You love your dog, but you know there’s areas of the house where they just shouldn’t be, like upstairs. But all you see around is advice about keeping them downstairs by using a gate, and you don’t want that because they’re expensive, unsightly, and just a complete pain!

What are you to do then? Is there a way for your to keep your four-legged friend where they belong without ugly obstructions everywhere? Well, to put it short: yes! Keep reading and we’ll teach you exactly what to do in this article “How to Keep Dog from Going Upstairs Without a Gate.”

How to Stop Dog from Going Upstairs Without a Gate

To stop your dog from going upstairs without a gate you’ll need to get them to respect you and the boundaries you set. When they’re not doing so (like they are right now), they’re essentially saying to you “sorry, but I’m going to do whatever I please because I run the show here!”

Doesn’t sound so great, right? Of course not, but as tough as it is to hear that really is what’s going on, unfortunately. But the good news is that this is an easy-to-solve problem, and by getting a handle on this you’ll also solve related issues you might be having (or will be soon) like barking aggressively, refusing commands, pulling on the leash, and more.

By showing your dog that you — and you alone — make the decisions, they’ll respect your commands no matter what they might be. This includes not going upstairs and also staying out of other areas you’ve decided should be off-limits. And all without a gate!

Sounds terrific, right? Imagine having that peace of mind in your home!

“Yep, but how am I supposed to do that?”

Well, I’m of the view that these types of things are best learned by watching rather than reading because you can really see exactly what you should be doing and how you should be training your own dog.

That’s why I’d recommend an excellent free video series on showing your dog that you are in charge — your dog’s pack leader, if you will — by a renowned trainer named Dan. He’s made the videos for regular people like you, meaning that everything’s very clear and easy to teach to your own dog, and he gets right to the point so you’ll start seeing results fast.

Start watching Dan’s free training series now by clicking here. And if you’re hesitating at all because you’re worried about having to be mean — don’t — because he loves dogs just as much as we do, and the entire course teaches everything in a way where you’ll never even have to raise your voice.

Why Should Dogs Not Go Upstairs?

Dogs should not go upstairs for many reasons. For starters, it can be a health issue for older dogs or those of certain breeds to be going up and down the stairs regularly. If allowed to do so they could eventually face serious health problems that would require incredibly expensive surgery or worse.

Dogs that do not respect boundaries could also cause a safety issue for you and anyone else in the house. By allowing them to go up and down as they please, they could excitedly run past someone, making them slip and fall. You surely know how potentially awful that could turn out.

Finally, it makes your dog much harder to supervise. If they’re not respecting boundaries within the house, then they’re probably not respecting many other things either. When so far away from supervision, they could quickly destroy pillows or linens, mark on the carpet, and many more things you don’t want happening.

It’s normal for dogs to want to explore and run around (being cursorial mammals), but it is not normal or acceptable for them to refuse to listen to your commands or respect the boundaries you’ve set. You can’t allow it to go on or more serious problems will develop.

Will My Dog Grow Out of Wanting to Go Upstairs?

Your dog is unlikely to grow out of wanting to go upstairs. Most will continue to go upstairs and possibly cause all kinds of havoc until you’ve trained them to respect the boundaries you’ve set. If they’re wanting to do so now, then they’ll likely continue to want to do so until they’re no longer able to physically.

A puppy growing into an adult dog is not going to magically cure them of their desire to see what’s going on upstairs. You’ll need to address their disrespect of your boundaries through training or it will only continue, and likely will grow into more (and likely more serious) behavioral problems.

Dogs that aren’t respecting your boundaries or commands at home will also be the types of dogs who are pulling you every which way on walks, not ignoring strangers no matter how much you try to get them to, being aggressive with others, and worse.

How Do I Make It More Appealing for My Dog to Stay Downstairs?

To make it more appealing for your dog to stay downstairs, you should make it more enticing and use positive reinforcement. Ensure that all their toys and other things they enjoy are downstairs, along with somewhere comfy for them lay down like a dog bed or a crate where they like to spend time.

Spend as much time as possible downstairs playing with them, while giving them lots of pets and praise when they are being calm and not trying to go upstairs. Dogs respond quickly to positive reinforcement and this along with behavioral training should help to get rid of their desire to see what’s going on up there.

The sooner you get going, the sooner you’ll be able to see these wonderful changes in your relationship with your dog, so I’ll end things now so you can get started. Make sure to share this article “How to Keep Dog from Going Upstairs Without a Gate” in case you need to check back later. Good luck with everything!