I have a 13 month old female black labrador retriever and took her on  a walk yesyerday that required her to climb over a style in a field (two wooden planks zig zagged for humans to climb over), and concrete steps (railway bride) over a railway.  She took one look at the railway steps and point blankly refused so i had to take long route round which i didn't mind as didn't want to force her and realise steps etc are not good for their joints.

I know many say excellent that she doesn't go up stairs especially indoors are there any tips etc to teach her to climb stairs/steps. She has never really been bothered about climbing the stairs at home and will just stand on the 1st or 2nd step and look up but does not take it any further.

We had exactly the same problem :) I found some small steps and gently encouraged her to climb them, working up to slightly larger steps. Now she's perfectly fine, though I generally avoid them if I can.

Labradors are natural jumpers. So saying, they do sometimes need to first find out its good fun!

In gundog working tests a retriever is not expected to jump until it is of of "Puppy", in other words, around two years old. (Although thy may have to negotiate "Obstructions" such as half meter high "Rabbit netting") I never started Anna jumping seriously until she was around 20 months old.

If you have a narrow passageway up the side of your house, this is ideal. A double hedge is another suggestion. Construct a low jump by putting a board across the passage and with your dog one side and you the other, call her over it. Make sure it is solid. Dogs often jump onto then over a fence and if it wobbles it can put her right off the idea. Make the fence low, something she can do easy. Use a word of command, I use "Over". If there is any reluctance then run away from her and get really excited. You can try jumping over yourself to show the way. (A friend did this with a reluctant Golden. Unfortunately he tripped and broke both wrists. His wife told me not to laugh when I saw him but the temptation was too much!!) Gradually add boards to increase the height and you will find it easy. Don't forget to use the command for ALL jumping, even jumping into the car.

I also teach my dogs the command "Under". Useful for tackling barbed wire. If I call "Under" she will look for a place to crawl under the fence.

If your dog has to jump wire, such as netting of even more risky, barbed wire, try to find and alternative, or if you cannot, try to put something over it. I use my jacket or game bag. I once saw a Springer drop a paw between strands of wire and left hanging by the leg! Add to that the amount of dogs ripped open on barbed wire and you can see why I teach the Under command!

Regards, John

Hi John
'if you cannot, try to put something over it. I use my jacket or game bag.'
I had this problem on boxing day - We went over a stile, where the barbed wire was covered by a metal strip.  The three smallest were carried over, my brother's goldens jumped over along with the lab cross I'm fostering, but Jazz didn't seem to know what to do.  I remember reading in your book that you used your jacket, so duly took of my jacket, laid it over and stepped back.  Before I could call him over, he had sailed it - I was amazed at the difference it made, I'm guessing because it looks solid rather than the strands of wire.
so thanks for that little gem - it saved me a long walk back.
best wishes Jenny

Just imagine looking up into a bright sky at a strand of wire. It literally disappears!

Here's another tip. Get down to your dog's eye level before asking your dog to do something. The world looks so different! The dummy which lies in full sight at your level can have disappeared over the brow of a mountain sized hill at your dog's eye level! ;)

Best wishes, John

just to let you know through gentle coaxing and the aid of titbits she finally got the confidence to climb the stairs its been about 6 weeks now and theirs no stopping her - my shadow everywhere now.  Thanks for the suggestions.