I honestly cant thank all of you enough - your suggestions are PERFECT and I really dont know why I had not thought of them...I am so appreciative of each of you taking the time to write your thoughtful responses. I am going to try a ramp instead of our stairs, I think that does make more sense over steps. And will be better for her joints over time. Putting a high reward treat at intervals? DUH why didnt I think of that?!
Same with the walks, and putting that on her daily schedule.
As for her crate situation, I can see your concern and questions - I didnt intend to keep her away from me during the night. The day I brought her home we set up her little crate in our family room so she could see us walking about and be with us in the room where we spend the most time. We left the door open, and she ran in and out on her own. It was loaded with soft blankets. We only shut the door at night, because we were also working on house training. Now that she is potty trained (she picked up on that pretty quick actually) I am happy to have her up in bed with us, or in a dog bed next to us. Whatever she prefers. I know she spent her former years in a crate, but I almost feel like her spurts of time in there helped her transition to house freedom. She *chooses* to go in the crate far less now then when she first came home
Progress!