Game #16 · Health & Fitness
Stair Climbing
Increases hind-leg strength, stability, and cardiovascular endurance.
- What you need:
- A carpeted staircase (avoid slippery hardwood steps).
How to play
- Start at the bottom of the stairs with your dog on a leash.
- Walk up 3 to 4 steps together at a very calm, controlled pace.
- Reward them at the top with a treat for steady movement.
- Gradually increase to a full flight, keeping it slow to protect joints.
Coach's notes
- Uphill only for conditioning — downhill loads the shoulders unnecessarily.
- Skip stair work for puppies under 12 months and dogs with hip/elbow dysplasia.
- Two flights up, ride the elevator down.
- 3 sets, 3 times a week is a real conditioning dose.
If your dog loses interest
Quick fixes when engagement drops mid-session.
- Hesitant on stairs? Sit on the third step and lure them up one step at a time with treats.
- If they rush down, put your hand on their chest to slow the pace — bad landings cause injury.
- Never force senior dogs up stairs for exercise — swap in a sloped ramp or skip this game entirely.
Why it works
Zink identifies controlled stair climbing as one of the highest-yield home exercises for building hind-limb propulsive strength.
References
- [8] Zink, M. C., & Van Dyke, J. B. (Eds.) (2018). Canine Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation (2nd ed.). Wiley-Blackwell.
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