What do we do if the dog gets stressed or too aroused (3/3)
If the dog gets highly aroused or stressed when, for example, he is going to say hello to people, arrives at a new place or when he come to stairs, it may be wise not to go any further until the dog has calmed down.
For example, some dogs can get a little stressed when they come to stairs, some dogs probably think that stairs are a little bit scary, so they look forward to finishing the stairs, and thus they want to rush up or down.
If the dog thinks that stairs are a bit scary and they are "allowed" to run up and/or down, practicing on stairs often does not help much, the dog does not become calmer. This is because the dog experiences a great relief when it comes up/down, so the "rushing" behavior will be reinforced instead of reduced.
Take your time and stop several times in the stairs and take time to breathe, it may be a good idea to let the dog stand still and eat treats before you continue, when the dog eats the stress level/fear is often manageable for the dog, if the dog does not have the time to eat, the dog is too stressed and you can wait a little longer before moving on.
