standard who wont do stairs

Question
Our female standard poodle is 22 months old and still won't go up or down flights of stairs in our house! She'll do outdoor stairs or small steps, but not down to our basement. We've tried treats on each step, etc., but she is obviously scared of our beige carpeted stairs. Any ideas for us? We like her with us when watching TV.

Answer
Hello Leslie,
I know just how you feel on that one.  I have 2 brother Poodles out of the same litter and both of them were scared of my basement stairs, yet they will go down the outside steps to go potty.  
I kept working and working with both of them and finally got Smoke to go down the stairs by himself, and now he is usually the first one down when I head that way.  Riot, on the other hand, still refuses to go down unless I get the leash on him and get him to go down the first 2 steps, then he will go on down himself.  Actually, he doesn't like going up them either unless I go up without him and then he frets until he makes himself go.  
I have also tried treats and praise and he still won't go on his own.  

I saw a Dog Whisperer program once that said to run your dog up to the staris and just make him go up or down them without him thinking about it, and he should get over his fears soon enough, but I know if I tried that with Riot, it may ruin him for life on stairs.  
I would just say to keep practicing with her and make it a very positive expirence.  Since you go down every night, take about 15 minutes before you plan on going downstairs, to work with her and see if you can encourage her to go down with you.  
Make sure you go at her pace so you don't frighten her more and if you notice that she is getting stressed out, stop for a time.  You can maybe try again on a commercal.  
Even if you get her to go down one or two stairs, then great and stop there.  You can move to more stairs as she is ready for them.  

Give it a try and if you need other suggestions, please feel free to ask.

Thanks for using AllExperts.com,
Kim