Journal / First evening
The first evening with new stairs
Packed foam looks wrong. That is packing. The first try is about not scaring the dog.
Leave the stairs out for 24-48 hours on a flat floor. Do not invite the dog up while the foam is still a brick. Using them early is the usual one-star story on foam stairs.
Packed foam looks wrong. That is packing.
Place, then practise
Sit them tight to the sofa. Scatter treats on the first tread. One calm tread at a time. Practise coming down, not only going up. A jump off the sofa is the moment this set is there to replace.
If they freeze
Stop. Try later the same evening. Do not lift them onto the top as a shortcut. If the whole set shifts, check the floor. A wobbly first try is how a dog decides the stairs are not for them.
This note is a method, not a result. We will not write that every dog uses the stairs.