Dog is afraid to go up steps?

You dont train a dog to walk up or down stairs, it simply does it. A dog that refuses to do it has nerve issues and that will show up in other aspects of its life that you may be or may not be seeing right now, but, you will.

Put a special treat on each step on the way up. When I'm training something that I'm having difficulty with, I have a treat that I use only for this purpose...microwaved calves liver. I've never met a dog that can refuse to work for it.

Put a fairly good sized piece on each step on the way up, after you give the dog one to show exactly what it is. Place the dog at least two of the steps up so he has to make a decision as to whether to go up or down. ONly put the treats on the steps going up.

Never fails.

Give it some time. For a new dog it may take several weeks before they are comfortable. Be patient. He needs to be desensitized to them. Sit on the steps and hold him. Give him a treat. Still holding him and still sitting, move up a step. Give a treat. Repeat at least once a day. After a few days, take him from your lap and set him on the step, give a treat. You move up a step while sitting and lift him up to the next step, give a treat. Apparently he has not been exposed to steps and you need to do this gently so his fear of them goes away.

Bless you and your mom for adopting!!!! You saved a life!

All dogs are afraid of stairs when they haven't been exposed to them before. I live in an upstairs condo too. I have always lived in one level houses before we moved here 6 years ago. My dog totally freaked out when he had to climb the stairs. It just looks to high for them and they don't know how to maneuver on the stairs. I carried him up the stairs many times but then I kind of lifted him up with his feet on the stairs and walked him up several times and then he was no longer afraid of them.

if he is a puppy he will overcome that fear with a little help if he is older he may have never had to use steps or stairs before try when he is hungry putting a little food or a treat on each step this might require patients when he manages to get up even one praise him i think it will work out fine eventually good luck

It's normal for some dogs to be afraid of steps at first. My aunt had a Labradoodle who was terrified of steps as a puppy, but now he is fine.