Dog messing upstairs...can it be stopped?

[Nettlefairy1]

We have a one year old working cocker spaniel who is totally house trained but hasn't been allowed upstairs for various reasons (mainly chewing and cat-chasing related) whilst a puppy. Now she is older and a little calmer and less chewy/chasey we would like to allow her upstairs but there is a problem. Any time in the past and also now, when she gets upstairs she almost always pees and/or poos in one of two rooms. I don't know why it is - whether it's excitement at being somewhere forbidden, or whether she just doesn't see it as her home space and therefore it's like the garden to her. I'm a first time dog owner so need some advice as to whether she will always do this as if so, we need to keep the stair gate on forever!! Thanks.

[Ahrightsoted]

I don't have an answer for you but just wanted to say our dog does the same. He's an old man now but we had to keep a stair gate up. He struggles with the stairs but will still go upstairs if he can and wee up there. Have no idea why as the back door hasn't moved

[Nettlefairy1]

Ha - thanks and it sounds as if the stairgate stays!