OK, so not everyone has a yacht to worry about but most people have transport to worry about if they want to travel with their dog, or dogs. We have three of the furry wonders, and we need a sizable boot to let them travel. One of our dogs (Badger, a lurcher) is 14 years old now, and getting pretty weak; extra thought has to be carried out when loading and unloading him with a vehicle. We have a camper-van for the longer trips, which lets them all stay cool and watered throughout. It’s good for cups of coffee as well!

It might be obvious now you think about it, but dog ramps can give your dog easier access into your car than if they have to jump in; it’s certainly helped with our senior dogs over the years. Perhaps your dog is missing out on trips out because they can’t jump in anymore; are they getting too heavy to lift into the car? Our health is important too – even a medium-weight dog lifted from the floor can be dangerous to one’s back! A dog ramp is a simple and very effective solution to this, with benefits to both us and our dogs.

Pet ramp health and Safety…

It’s hard work for one – or even two -people to lift a sizable dog into the car; it is less dignified for your dog and more stressful if we have to lift them in, along with some grunting special-effects! Using a dog ramp is so much easier and more dignified than heavy lifting. Every dog does need a ramp!

Maybe your dog is not even slightly old or infirm – but what about them incurring an injury? A trip to the vet because of a broken leg or torn ligament could force you to lift your dog into the car; with a good ramp they can walk up – even on three legs, until full recovery! Healthy dogs use ramps, too – especially the smaller breeds.

Size matters with dog ramps!

In effect, small dogs have a bigger jump into a car than large dogs; although small doggies can be very sprightly, their joints still get a hammering! A ramp is so much healthier for a smaller dog – right from a puppy age, and no lifting of your dog for you!

A ramp saves your dog’s joints from excessive wear and tear (click here for my recent article on ligament injuries); it also lets them access places perhaps otherwise denied because of infirmity. The ramp can be used to get in and out of cars, vans, motor-homes and boats; it’s also useful around the home if some steps are stumbled over to get into the garden, for instance.

Sometimes, your dog is left behind because even after getting into the car, they can walk no more than a few steps at the other end. A dog stroller is just the ticket for this problem; they fold into a compact shape like a push-chair for easy storage in the car or camper-van. A stroller ideally complements a ramp and lets your dog, whether big or small, go anywhere with you; even rain-covers for them can be used!

Angles are everything

Most dog ramps need to be at a slope of between 18 to 26 degrees when in use with your vehicle. The steeper angle is fine for fitter or smaller dogs, but larger or less able dogs would struggle with this angle.

For example, a car entry height of around 22″ (many hatchbacks, van side-doors and estate cars) needs a 71″ ramp length at the comfortable slope angle of 18 degrees; this slope would suit all dogs. For a more able or a smaller dog, the steeper slope angle of 26 degrees means that a 71″ ramp can cope with a much taller car (or pick-up bed) height of up to 31″, which is higher than many 4×4 boots. Measure your car boot height, side-door height or pickup-truck bed height to see what ramp length might be best for your dog.

Conclusion

A sturdy ramp is a must; it’s no good having a ramp that gives way, is too narrow, or wobbles so that your dog is afraid of it. An adjustable-length ramp which extends to up to 72″ should cater for all vehicle heights; those with sliding aluminium beams are usually strongest. Bigger dogs will need wider ramps; wider is generally better anyway to allow for a wobble-factor, especially in older dogs. If you fancy making a simple ramp yourself – check this page out for ideas!

An anti-slip surface on a ramp is a must, whether fake grass, raised mouldings or a sandy texture. The weight and size of the folded/collapsed ramp also needs to be manageable for you when storing in the car, as it need to. Using a bungee-cord, rope or similar to tie the ramp to the side or front of the boot is great; sliding it behind the front seats is a simple storage solution too – as long as the seats are not occupied! Check the folded or collapsed length of the ramp to check if it fits in a handy place onboard.

Just get one – your dog will love it!