Giving Your Dog the Step Up He Needs

When the doggie steps commercial aired in the local gym, several people began giggling and poking fun. But being full of youthful vigor, they probably don’t know what it’s like to try to lift a 60-pound dog with your arthritic hands or bad back. They also probably don’t know what it’s like to have a large older dog or a dog with hip dysplasia that could use assistance in getting up on a warm soft couch next to his owner to retreat from the cold drafts assaulting his body on a brutal winter day.

For most Americans, our dogs are a part of our family. And as they grow older or physically challenged, they often need more assistance from us. Steps can be a necessity for particular dogs, especially those that are physically challenged, elderly, arthritic or recuperating from surgery. Providing steps to a dog’s favorite place to nap can help prevent further injury and enhance his mobility while also saving you the strain of picking him up and helping him down.

Steps can be provided by particular items about the house. You may already have a foot rest, stool or short steps that you use to reach high places in the cabinets. Perhaps a foot stool placed in front of a chest can allow your dog to access a higher cough or bed without hurting himself. You can also buy modular foam in fabric stores, cut them to size and glue them together for a foam staircase. You can also buy foam insulation at building supply stores, cut them and layer them so you have a long piece, then a shorter one above it and a shorter one above that. Use a glue that is made for gluing foam together and you can decide whether to cover with vinyl or tarp to make it weather proof or even outdoor carpeting. Some dog steps are made with 2x2 nailed as a set of stairs, and you can certainly do that, but the foam steps are lighter weight and can be moved more easily. When building steps or creating steps for your dog, keep in mind how he will still need to jump onto or off the step and will need enough room on the step and off for front and back legs. The steps also must be able to support his weight.

If the idea of building or putting together your own steps is intimidating, several online and pet department stores offer pre-made pet stairs.

A plastic, carpet covered short staircase can be purchased from pet stores for between $35 and $180, with cost often depending on style, number of steps and size. Check the weight classification to see if the steps you are purchasing are appropriate to your dog. Also available are folding dog stairs for dogs on the go (getting in and out of SUVs), cedar stairs that can be more permanent for outside use,

Steps can help your dog gain access without relying on you to lift him and without hurting himself as he attempts to jump when he shouldn’t.

Next article: Choosing A Dog Food And Water Bowl

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