How to Block Off Stairs for Dogs [KEEP THEM SAFE]

How do you block off the stairs when you have a dog? A gate is the easiest way for pet parents to block off the stairs. Not only will it keep dogs from going up or down the stairs, but it can protect important items and certain parts of the house. Leaving a dog alone won’t be as worrisome with a gate or another blockade.

Imagine you leave to run some errands and come home only to find that your dog got to some valuables in your room. You thought your dog was well-behaved, but it looks like you need to start blocking off your stairs.

That way, you don’t have to worry about your dog getting into things when you aren’t paying attention.

If you have kept your dog in a crate for a while, you may want to see how they do on their own in the house. However, you should do what you can to keep your dog from going just anywhere. Blocking off the stairs with a gate is a great way to do that.

And a dog gate isn’t the only way to block off stairs. If you don’t have any young children, you may be apprehensive to use a gate for your stairs. They aren’t exactly aesthetic.

Keep reading to find some less intrusive and some “Do It Yourself” options that may help keep your doggie off those stairs.

Related Reading: Stairs vs Ramps – Which One is Better For Dogs?

Why You Should Block Off Stairs for Dog

When you’re a pet parent to a dog, you probably think of them as family. Dogs can become part of your family, but you need to remember they are still dogs. Even the most well-behaved dog will have a rebellious moment where they sneak into your room and tear something up.

• Blocking off stairs prevents your dog from going into rooms or areas that you don’t want them to access.
• If you need to leave your dog at home often, blocking off stairs can be a nice compromise between keeping them in a crate and giving them free roam of the house.
• No matter how you block off stairs, you can ensure that your dog won’t get into your shoes or bathroom trash.
• When you need to leave your dog home for a long period, you can have more peace of mind that your dog will be okay.
• You also have the flexibility to block off certain floors while giving your dog access to others, assuming you have multiple floors in your home.

Whether you want to keep your dog in one room or block off one floor, blocking the stairs is a great way to control where your dog can go. Putting your dog in a crate can be a bit much past puppyhood, but you may not want your dog to roam the house freely.

You can use multiple methods to keep your dog from going into certain areas of your home.

Use a Gate to Block Off Stairs for Dog

One of the best ways to block off stairs for a dog is to use a gate. You can use a baby gate or even a special dog gate to keep your dog from going up or down the stairs.

Not only is a gate a clear barrier, but it has some other benefits that other methods don’t.

For one, a gate is easier to see and process from far away. Some other blockades aren’t as clear, and you have to touch them to realize they’re there. As long as you choose a durable gate, your dog shouldn’t be able to break it down or push past it.

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Of course, you do have to consider if your dog tends to jump. If that’s the case, you need to place the gate high enough so that they can’t jump over it. On the other hand, you can’t put it too high if you have a small dog.

You need to find the right height so that jumping dogs can’t get over the gate, and small dogs can’t squeeze underneath it. However, a nice benefit to this option is that you can remove the gate or leave it open when you are home.

That way, you can access that part of your house without worrying about having to step over the gate yourself.

Related Reading: The Best Pet Stairs for Large Dogs

Lay Down Tinfoil to Block Off the Stairs for the Dog

If you can’t or don’t want to set up a gate, you can lay some tin foil on the first few steps. Dogs have sensitive ears, and the tinfoil will crinkle under their paws. As your dog steps onto the tinfoil, they will hear the weird noise and might back away.

• You can use some standard foil that you keep for storing food, so you don’t need to find any special materials.
• Tear off a few pieces that are big enough to cover two or three steps on your staircase.
• Secure it with tape so that your dog can’t move it off the stair and sneak past it.

It may not be the most common method to block your stairs, but a few pieces of tinfoil can be enough to scare off your dog. You don’t need to worry about setting up a gate. However, using that much tinfoil could be a waste if you have to replace it often.

Set Up Carpet Runners to Block Off Stairs for Dog

Not only do dogs have sensitive ears, but they also have sensitive paws, so physical barriers are a great option. If you don’t want to use tinfoil, you can set carpet runners on your stairs. Instead of placing the smooth side up, place the smooth side down.

When the smooth side is down, that will expose the pointy side that typically keeps the runners in place. For this, you can use tape to keep the carpet runners from sliding around.

If you want to use carpet runners on your stairs when you’re home, flipping them can be a great way to keep your dog on one floor.

All you’ll have to worry about is flipping the carpet runners upside down when you leave. However, you’ll have to be careful when walking on the carpet runners so that you don’t hurt your feet.

Make the Stairs Sticky to Block Off Stairs for Dog

Another option for blocking off stairs is to make them sticky. Sticky is another feeling that dogs don’t like, so they won’t want to go up or down the stairs.

However, you do face the problem of going up and down the stairs yourself.

• You can place shelf liners on your stairs but put them upside down so that the sticky side faces up.
• If you don’t have that, you can also use double-stick tape to give a sticky effect.
• You can use just about anything sticky to keep your dog from going up or down a set of stairs.

While adding something sticky to the stairs can keep your dog away, it might make it hard for you to go up and down them, too.

Because of that, you probably should only use this method on stairs you don’t use often. However, it can be a good option if nothing else seems to work.

What Else to Consider When Blocking Off Stairs For a Dog

Before you choose how to block off stairs for your dog, you have to consider a few other things. First, you should think about any other pets you may have that you don’t need to keep out of a certain area.

Perhaps you have a cat that can go to a certain floor, so you should choose a method that won’t keep your cat from going up the stairs.

You should also think about any kids you have. Young kids won’t be able to open a gate, but they can probably navigate over a piece of tin foil. On the other hand, you may not want your kids to go through the house unsupervised either.

Final Thoughts

Blocking off the stairs can be a great way to keep your dog from roaming the house without keeping them in a crate. You can ensure they won’t get into your valuables, but you can give your dog some freedom.

Although a gate is the most commonly used option, there are some others if a gate won’t work.