Well, Bella has never really been a fan of the stairs, I think partly due to her poorly cruciates prior to her knee ops, but maybe also a bit of stair fear. Anyways, I've always had a dog gate at the bottom of the stairs for the past year in my new house, just in case... She will go up and down stairs on walks etc but for some reason doesn't even bother at home. When I've left the gate open by accident she doesn't come up just sits at the bottom and sometimes whines. I had some new wardrobes fitted last week and he had to take off the stair gate, so I've not put it back on.... I wonder if she will ever dare get brave whilst I'm at work and attempt the climb??!?!! She's had 3 opportunities to do so and hasn't yet. I wonder (and hope) if she just wont ever bother.... it is a risky gamble but ill take my chances, for now Has anyone else got a lab who wont go up the stairs even though they are eagerly sat waiting for you at the bottom with a waggy tail and a toy ?!
Juno has free access to the stairs 24 hours a day and she makes no attempt to go up although happily uses stairs when we're out. It seems that having the stair gate when she was young created a barrier even when it's not there. I thought when we moved I might have to put the stair gate back but in 6 months she's made no attempt to go up the stairs but sits and waits patiently at the bottom
Juno is exactly the same as Bella!!! maybe she wont ever bother then, which is great as I thought I would have a ruddy gate there forever!! my only slight worry is when her friend comes around as she might follow her up, but the gate could come back during those times
That seems a sensible approach for other dogs, although from dogs I know they tend to follow the behaviour of the resident dog rather than what they do in their own home
One of our friends Sammys slipped on the stairs and now won't go up them at their house, but he will at our house. Go Figure. We used to share our cabin with a couple that had what looked like a Golden/Border Collie mix. Cosmo would only touch one or two stairs going down and only 3 or 4 going up a full flight. Our labs have no issues with stairs. Tilly is a little slower than she used to be, but she is over 10yrs.
