob' - baby step... baby steps through the door, baby steps down the door, baby steps into the basement. When you do get him down there, remember to make it a 'fun' space for him. Good luck!!