Pat, Cat & Dog

Posts Tagged ‘dog steps’

If you haven’t bought your dog a sturdy set of pet stairs, you should seriously consider doing so. Dog stairs not only help your pooch get where he needs to go (be it the sofa or the bed), but it also helps to save his joints and the tissues around them from becoming damaged from the daily impact of leaps and descends. Dog steps come in a variety of heights and sizes, but you must make sure that the steps you choose aren’t too tall or too short as this could cause him to trip.

Some dogs may not take to using pet stairs straight away. This is not uncommon an uncommon occurrence, especially if the dog is older. All it takes is a little effort on your part to show your dog (in a way that he can understand) that using the stairs is worthwhile to him.

We’ve always had the best results when using our dog’s favourite treat as encouragement to use the stairs. For our bedside pet steps, I would sit on the bed in front of the steps dangling our pup’s favourite biscuit. At first he would try to go around the stairs to jump on the bed. When this happened, I hid the treat behind my back and gave my dog a firm “No!” After a few attempts (and many acts of re-positioning my dog in front of the steps), my dog finally understood that he would receive praise and a treat when he used the stairs. It didn’t take him long to learn to use the stairs on a regular basis.

We’ve also heard of dog owners who have denied their dog access to the bed unless the dog steps were used. This was done by either verbally dismissing the dog from the bed or bodily removing him from the bed onto the floor in front of the steps. This tactic is quite successful, as is high praise. Anytime your dog uses the stairs to get onto the furniture, make a big deal about it. Give him a cheery “good boy!” or any other phrase of praise you commonly use. This not only lets him know that you prefer for him to use the stairs, but also that it pleases you—and that’s what dogs want to do!

For information about getting your dog a set of pet stairs, visit Help Your Pets.

Hunting for the perfect set of stairs for your dog doesn’t have to be a stressful experience–as long as you know where to look. There are two main places that you can conduct your shopping, and that is either on the Internet or in one of your local stores. There are benefits to using either shopping method, but you might find that one better suits your needs than the other. To help make your decision a little easier, we’ve written this guide pointing out the most obvious advantages and disadvantages to both in-store and online shopping.

Your Budget

The amount that you have to spend will ultimately determine where you make your dog stair purchase. Unless you have a pet furniture store in your hometown, you might be surprised that any pet stairs you run across in a local shop will probably cost a bit more than you were expecting to spend. This is because traditional retail stores–especially those that aren’t of the “chain” variety–can only afford to keep stock of the things that their local consumers purchase regularly. Unfortunately, pet stairs haven’t become quite that popular yet. Thank goodness for the Internet, which allows businesses to offer a niche product and still make money because their “local customer base” include every continent with Internet access. You can browse online and compare prices of several stores in minutes. Not bad!

Decisions, Decisions…

The beauty of shopping online for your pet stairs is that you have a large selection right at your fingertips. This is especially helpful if you are looking for something out of the ordinary–a particular finish, color, weight capacity, etc. You can use a search query on most sites to instantly weed out the steps that don’t meet your needs. If you’re looking for large dog stairs, your search for such will pull up only the products that match that criteria. You might not be in the market for cherry wood steps with a weight capacity of 300 pounds, but the option is likely out there on the Internet somewhere. The variety offered in your local pet shops is likely to be very limited, unless you’re lucky enough to find a shop that takes custom orders–which is not unheard of.

Assembly?

Assembling something–with or without instructions–is not a very fun process. Unfortunately, both online and traditional stores are more likely to sell their steps in an “assembly required” state. For local shops, it saves on warehouse and sales floor space if they don’t have a massive amount of pre-built steps lying around. For Internet-based businesses, it costs a great deal more in packaging and shipping to send a full-sized pet stair through the mail, so many online retailers also ship their pet steps flat-packed. Don’t feel as though you have to resign to the idea of spending hours on assembly for the sake of your pet. There are still online pet stair websites that ship their items pre-assembled, such as HelpYourPets.com, you just have to look around and even send an enquiry to see if it’s possible to have them built before shipment. One perk of ordering online and having the steps delivered, though is that home delivery means you can bypass having to load and unload the stairs from your car!

Budget, availability, and assembly requirements aren’t the only factors to keep in mind when searching for a pet stair supplier, but it’s definitely a start. Don’t be afraid to browse a bit before making your purchase—and good luck!

If you are considering purchasing a set of dog stairs, or if you already own some, you probably know about the basic benefits it can offer for your dog. Some of these include reduced chances of hip dysplasia and arthritis. We’re going to talk about some other top uses for pet stairs and how you can get the most out of your steps!

Dog stairs are most often used to assist your pet on and off of furniture such as beds, chairs, and couches. Did you also know that there are portable pet steps available? These come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and materials to accommodate all breeds of dog. Some portable pet steps are made of an ultra durable yet lightweight foam capable of holding up to 300lbs, depending on the brand/supplier. Not only can these steps be used in your home, but you can also take them outside to help your pet get on and off of a raised porch or to an SUV or tuck. There are pet steps specifically designed for loading your pet into a vehicle. They can be made of lightweight metal or plastic and vary in height to accommodate most vehicle heights.

Aside from portable pet steps, there are many uses for your standard indoor steps, too! If you have a shorter breed of dog, try pushing the steps up against one of your windows. This is a great way for your dog to satisfy his nosiness at what’s going on outside. Find out the maximum weight limit on your steps. If they will hold you, you can use them for all sorts of chores around the house! I’m fairly short, so I’ve received tons of use out of my dog’s steps, including getting stuff on and off the top of the refrigerator, changing light bulbs, and giving my daughter a boost to the sink. If your pet stairs have a storage area, make good use of it! You can store pet toys and treats or any number of odds and ends! Don’t be afraid to get the most out of your steps!

For durable cat and dog steps, visit the Help Your Pets website.

While your pet may seem to be in overall good health, there could be underlying issues developing that you are not aware of. These issues may actually stem from the abuse your pet’s muscles and joints suffer on a daily basis.

Many pet owners allow their dog to jump onto and off of furniture such as beds, couches, chairs, etc. These heights may seem insignificant to us, however for a dog, they can incur grave damage over time or immediately through a fall from one of these surfaces.

Dogs of all sizes and breeds are at risk from joint injury such as the early development of arthritis or hip dysplasia. Small dog breeds are at a particular risk due to the natural fragility of their bones. Many small dogs such as Chihuahuas and Pomeranians have been known to suffer broken legs from jumping or falling from furniture. Large dogs already have a risk for arthritis as they grow older, but encouraging them to jump to and from heights everyday will inevitably jump-start this condition.

This being said, you don’t have to necessarily deny your furry friend access to his favourite places—which are likely the places that you frequent. Through the use of pet stairs you can give your pet the freedom to go about his normal routine with the addition of safety and peace of mind.

Carpeted pet steps are very popular as they not only provide cushioning for impact, but they also offer a non-slip surface. Most pet stairs can be categorized into three sizes: small, medium, and large. There are two things that you must consider when purchasing pet steps. The first is the height of the object you want your dog to get onto. For instance, if your primary use for the steps will be to allow your dog to get onto the couch, you will need to make sure that the set of stairs you purchase is tall enough to reach your couch. The second item to consider is the size of your dog. You can follow the guide below to determine what size of steps would be appropriate for your pet.

Small dogs = steps no wider than 12 inches

Medium dogs = 14 inch-wide steps

Large dogs = steps at least 16 inches wide

For more information about choosing and purchasing a set of pet steps, please visit Help Your Pets – Here.