SBelle/DJDB,
Your guys are pretty young yet, BUT, having them deal with guarding the "whole house" is really no problem for them. I really think both mine enjoy the extensive area of both the house and property. And get
a LOT of exercise, viewing what they think is an intrusion from the second story windows, and zooming downstairs out to the furtherest ends of the property, to defend THEIR area !
SBelle,
I'm not sure just how much more elevation you need for those stairs, but, you can slip a Cardboard Box under them, maybe 6" or more, and make do till your Hubby gets the job done....how about that ?