Stair Confidence and Training

Oct 12, 2026 | Training

Let’s learn to climb some stairs with Monika & Ray!

Teaching stair confidence gives the hound more independence in the home and helps them navigate their environment safely. For many greyhounds, stairs can feel quite scary at first, so breaking it down into small, positive experiences allows them to learn at their own pace.

Because stairs aren’t a natural behaviour for many greyhounds, this training provides them with a clear understanding of what’s being asked, helping replace hesitation with confidence over time.

The following video is a snippet of Monika from Understanding Canine working with Greyhound Ray.

Ray was nervous about these stairs as they were narrower than usual and had quite a sharp bend, making it difficult for him to see where they led.

Monika works on rewarding every interaction Ray chooses to have with the stairs, using the bridge cue “yes” when he approaches them, places his front paws on a step, or leans forward to investigate.

An important part of building Ray’s confidence is that there is no pressure for him to continue higher.

He is also rewarded when he chooses to move back down the stairs.

For some hounds, particularly on stairs where they cannot easily see the top, learning that they can safely move around on the stairs and retreat when they need to can give them the confidence they need to eventually take that next step.

The goal isn’t simply to get Ray to the top, it’s to help him feel safe and confident enough to make that choice himself.

At the end of this session of confidence building, Ray was able to climb to the top of the stairs himself.