When us greyhounds come off the tracks, sometimes we have to learn things that most dogs learn as puppies—like about glass windows and how to walk up stairs. That’s why we go to foster homes, so we can learn that stuff before we get adopted by nice families.
I am good at going up stairs . . . but I have a system. First thing I have to do is square myself up with the stairs. Petey goes flying around the corners, but I take it straight and slow. Then I take my left paw and put it on the first stair. After a moment to collect my thoughts and remember what I learned about going up stairs, I take my right paw and put it on the first stair too. By then, Petey is all the way up the stairs and is laughing at me. After another short pause, I take my right paw again and go up to the second stair. From there, I have my confidence and I go up the rest of the stairs like other dogs.
It’s a good system and people can tell other greyhounds how I do it if they want to. Petey might laugh at me for being so slow, but the other day he went running up the deck stairs and slipped and crashed his head. He was shaken up, I could tell, he made a big “thud” and Dad had to bring him in through the other door. Good thing Petey has a big hard head. He was okay after a few minutes. Petey is all grown up; he should know to be more careful. Mom and Dad always say, “Easy, slow down Petey,” but Petey didn’t listen and must have been excited to go in the house. Maybe he thought he was going to get a treat.
I say take your time and be safe. Falling down the stairs probably hurts really badly. I hope I never find out. Learning how to be a dog is fun, I give it 3.5 roos.
