Going down stairs

by Jennifer
(Hurley, WI USA)

This is our first Coton but not our first dog or cat. Mayzee is 4 1/2 months old. She won't go down our stairs to the front door to go outside. We have to carry her down. She will go up and down 4 steps outside and at other places. We have a split level so there is the main living level then down 6 steps to the door. Then behind you along side the previous steps are 6 or 7 more steps to the lower level. If we carry her down she will (when ready) zip right up them to the upper level, no problem. She seems terrified off the these steps. They are wood and tile. I just tried to coax her down the stairs with bits of ham. No dice. I put her on the 2nd step. She froze & stood there. She wouldn't even eat the ham. We are not aware of any issue with these stairs.....she'll do others. Has anyone else had this issue and what ultimately solved it? Do we just have to wait for her to get older even though she will happily do other steps? Thanks for any light anyone can shed on this problem. These dogs are the BEST!