Does Your Dog Need Dog Stairs or a Ramp? – American Kennel Club (2024)

FAQs

Does Your Dog Need Dog Stairs or a Ramp? – American Kennel Club? ›

If you have a senior dog, a dog with arthritis, or a dog with other mobility issues, it may be time for dog stairs or a ramp. In fact, dog stairs and ramps can also make life easier for some very small dogs or breeds with short legs and long bodies, like Dachshunds and Corgis.

Pet stairs are compact and suitable for dogs that are still able to bounce from step to step. Ramps on the other hand are incredibly sturdy, easy to manoeuvre and suited to dogs of all different sizes and agility levels. For this reason, ramps remain a popular choice for many dog owners.

In fact, walking UP stairs can be a great way to help improve active range of motion, muscle strength, and proprioception (the awareness of the position and movement of the body). Navigating stairs daily have helped Dr. Kirkby Shaw's dogs with arthritis maintain their mobility!

According to PetMD, small dogs can benefit from either pet ramps or stairs. In this case, it really depends on how much room you have. Pet ramps for beds may be easier on the limbs of older dogs, or large breeds like Mastiffs and Great Danes.

Can you put a ramp over stairs for a dog? Over steps, a few, yes.

Most ramps have shallower slopes than stairs of the same total rise, so the cardiovascular cost of traversing a ramp may be less than that of negotiating a flight of stairs. This flatter slope may also make it easier to arrest a fall on a ramp than a fall on stairs. Nevertheless, ramps are not without their problems.

Dogs may also have difficulty using either stairs or ramps depending on their age, health, and physical abilities. For example, older dogs or dogs with joint pain may have trouble using stairs, while dogs with mobility issues may find ramps easier to use.

Dogs that have extra-long backs, such as Dachshunds, Corgis and Bassett Hounds, should take extra care, or avoid taking the stairs if possible.

In general, puppies can climb stairs safely once they reach around 12 to 16 weeks of age. But that's only the short answer. There is more about puppies and stairs—the risks of puppies going up and down the stairs, some puppies not being big enough to navigate the stairs safely, and how to make stairs safe for puppies.

While some dogs may get the hang of using their ramp in a matter of days, it's perfectly natural for some pups to require a little bit of extra training, patience, and time. Fortunately, all pups are fully capable of becoming a confident AND consistent ramp users - including older, stubborn, or timid dogs.

Should you have your dog in your bed? ›

Point: Dogs carry certain intestinal parasites, fleas, and ticks that cause human illnesses. Sleeping with a dog increases human exposure to these parasites and vector-borne diseases. Very young, very old, and immune compromised people are particularly at risk of infection.

Though many people think dogs can curl up and sleep most anywhere, your furry friend really shouldn't be sleeping on the floor. You also probably don't want him climbing up on your beds or sofas. The truth is, dogs need beds just like we do, and they are beneficial for a variety of reasons.

When positioned between the floor and furniture or between the ground and your car's door, a dog ramp can: Reduce joint strain and arthritis pain. Assist older dogs who can no longer jump into a car or onto a sofa or grooming table. Prevent injury to you or whomever helps the dog climb up or down.

Create Ramp

Cut a 1x10 board to the length of the distance between the edge of the top crate and the floor. Attach a door hinge using the provided hardware on the center of one end of the board. Set the remaining hardware off to the side. Next, wrap the board in a small rug for added traction and style.

Here are some general guidelines: Ramp width should be about 11-12 inches for toy and small dogs, and 22-24 inches for medium size breeds. Rise of the ramp should allow an angle of incline at roughly 18 to 25 degrees. A toy or small dog will need 18-20 degrees and a medium size dog 22-25 degrees.

Stair-climbing is more efficient than walking up a ramp, so it costs less energy. What's more, ramps of the same steepness as an average flight of stairs are impossible to climb. Very shallow slopes take a long distance (and walking time) to reach the same height as steep steps, so more energy is used overall.

If your dog is having trouble maneuvering the stairs in your house or if you live on one level and he's unused to climbing any stairs, consider a dog ramp. You'll want a ramp that has a gentle incline and is high enough to reach furniture or your vehicle.

Up the stairs is fine for a dog - don't ask him to run them or chase a ball. Down the stairs - once a day, probably not bad for a dog in otherwise good health, but certainly harder on the joints for dogs than for people.

Typically, Dachshund parents are advised to block off any staircases and introduce their long-bodied pups to ramps to prevent any jumping on and off furniture. When it comes to this breed's personality, ramps are a better fit for their temperament as well.