Potential new house has stairs!

[Jenny G]

The house we're looking at buying is 2 story and it will be easy to gate off at the bottom. Berman and Lucy are both at good weights so should I be concerned about them going up and down the stairs?

[Leslie]

avoid this.  It should be easy to accomplish as you will have no old habits to undo.  They simply don't go upstairs. My two both bolted up and DOWN the stairs in our old house  Both subsequently had minor back issues.  Did it cause it or excacerbate it?   You have to decide, but it sure can't be good when they thunk thunk thunk down at top speed down 12 (13?) stairs.

[Roberta]

I was told some where its not the going up but the going down.
Roberta

[Barb]

If this is your dream home, it could be a workable situation.  I personally wouldn't let my puppers go up and down.  But if I just had to have this home, I would carry them up and down and gate off the stairs !!!!   I just wouldn't want to take the chance !!!!   Let us know and we want to see pictures of the one that you decide on for your new family !

[cheryl186]

Jenny, I have been told also that stairs are a "no no".  Going down the stairs is a jolt to their necks and backs.  It is certainly a do-able situation though.  I also would gate off the stairs and carry them when needed.

[Jenny G]

Thanks all! I definitely think gating off the stairs is the way to go! Plus...it'll keep the upstairs much cleaner and less doggy scented!

[Kari]

Our place has stairs and we gate it off. We have never let her go up or down them (Mr. Tucker does need some peace from her). We were always told no stairs or jumping.

[Marcia from MI]

Thanks all! I definitely think gating off the stairs is the way to go! Plus...it'll keep the upstairs much cleaner and less doggy scented!

And no surprises if you go upstairs barefooted at night.

[Leslie]

And no surprises if you go upstairs barefooted at night.

:eeew:   

[doxielady5569128]

When we had stairs we gated them off and if we needed Porky to go up or down we picked him up and carried him.  Stairs are a definate no-no no matter the weight, in my opinion.   We never had problems with teaching him to avoid stairs.  Where we live now, with my parents has stairs butI no longer have to gate them, Porky has learned to wait for us to carry him.   :apls:

[roisinmarie]

my dachshund never really bothered about the stairs. but my dad's neighbour has a dachshund and they had no choice but to put on a stair gate becoz she was putting on so much muscle that it wasn't good for her. the neighbour says she sits at the gate crying because she wants up stairs.

[JetEd73]

Buying a two story house with stairs is a mistake that you will not make twice.