The Doodle Zoo! - I think a lot of dogs

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are scared of open stairs, especially if not exposed to them when younger. Sundog never cared about them, but Barney didn't like them the first time. I would do as Anita suggested and take cardboard on them so that she can not see through them. I think it is the seeing through that freaks them out. Then, leave her at the bottom and go to the top with yummy treats and let her make a choice. Is she allowed to sleep at the bottom of the stairs? Maybe that's an option for the next week or so until the stairs are finished, if she chooses not to come up with you.

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Sadie and the stairs — reeswinkle, Wed Feb 29 4:27pm

I hope someone here can help me with what seems to me to be a rather trivial problem, given all the serious ailments, etc. going on with the doodles around here, but I'm afraid of making this worse.... more
- I would try to let her sleep downstairs. — kam, Fri Mar 2 8:05pm
  
  I wouldn't even try to make her go up the stairs yet if she is that afraid. But, what do I know? Nothing.
- I think a lot of dogs — SD&B, Wed Feb 29 10:21pm
- Re: Sadie and the stairs — reeswinkle, Wed Feb 29 10:02pm
  
  Oh, I'm sure the old stairs/new stairs are the problem The old stairs were totally carpeted. The stairs right now are just plywood, but will be finished with oak stairs with a carpet runner up the... more
- What material was the old set of — Emilie B, Wed Feb 29 8:53pm
  
  stairs made of? It could be the plywood feels very slippery after the old stuff. Will you carpet the new steps or varnish the plywood? If varnish, you may continue to have a problem as it will not... more
- I have one of them too. Zeus will not — Vicki,zip,zeus,zoe,zinc,zooter&zed, Wed Feb 29 8:40pm
  
  go the stairs if he can't see the top or bottom. We have two sets of stairs to our second floor. The front stairs are straight, the back stairs go up, turn and continue. Zeus will not go up the... more
- Hey Sharon how are you - nice to see you here but wish — Kate and Maci, Wed Feb 29 7:48pm
  
  it wasn's a problem/issue. I can remember when Maci was a pup and we were doing our therapy class to become certified, the place we were at was an old warehouse and the stairs were metal/steel with... more
- I think it is the open back that if frightening her. Try — Anita, Wed Feb 29 7:33pm
  
  thumbtacking some paper or cardboard on the treads to close the opening. That is one thing we do when raising a pup for service training. Open stairs and even fire escape stairs. The younger they are ... more
- She is obviously scared of something new and unknown. — Vicky & Jamaica, Wed Feb 29 5:40pm
  
  Could you leave her at the foot of the stairs at night? I'll bet she will come up on her own when she realizes no one is going to be carrying her up and down. But to tell you the truth, I would... more
- I am of no help, and I am on Sadie's side. I am afraid of — PJ, Blue and Casey, Wed Feb 29 5:08pm
  
  open stairs...not really afraid but I have the feeling I am going to fall through...I do have a fear of heights. Is it possible that you could cover the stairs with a heavy duty painters tarp, like... more
- Ozzie is not a fan of stairs! — LucyR(Ozzie's Mom), Wed Feb 29 4:34pm
  
  Sometimes the only way I can get him to go up is to put his leash on and go with him. That seems to give him some reassurance that everything is going to be OK. He manages downstairs better than up,... more

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