How to Train a Dog to Stay on One Floor

The joy of having a new dog can be overwhelming. Your new companion may be tempted to sleep on your bed, follow you into the bathroom, or root around your clothes in your closet. While these actions can be cute and endearing at first, you’ll quickly find your admiration turn to annoyance if your dog starts getting into more mischief.

Your dog following you into bed may lead to eviscerated pillowcases. You may find your intrusive pooch jumping into the shower with you, creating more mess than you anticipated. The rooting around in your closet may result in torn or dirty clothes. At this point, it is time to take action and train your pet to stay in certain areas of the house.

If you are looking to create delineated, physical barriers that enforce positive behavior in your pet, The Stair Barrier® is a beautiful, elegant, and easy to install product for you. The Stair Barrier comes in different fabrics, personalizations, and rolls up nicely into the wall or stair banister. If you want an elegant solution for keeping your pets safe and secure on specific floors of your home, the Stair Barrier is right for you. Visit our website to learn more today.

Training Your Pet

Before you begin the training process, you must understand that training requires patience and persistence. A dog’s learned behavior does not happen overnight, and it will take a while to break bad habits or reinforce new ones.

Make sure that you have access to treats so you can give your dog positive reinforcement. Positive reinforcement works by rewarding your dog every time it completes a task you directed it to. If you command your dog to sit and stay, be sure to reward them with either attention or food to reinforce the idea that good things happen when they follow your commands.

Studies have shown that positive reinforcement is psychologically more effective than negative reinforcement. The carrot always wins over the stick. Don’t be afraid to praise your pup if they obey a command; just make sure your energy doesn’t send the dog into an excited frenzy. Keep calm and steady, but also, show your puppy you are proud.

 

Training Day(s)

When you are ready to train your dog, make sure your mind is clear and you are focused on the task at hand. Have your treats in your pocket, and make sure you have your pup’s undivided attention.

Start by instructing your dog to sit. Use a clear, firm voice. Reward the dog with a piece of a treat if they obey your commands. As your pet follows your commands, start walking up the stairway and order your dog to stay. Start with just a few stairs. Reward your dog if they don’t follow you up the stairs, but do not scold them if they follow you — simply walk back down and order them to sit and stay.

Eventually, you should be able to move further up your stairs until your dog can no longer see you. At this point, you can wait a few minutes until coming back down. If your dog has obeyed your commands, make sure you give them some positive reinforcement with belly scratches and treats.

 

Moving Forward

Continue to strictly enforce a policy of not allowing your dog to use the stairs. If you catch them on a floor of the house you don’t want them in, order them to leave. Give them a sit and stay command to reinforce that they are not allowed up there.

The important part about training your pet to stay on one floor is that you have enough time to enforce these rules on your dog. Unfortunately, life can be incredibly busy. Between work, family, and your own personal goals, it is difficult to carve out time to train a dog to sit and stay in one position.

Fortunately, the Stair Barrier is a beautiful and elegant solution to training your pet to stay off the stairs and other floors of the house. Even if you don’t have the time to train your pet, the Stair Barrier will keep your beloved pets on one floor, all without jail-cell bars that can often get chewed and gnawed on. The Stair Barrier’s taught fabric wall protects your pets while also ensuring that you maintain feng shui and your home’s decor.

One of the best parts about the Stair Barrier is how easily it rolls up, just in case you are hosting a party or there is a heavy flow of traffic on the stairs while your pup is away. If you are looking for a sturdy, reliable, and beautiful solution to keeping your pets on one floor, purchase the Stair Barrier today. If you have any questions, visit our website to learn more about our awesome product.