Stairy Conundrum

Stairs.

Love 'em or hate 'em, they've become a regular part of Molly's life.

The first couple days, Molly was excited but nervous to do what the people were doing. She would hesitantly go up three quarters of the stairs, get bold, decide she'd mastered this feat, and attempt to rush the last few stairs (every time), resulting in her tripping herself. Hmm, stairs *can* hurt.

Then, the third or fourth day, she gave up. I went to lead her up the stairs, and she planted her butt and muled on me, refusing to go. Even a stern look and a sharp word didn't break her out of it, but she wasn't spooked, just being stubborn. She got picked up off the ground entirely. That tactic will not work for her. I was careful not to hold her in a way that would be painful, but I didn't coddle her, either, so she couldn't think of it as an improvement. I clearly wasn't happy, and when we reached the top of the stairs she apologized to me in her doggy way.

Now we've come to the point where we can see a conundrum in her head. She *wants* to go up/down the stairs, but she vaguely recalls not liking something about them. It's a scary stair conundrum. Say that quickly ten times.

After picking her up and being unhappy with her, she compromised the very next time. We may have to change it on her later, but for the moment it works. If we walk with her, side by side, she'll slowly go up or down the stairs (more worried about up, but she's still dainty about down, too). If we get ahead of her, we become The Big Person On The Stair, and she puts on the brakes, and if she starts up the stairs but we're not walking with her, she'll gladly stop and wait. For now, it's, "We'll do this together."

Silly dog!