We are just looking at the practicalities of owning our first lab pup and have a question regarding pups and stairs.
We live in a 3 storey house and the day to day living area is on the second floor which will also be the pups space. Access to the garden is via stairs either internal or external. While we can carry pup for toilet visits initially, once too heavy this won’t be an option. At what age is it safe for Labrador pups to take the stairs, on a lead in a controlled way?
Any advice would be appreciated.
Many thanks

Personally, I wouldn't let large breed pups do stairs regularly until after they are hip scored at 1 year of age. And even then, I'd want to walk with them on the stairs to ensure they take them slowly.

This study found that dogs using stairs regularly had a higher incidence of hip dysplasia: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22620698/  "Puppies walking on stairs from birth to 3 months of age had an increased risk of developing HD. "

We don't really know how long after this, the stairs are a factor - since the study stopped at 12 weeks. So it's not safe to conclude it's ok after that....

Can you create a ramp so the dog can use that instead of the stairs. Or move the main living area to the bottom so no stairs needed? I don't let mine go up and down during their 1st year and if they sneak past they are put on leads and walked slowly down them

Our house is a bit topsy turvey in that the lounge is upstairs and a bedroom is downstairs. For the first 5 - 6 months I spent all day downstairs and only went up to go to bed. I then only took her upstairs in the evening so long as she would walk calmly beside me taking the stairs very carefully. Once she was coming up to a year I let her go up and down herself if she went calmly and didnt get excited and run up and down. This a a golden retriever so comparable to a lab. By the time she was 12 weeks she was really quite heavy and it would have been difficult to go and down with the frequency needed to take her out to toilet

Having a breed where stairs/steps are a no-no until at least a year, I'd suggest your situation will mean you have to do some carrying - especially coming down.   I well remember sitting on the stairs (coming down) with one of my youngsters with him across my lap as he was too big to carry!!   It also puts me in mind of some dear people who bought one of our early puppies.  They had a back-split (Canada) and took great amusement in telling me how it was 'whoosh down the stairs'

Ramp or moving downstairs = the answer.   Or waiting until you have a 'suitable' home    Sometimes living adjustments have to be made.   Like letting our MG go in favour of an estate car!!

Thanks everyone. Has anyone bought or made a ramp for a full sized indoor staircase?

Looking at my own staircase which is 13 stairs my worry would.be how steep the ramp.would be.
It would.need a non slip surface and the dog trained to walk slowly

Why not try putting a ladder down the stairs and see how steep it looks to get an idea of what u would.need
My  other thought is although a ramp is best does that put pressure on joints still if it is steep ?

On the plus side  he would easily take to agility and the ramps lol :)

I think you have to be sensible, I have Labradors and have an old cottage which is built on a slope, so the downstairs at the front is higher than at the back, there's another floor you can't see from the front.  I have no option but to let mine do stairs once they're too heavy and too wriggly, and to be quite honest, my maddest pup yet (who will be 14 in August) had me tearing my hair out as she used to do a wall of death round the living room, leap on and off anything she could (the stairs at that house were blocked off) and she still got 0 hips and 0/0 elbows.  I thought for sure she'd have wrecked at least her hips, and her granddaughter is very similar in character!

Are your stairs carpeted to give grip, or bare wood ?

If stairs are unavoidable then at least I would say stairs are taken on lead only so you can insist on very slow careful walking.  puppies are uncoordinated and none too good at realising it. I suspect its charging down and falling down stairs that causes the worst of the damage. plus the odd would be stunt dog who thinks they can just leap top to bottom....

I don't see how a ramp would be any better than using the steps, for a full flight.   Again it's not so much the going up but definitely the coming down.   I think you may have to get your dog used to staying downstairs, or move down with him, for now.

That's what is thinking mamabas u still have the for on the legs especially downward.

I think I would be more inclined to take weimeds advice of on lead slow walking when carrying isn't possible and a stair gate to prevent pup deciding to luanch itself down when u arnt looking .
There are other things to watch too as in trying to get up or down on sofas if u intend to allow dog on sofas.

Thanks everyone! It’s seems it’s all about taking a sensible approach and making adjustments where possible. We don’t have a pup yet so have time to think about what would work best for us.

Once u have sorted the home don't forget the limitations in exercise . 5 mins of lead walking of age . Free running or garden play  just be sensible and don't allow it to be for too long it's the enforced by lead walking that needs real control

Good luck with your new pup an I hope u are able to find one at a sensible price in time and got get swept up with the current stupid pricing and unscrupulous greeders

> That's what is thinking mamabas u still have the for on the legs especially downward.<br />

I'm not sure I understand.... but I would like to repeat the danger of coming down and fixing gates at the top of the stairs if he's more likely to be up there than down - and ditto with down if the opposite, to stop him getting up there.    Stairs = BABY GATES

Also on AND OFF furniture.

Not surprised mamabas my typing was awful .sorry yet again .
What I  was trying to say that going downhill even on a slope puts pressure on the joints so maybe careful lead walking downstairs is safer in the case of a whole staircase .

I have always had baby gates at the top and bottom of stairs to restrict dogs and children using the stairs if I wasn't there to guide and yes furniture is also something to consider when they are pups . I. Our case because I am mean :) dogs don't use the furniture