I had my father come visit a few weeks ago, and he built some stairs off our back porch, down to the ground. We thought this would be lovely in the winter to be able to take Zoey out for a pee, instead of going out the front door.
problem is, Zoey is petrified of the stairs!!! lol i'm not sure why, but i have a few ideas.
idea 1: whens he was younger, i took her out back on a retractable leash (which i finally threw in the garbage, piece of junk) and she ran around 2 empty garbage cans and when she came back to me it knocked them both over, almost on top of her. scared the bajeebees outta her! even now when they're out at the curb she watches them closely, like they're ready to attack her again. She knows where we keep them, and is weary when we get close to that area- which is under the back deck.
idea 2: she's never been great with stairs. we had to show her how to go up/down stairs when she was little, which was expected. she did great! but it's weird... she never goes into our basement, and won't even put one paw on the first step down. our cats are down there, and she's definately tried chasing them, but that's their escape, kuz they know she won't go. she's not afraid of the basement stairs i don't think... we just love the idea that there's a place for the cats to run and escape her (AND the litter box is down there, so it eliminates the problem of keeping nosey Zoey outta their box!)
idea 3: the stairs are "open" (hard to explain) ... if you're standing at the bottom, looking up at them, you can see thru them.
i asked my father "dad, how do you get a dog to go up and down stairs?"
my father used to train police dogs wayyyy back in the day, and his response was that you just drag them up and down a few times till they realize it's ok 
... i love my dad (but i know he'll never read this lol) that was not the idea i was looking for hahaha... i'm hoping for a much friendlier way to get Zoey ok with going up and down stairs. any idea???
also, is it easier to teach up first? or down first??
we've tried holding her legs and "walking" her up the stairs, but it's like i'm moving a Barbie doll lol. she's stiff as a board, and it's not until she's at the laaaast step that she hops up and runs off.
any ideas?
My dog makes me a better person.