Start by honestly assessing the stairs
A week without a lift is a logistics problem, but for some dogs it is also a physical one. Count the flights and watch your dog on the first careful trip down and up: a fit adult dog may trot them happily, while an older dog, a dog with sore joints, a puppy, or a dog recovering from injury may struggle, slip or arrive at the top exhausted and panting. Small dogs can be carried if they are calm being held on stairs; larger dogs who cannot manage need the indoor plan below to become the main plan, not just a backup. Be honest on day one, because a dog who dreads the stairs will start holding on, drinking less, or toileting indoors in the wrong places.
Build the week around fewer, better-timed outdoor trips
Instead of frequent quick dashes that multiply the climbing, consolidate into set trips tied to when your dog genuinely needs to go: first thing on waking, after each meal, after play or excitement, and last thing before bed. That pattern covers most adult dogs comfortably, with one extra midday trip for younger or older dogs. Keep each trip worthwhile — give her time at the bottom to toilet fully, have a short sniff and stretch, and drink when you return, so she is settled for the hours until the next descent. Leave yourself extra time so nobody is rushed on the stairs, keep her on a short lead close to the wall side, and let her set a steady pace rather than pulling her up the final flights.
Set up an indoor backup that stays hygienic
Even with a good rota, a week is long: a night-time emergency, a delayed return home, or a dog who simply cannot face the stairs when unwell all need a fallback. Choose one easy-clean spot — a bathroom corner or a balcony if it is safely enclosed — and set up absorbent pads or a washable toileting tray there, introduced calmly with praise when she uses it rather than as a punishment place. Clean it promptly after each use, replace pads frequently, and keep the area aired, because a dirty backup spot is the main reason dogs refuse it and choose a rug instead. Keep the rest of the flat's doors managed so the backup is clearly the intended place.
If neighbours in the building have dogs, a brief friendly word can help too — someone on a lower floor may be willing to take her out once during a long workday, and stairwells are easier when other residents expect dogs passing at set times.
Watch health and behaviour across the week
Holding on for long stretches is not harmless if it becomes a pattern, so watch for signs the rota is not working: restlessness and pacing in the evening, whining at the door, reduced drinking because she has learned water means needing the stairs, or accidents from a dog who is normally clean. Any straining, repeated tiny wees, or obvious discomfort when toileting needs a vet's advice promptly rather than waiting for the lift to be repaired. Adjust the plan if you see strain — add a trip, lean more on the indoor spot, or ask for help — instead of holding the original schedule rigidly for pride's sake.
Returning to normal when the lift returns
When the lift is fixed, do a few normal outdoor trips before removing the indoor backup, so she reconnects toileting with outdoors again and the backup can fade without confusion. Keep praising outdoor toileting for several days as if she were relearning it. You can organise the week's rota in KinsLe through Care Teams, assigning each stair trip to a household member with its time so the climbs and the backup checks are shared evenly.