Removing stairgate from stairs

[Hairybaker]

We have used a stairgate since day one and puppy is now ten months. I’d like to get rid of the stairgate but don’t really want puppy to have free roam upstairs. How can I train him not to make a run for it?! (If I go upstairs when he is in the hall he will try to follow me up!) sit and wait doesn’t seem to work or do I just need to work harder at it!?

Have you taught sit, stay or bed, stay?

If not you could try that. Gradually build up the time though. So pup understands what's expected.
You could try leaving a kong or some other interesting treat for them to occupy them whilst your away?

We just keep the doors closed in the upstairs rooms that we don't want DDog nosing around in. We made sure that it's so boring up there - only for sleep and baths - that he doesn't tend to go upstairs unless one of us is with him.

If you don't want him to have free rein then imo the best thing to do is keep the baby gate in place. At ten months he's still very young and I wouldn't trust him not to get into any mischief, lol.

Ours didn't get free rein of the entire house until he was two.