14 Year Old Miniature Struggling with Steps and Getting onto Bed or Sofa

Our 14 year old miniature poodle seems to be in good health. His appetite is good and he seems to have energy. However, while this winter has cut back our walks, as recently as yesterday, we got a good long mile and a-half in one walk and a few other shorter walks.

Though for the first time in years, he has been heading back to the house after short time periods. I had assumed that this was weather related as the snow, ice and frigid temperatures are nothing like we've seen in years. In fact, he has been out of sorts on our walks, (I assumed) thrown off by the ice covering the snow.

Over the past two months, he has started to have difficulty on the hardwood main steps in our house going from the main floor to the 2nd floor. He also seems to really struggle going down the steps, especially the bottom step to a hardwood landing area. He seems to not have an issue on the carpeted steps going from the main floor to the basement.

He also has had issues jumping up onto the bed or sofa. He seems like he wants to take a longer run up, but due to space limitations to the bed, he can't get that run up. He puts his paws on the bed and can't get up. But eventually, he has been able to jump onto the bed. As for the sofa, it's in a room with hardwood floors and he seems to struggle on the run up to make the jump.

Historically, he has not needed to run up to make the jump and just leapt up.

However, last night was particularly bad. He was trying to jump up onto the bed in two rooms, but could not get there. He would just roam from room to room and was out of sorts. Eventually, I picked up him and put him on our bed. And he slept through the night.

He had a vet appointment a few weeks back and I mentioned it to the vet and the vet tested his hips and knees and didn't think anything was particularly wrong from an arthritis point of view.

I'm not sure he's become scared of jumping. I also have to imagine that at 14, he doesn't have the strength he used to have to make that jump.

As for the steps, there have been a few times it seems like he has missed a step or slipped and so I wonder if he's scared.

We're just not sure what's going on and will follow up with the vet, but I'd be curious as to what other poodle (especially miniature poodles) owners think may be going on, or if you have any history with this and how to handle. I am thinking of buying steps up for the bed and maybe a ramp for the steps.

Thanks.