[Dailydrool] Homes with stairs...

[Esther Strom]

Vikki,
Way back when I first adopted Waldo, we lived in a 3rd floor walkup apartment. 
He did the stairs four times a day, and for the year and a half we lived there 
he never had a problem. I've never been certain, though, that the strain didn't 
contribute to the back problems he had later in life (which eventually required 
emergency surgery.)

This is obviously my own experience and opinion, but I would never allow a 
basset of mine to do more than a handful of stairs on a regular basis, having 
gone through what I did with Waldo's surgery and post-operative care. That said, 
there are ways you can handle things if you own both levels, as you would in 
this house. You can gate off the stairs so the dogs are not allowed up at all, 
or (if they are small enough and you're strong enough) you can carry them up and 
down.

I'm sure there are people who have had different experiences than I did with 
stairs, so if you really want this house you can make it work.

Good luck!

Esther, Basil, and Waldo ATB



----- Original Message ----


My husband and I are considering a nice house on a big lot, but it's two story's 
~ stairs inside, and two decks with steps outside.  
 
My question is - how are basset hounds with stairs? Our current home is one 
story.
 
The only experience so far our dogs have had with stairs is the dogie steps I 
had made so they could get up and down off the couch and love seat without 
jumping.
I'm sure someone out there must have bassets in a two story environment, how is 
it working for you? 
 
Thanks for the input ~ Vikki