Ramp for car?

[jacksonsmommy]

Hi all - I am interested in getting some / any feedback on using a ramp to get your lab in / out of your car. We have two SUVs in our family, and while Jackson is fine jumping in, it's really high for him to jump out. So we end up lifting him out, which isn't particularly fun for the dog or me. Plus, we're likely going to have to have Jackson's elbow scoped (he's got arthritis and mild ED), so I'd like to minimize the jumping.

Does anyone have any recommendations for a good ramp - something that's portable enough for the car, but also sturdy and reasonably wide? Also, any training tips for getting a dog comfortable using a ramp? Jackson can be a bit skittish on new stairs, so I can use all of the help I can get!

Thanks all!

[Bamps]

How about something like this?
Aluminum Loading Ramp - 1200 Lb. Capacity

I would take him up/down it very slow with a treat a few times. My idea is to get the "oh boy" thought going in his head when he gets to the ramp.

[dxboon]

I use this:Dog Steps, Dog Stairs, Dog Ramps from Pet Loader. Folds up smaller than a ramp. I have the 4-step XL.

My dogs took to it naturally. Just use a high-value treat to lure them up a step at a time. They soon get the idea.

[JenC]

Amazon.com : Pet Gear Travel-Lite Tri-Fold Pet Ramp for cats and dogs up to 200-pounds, Pet Ramp, Chocolate/Black : Automotive Pet Ramps : Pet Supplies

I have this one, and we can get Hudler up and down it just fine, either in the Element or the Tahoe (which is a lot higher). Steps are nice, but Hudler can't do steps, so walking up an incline is a lot easier on the handicapped dogs.

[smartrock]

I have this ramp for my pooches: Amazon.com : PetSTEP Folding Pet Ramp, Khaki : Pet Door Safety Ramps : Pet Supplies

As you see, it folds in half and it's pretty sturdy. It's not particularly lightweight and I can't put it in the back with the dogs, I have to put it behind the front seats if the dogs are in the back. This is fine for us because we don't usually have passengers in the back seat when the dogs are in the car. When the dogs aren't in the car, I just store it in the "way back".

Training went pretty easily and could probably work for any ramp. I laid it out on the ground and let them sniff and walk around it first. Then I put a leash on the dog and lead/lure him/her across the ramp with it lying flat on the ground, treat when they got to either end. We have 3 steps from our deck down to a stone patio, so I propped it on one step, then two, then 3 and had them go up and down the ramp. I had to put it up against the hand railing on one side and be on the "open" side myself to block them from trying to jump off the side the first several times we tried it.

After they'd walked on it not going into the car and seemed OK with it, getting them to go up the much steeper slope of the ramp into the car was actually no big deal. Here's your treat, go up into the car and you can have it. I keep them on a lead or hold their collars to make sure they don't go off the sides, which when first learning they often tried to do. Once they're loaded up, you need to make sure they'll sit and stay or put them in their crates so they don't try to jump back out while you move the ramp out of the way. Or, if they're wearing harnesses, go ahead and hook them up to keep them in. My back door won't close with the ramp propped on the back bumper.

[MontananDakota]

Love my PetGear ramp : Amazon.com : Pet Gear Travel-Lite Tri-Fold Pet Ramp for cats and dogs up to 200-pounds, Pet Ramp, Chocolate/Black : Automotive Pet Ramps : Pet Supplies

I have a Traverse and I use this every day. I keep it in the back. I had them on leash with treat in one hand so they'd follow it up & down. They got it right away. After all-they are Labs

[jacksonsmommy]

Thanks for the feedback, everyone! I think the tri-fold may work best, given it'll fold down to a size that I can easily keep in the car. The folding steps would have been ideal, but I think a ramp may be more versatile as Jackson gets on in years. I'll definitely break out the hotdogs for training him to use the ramp!

Does the sandpaper-like surface on the tri-fold bother anyone's dogs?

[POPTOP]

Got a ramp from PetsMart many years ago and it's still going strong. Top Paw Deluxe Telescoping Pet Ramp | Ramps & Stairs | PetSmart

With seniors, jumping up is not possible and jumping down from a SUV way to risky. What I like about the telescoping ramp is that it's easy to use, telescopes down to half size. It has a handle on one side and I bungee it up on it's side to the above the door handle to the back door so both dogs and the ramp fit. It's covered is a low pile textured carpet type material for traction.

[SCDoug]

Thanks for the thread and the tips. We just got a new compact SUV, so I think we're going to give the tri-fold ramp a try.

[jacksonsmommy]

Hi all - I just wanted to post a quick update in case anyone comes across this thread in the future. We got Jackson the tri-fold ramp - the ramp was very lightweight and easy to handle, which I liked. Jackson was a champ on our "trial runs" (flat on the ground, up small inclines on our property), but when the time came to use it in the car, no dice. We have full-size SUVs (29" from the ground to the seat) and I think the angle of descent was just too steep for Jackson. On the way down, he would basically take one step on the ramp and then freak out and jump to the ground. The ramp itself felt sturdy so I think the ramp would be just fine with dogs that are not as chicken as Jackson...he really is kind of a wimp, but I love him anyway.

We then ended up getting the steps from Pet Loader and it works great! We got the 5-step loader so the incline is not steep at all. We went with the 16" width, so it's narrow enough to get in the side doors as well. I certainly won't get any "cool points" for using the steps in public, but it's worth the trade off to not have Jackson jump and to not have to lift his 70lb booty out of the car with my bum wrist. The biggest downside is that the Pet Loader is pricier than the ramp, but it's cheaper than joint surgery which is most important.

Just my 2 cents in case anyone is looking at these options in the future :-).