Dog ramps

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Snuffles

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Anyone used these ? Granny Gordon needs help getting in and out of car as her back legs quite weak. Are they practical and easy to use?
 
I tried one for my ESS but she wasnt happy about using it, she seemed worried about the slope although it was nice and stable and not wobbly. I have resorted to lifting her as she has early signs of arthritis. Tbh, with 3 dogs I did find it a bit of a pain, had to get 2 in, then drop the ramp for Coco, with 1 Im sure it would be easier to manage. I was disappointed it didnt work for us as sometimes my back isnt keen on lifting her but needs must!
 
I got one for my elderly cavalier, from The Factory Shop for £20, and the younger cavvie loves it too. Was a bit slippery so I glued some pieces of carpet on, and wouldn't be strong enough for a big beefy lab but does my two fine. You have to train them to walk on it, flat on the floor then bit by bit at an angle
 
i use dog steps for mine and they are fine going up and down into the car...my collie cross is just over 18kg and the steps said max of 20kg as they are very light and made of a plastic. i just glued some carpet on the steps to make them less slippery. they were only £20 from easylife. they did have some metal ones which were for heavier dogs . my collie cross doesnt like ramps and is happy with steps.
 
Yes Snuffles, quite brilliant. Bought originally for obese rescue Goldie, he hated the car until the ramp arrived, it changed his life. Sadly the dear boy is no more. I use it for my 10 yr old flatcoat and my 5 month pup, to save their joints. The 5 yr old is disdainful and jumps in and out but is quite capable of using it if told to do so.
I did a huge amount of research, the must feel secure and have a good surface. In my opinion I have the very best. The Dogwalk 3. Can be found on Zooplus. It’s easy to use and not too heavy, however it is expensive.
 
Snuffles said:
Anyone used these ? Granny Gordon needs help getting in and out of car as her back legs quite weak. Are they practical and easy to use?
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Have never found one of any use. They are too narrow, too steep, too slippery...........or so my old dogs tell me and that includes a dog or two that dabbled in non-competitive agility when younger. Also, I find that people park too close to the rear of the vehicle when parking on the street so am unable to erect the thing. Also, they are heavy and cumbersome.....plus some are very expensive. If you park on uneven ground they also wobble which can undermine the confidence of your dog.

My solution was to invest in a faux leather pouffe off ebay/amazon. It is cheap, waterproof, light weight and moulds to the surface you park on so no wobbles. My dogs are happy to get on to the pouffe and from there the more agile will climb into the car themselves; the more arthritic will place their front paws on the sill of the vehicle and then it is easy to just hook an arm under their flanks and give them the support they need to get in. I don't have to bend as low as if I was lifting them in and I don't have to bear their entire weight, for which my back is very grateful. I also use it to get the oldies out of the vehicle; they jump onto the pouffe which is soft and has to be less jarring on their joints than jumping directly on to the ground.

Hope that helps.
 
Gunner, that sounds a great idea. Mind you there needs to be room in the car for a pouffe and a ramp I suppose! Would be easier than dealing with a ramp though. At the moment I have to put dogs legs on the sill then wheelbarrow her up and she being 32kg and me a OAP its a strain and lifting her out is even worse ! I didn't know you could get steps .
 
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Snuffles said:
Gunner, that sounds a great idea. Mind you there needs to be room in the car for a pouffe and a ramp I suppose! Would be easier than dealing with a ramp though. At the moment I have to put dogs legs on the sill then wheelbarrow her up and she being 32kg and me a OAP its a strain and lifting her out is even worse ! I didn't know you could get steps .
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just looked on easylife and they dont seem to do steps any more but im sure you can find them on line somewhere but some of them are really expensive...the pouffe idea sounds good as well...
 
i had some steps previously for my lurcher and after i lost her i gave them to a friend with an elderly border collie who was happy to use them immediately. i have just found them on e bay from a seller called thinkprice, they are wooden and the steps are a good size and they say they are ok for dogs up to 45kg. they are £27.99 so not too bad if they dont suit. they do fold up so can be put in the car easily. hope this helps
 
Glad your method suits you gunnerdog, my ramp takes up a quarter of the space of a pouff, it is lightweight, telescopic, definitely not too narrow or slippery. Never known to wobble on any surface.
I don’t have a problem of parking anywhere where it wouldn’t fit. Yes, it was expensive, but it is brilliant and my dogs love it.
 
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