18-07-2025
Golden Retrievers 'Don't Understand' Spiral Steps—Owner Does the Unexpected
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
Two golden retrievers were excited to explore the home they were staying in on vacation, only to find themselves trapped upstairs as they were unable to face going down a spiral staircase.
Ellie Schraft, 24, lives in Florida with her two golden retrievers, Winston, one, and six-month-old Benny, and recently took a three-week-long family vacation with them to the Jersey Shore.
When they arrived at their lodgings for the trip, however, they quickly learned there was going to be an issue: the dogs could not figure out the concept of a spiral staircase.
"They have never seen or been on spiral staircases," Schraft told Newsweek. "My bedroom, where they were sleeping with me, was upstairs. And they ran right up but wouldn't come down!"
After more than two hours of trying to encourage the dogs to come down, Schraft had to take things into her own hands—and a video of the rescue mission has gone viral since being posted to her TikTok account, @winstonandbenny.
Posted on June 27, and boasting more than 300,000 views, it shows a montage of Schraft trying to coax the dogs down, but they stand at the entrance to the stairway, still smiling for the camera, but utterly refusing to move.
Winston and Benny stuck on top of the staircase.
Winston and Benny stuck on top of the staircase.
TikTok @winstonandbenny
At one point, the family drape a large blanket over the side of the banister, Schraft explaining to Newsweek: "They were so freaked out, so we had to put the blanket up to hide the height because we thought maybe it was that—but they were still scared."
Golden retrievers, just like Benny and Winston, have long been one of the most popular choice for pets in the United States, coming in third place behind the Labrador retriever and French bulldog in the American Kennel Club (AKC)'s list of the most popular dog breeds.
Known for their friendly and devoted nature, goldens get along with family, young children, and other dogs, and are relatively easy to train, according to the AKC.
Back in Jersey Shore, with the blanket idea failing, they took another major step: strapping Winston into a life jacket, so they could use the handles to help lift him down.
And, once Winston was near the bottom of the stairs, he trotted down happily by himself—and Schraft said Benny then followed from the top of the landing as though it had been no big deal.
Winston being lifted down the stairs with his lifejacket.
Winston being lifted down the stairs with his lifejacket.
TikTok @winstonandbenny
TikTok users were in stitches at the dogs' mountaineering adventure, one commenter pointing out the "life jacket just in case," and another defending them: "I'm also afraid of spiral staircases and I don't go down headfirst, so I totally get it."
"To be fair, it is a bit of a curveball," another wrote. And one praised Schraft and her family: "The life jacket was actually smart!"
There is a difference in personality between her two dogs, Schraft told Newsweek.
"Winston had to wear the life jacket for the whole week because he was so scared. And once Benny was going up and down, he just kept doing it for fun."
As she put it: "Winston is scared of everything. Winston will literally freak out and hide if he sees a big bug. Benny is way more fearless—but they are definitely not usually super sharp!"
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