OH BOY...we're in trouble now!!!

[Kerri B. & Zoey]

This evening I was sitting in the family room & Zoey was sleeping on the tile in the entry (or at least that is what she wanted mommy to think). I heard a faint whimper and thought "oh how cute, she's dreaming again" and turned to look over into the entry. NO ZOEY! I walk into the kitchen, she's not in her ex-pen I go back over to the powder room (the door was almost closed, so don't know how she could have gotten in there). I start frantically looking behind furniture (even though I have blocked off so she can't get behind the couch). STILL no Zoey. I run upstairs and check my bedroom (the only other room she has been in, but has always been carried up there). I come back out of the bedroom calling her name again and again. When all of the sudden she comes trotting out of the hall bathroom. Phew...she's safe. But OH BOY...who would have thought she would conquer the stairs in one fell swoop! She has not even been interested in them before now. I think it might be out of boredom. It's going to be a LONG 8 weeks. She is basically on quarantine as Parvo is rampant in our community, so taking her beyond my backyard is really risky. I think I am going to have to get a baby gate after all (and maybe a few more toys to keep her entertained). For those of you with stairs in your home, how long did it take your doodle to master them?

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

Its funny to read others' reports on this. Lucy didn't learn to climb the stairs until WE taught her, which was many months after we had her home. We felt so fortunate that she had no interest in climbing them, that we took advantage of that and waited until we felt it was time to have her in our bedroom. It took all of a few minutes to learn to climb them once we taught her. Now, her favorite hanging spot is at the top of the landing where she can keep an eye on the goings on out front from a superior vantage point.

[Carla, Lucca and Izzy]

My 2 sit on the landing every morning, That's where they greet me when I come down in the morning!!!

[Bonnie and Kona]

We blocked off the stairs until Owen was at least 4 months old. Even then he rarely went up because he slept in the family room and everything else is downstairs. When he would come down the stairs he would leap the last three which is so bad for them! Now he goes down with Kona's ear or one leg in his mouth. It makes for a dangerous escapade for everyone!

[Carla, Lucca and Izzy]

That is too funny Bonnie. I can't wait to meet Owen!!!!

[Helen & Kirby]

A baby gate is a good idea.  Kirby mastered the stairs within the first week, but we only let her go up the stairs at bedtime.  She never has "run" up or down them and goes slow and carefully.  She has elbow dysplasia, so I don't let her go up and down stairs all day.  When she had physical therapy for the elbow, one exercise was to go up and down the stairs.

[Michael Gurley]

Sunny went UP the stairs pretty soon after I brought her home at 9 weeks, but she didn't figure out how to go DOWN until she was about 4 months old. I have a lot of stairs, and they are all wooden so it's a little harder to master. I can't carry her all the time though, so she had to learn the stairs!