Hi Dukiemom! Welcome to the Family! Are the stairs carpeted? Or have a runner? Maybe Duke is afraid he'll fall, up is lots easier than down, at least it still is for my dog. My Cody never shows much interest in the basement-he'll look down, see us do our laundry etc, come down for 1 minute and go back upstairs. It's unfamilar territory to him. I think he feels "safer" upstairs. Maybe if you stay down there..is that where you watch TV like a rec room?- he'll eventually go down to be with you in his own time. By going back upstairs, you're doing what he wants you to do so he has no reason to go down. Believe me, I'm not perfect but I really try NOT to give in my Cody when he expects me to, whining and all. Good luck!