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What You Need To Know About Dog Stairs?
Dog stairs are free-standing portable steps or ramps that feature anywhere from two to four steps. Placed next to furniture, such as couches, beds, chairs, or vehicles, they make it easy for small dogs or dogs with injuries to get up and downs without the strain of high-impact jumping.
Materials
Dog stairs are made out of a variety of materials including wood, plastic, foam, and metal. When deciding on the right stairs for you and your dog, consider where you will be using the stairs, how they will coordinate with your furniture, and how easy they are to clean. Additionally, make sure there is some sort of traction on the steps itself, such as carpet or built-in grooves, which will help prevent your dog from slipping.
Size
Make sure that the stairs are both tall enough to reach your furniture and hold your dog's weight. Another thing to consider is the distance between the steps. It may be easier for a larger dog to up steeper steps, but older and smaller dogs might benefit from longer stairs that have more steps.
Training Dogs to Use Stairs
Some dogs take to using portable stairs on their own right away, while other dogs need to be taught how to use the stairs safely. When teaching, you'll want to use treats and praise to lure dogs slowly up and then down the stairs. The goal is for them to be slow and confident when using the stairs, not to go up and down them as quickly as possible.
Supervision
It's important to supervise dogs while they're using the furniture stairs to ensure they are doing it properly. Be sure to keep an eye on them anytime they have access to the stairs, at least until you're confident that your dog is able to safely and comfortably navigate use of their stairs. Also, remember to remove the stairs from furniture, like your bed, if you don't want them going up unsupervised.
Repeatedly jumping in and out of vehicles onto concrete garage floors or parking lots can put extra strain on your dog's joints. If you have a tall vehicle, portable dog stairs can especially help dogs safely get in and out of a car, van, SUV, or truck.
Puppies are naturally curious and that curiosity can get them into trouble when it comes to furniture. Their joints take many months to fully develop—and in the case of large or giant breed puppies, sometimes nearly two years. Repeated stress from jumping on and off furniture before a puppy's growth plates have closed can cause injury, which could affect developing joints or possibly cause long-term orthopedic strain.
Just because a dog is physically capable of jumping doesn't mean it's a good idea. Jumping on and off of furniture is high impact and can cause injuries especially to puppies, seniors, and dogs with pre-existing orthopedic conditions.
