stairs

Question
We have just inherited a 7 month old golden retriever. He will not go up the stairs to our room, but wants to sleep where we all are so we've been carrying him up and down the stairs. He is also terrified of the noise of the crate that we have when he tries to go in it and then refuses to go in it at all. Do I continue trying to crate train him?

Answer
Try sitting on the bottom step with a handful of treats.  Give him a couple of them.  Then move up a step.  Again treats.  Repeat, treats, move up a step, treats, move up a step.....  Hopefully he will accept the steps before too long.  I don't think it is any more comfortable for him to be carried than it is is for you.  

With the crate, again, heavy use of treats should solve the problem.  Dogs vary greatly.  Most 7 month olds can manage housebreaking without a crate if not left too long.  However, many 7 month old Goldens are problem chewers.  The one we had a year ago ate a couple of heavy wool socks plus the corner of an ottoman.  That was with being crated when nobody was around.  I really wouldn't want to leave one uncrated over night or when I was away.