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Does Your Dog Need Dog Stairs or a Ramp?

Whether you have a senior dog with mobility issues or a dog with small legs like Dachshunds or Corgis, your pooch needs stairs or ramps. Also, if your dog has to deal with high surfaces every day even if he’s healthy, agile, and can climb easily, he needs a ramp or stairs to avoid extra stress on his joints.

Both dog ramps and dog stairs serve more or less the same purpose. They make higher spots accessible for dogs and stop extra wear and tear on their joints. Moreover, it eliminates lifting up your dog every time you want them in your car or a bed. Not to mention how cumbersome it gets when you have a large dog. Keep reading, we are going to discuss dog stairs and ramp 101 in this article.
When to Consider a Dog Ramp or Stairs

Each dog is different in terms of personality, breed, size, stage of life, and medical conditions. So considering that I’ve discussed five different cases and what’s more suitable for them, stairs or a ramp.
Senior Dogs Who Generally Have Trouble Climbing

Senior dog’s bones have gone through lots of wear and tear due to their lifelong agile activities. And since they’re old and less mobile, they can’t just bounce beside you on your couch to cuddle.

And when you’re not around and your pooch wants to be on your bed, it can do it without any pain and trouble. Dog ramps are generally a better option than stairs for senior dogs because a ramp is easier to use than steps.

If your dog is senior and has difficulty getting in the car, your bed, or the couch, you should get a ramp. If space is the issue, you can get the one that folds. Usually failed attempts to be on high spots is the first alarming sign that your dog badly needs a ramp.
Arthritic Dogs

Dogs can develop different kinds of arthritis and the condition causes excruciating pain and discomfort when they climb up or down. In fact, an arthritic dog can also feel pain on being touched so you can’t even lift them up. Dog ramps are perfect for such dogs.
Small Dogs

It’s not tough to perceive the difficulty of a teacup dog or a toy pooch when he wants to climb as small as 20-25 inches high surfaces. Sometimes they seem to be cool and enjoy leaping from the couch and the car. But their daily scores of jumping up and down may exceed what their joints can withstand.

Ignoring this can pose the risk of arthritis and bone injuries. The same goes for the dogs with a disproportionate body to legs ratio, for example, Dachshunds. They always need to be scooped up.

Dog stairs with each step of appropriate height or ramps are just fine for your buddy. They can be trained to use both.
Puppies

Puppies are too tiny to bounce from even small steps. Those critters sound so funny when they fall while they walk and stumble. But on a serious note, they are growing and have delicate bones and joints.

The impact of jumping from a high place can cause severe injuries. All in all, either you hoist them every time or use a ramp if they want to be on your couch or other furniture items. Puppies usually seem to scurry all the time and in your absence, a ramp can be a great safety measure.
Dogs With Injuries and Recovering

If your dog is injured and recovering, he may need assistance to access higher places like your bed, couch, or car. Here are some injuries when you should consider a ramp or stairs; pain in shoulders, legs, or joints, broken toenails, paw pad injuries, traumatic elbow joint, slipped knee caps, injuries caused by jumping down from higher surfaces, and spinal injuries.
Stairs Vs. Ramp

The purpose a dog ramp or stairs serves is the same, but since their structure is different, you may want to prefer one over the other in different circumstances.

While dog stairs obviously make high surfaces easily accessible, they still can put pressure on the joints and ligaments. On the other hand, a ramp is equivalent to inclined walking and is more comfortable than using stairs.

However, agile dogs or the canines who can maneuver climbing stairs easily can use dog stairs just quite well.

But if the dog finds climbing stairs difficult, you will have to teach him how to use them first or a ramp would be the right choice. Tiffany Morefield, DVM, Author & Veterinary Advisor at DogNeedsBest says, “Some big cars or a truck are higher than most normal cars and a dog can’t get into space easily. In this case, collapsible dog ramps for cars and SUVs are great because they can be stored in the trunk easily and are easy to set up.”

All in all, whether to choose stairs or a ramp totally depends on your dog and keeping convenience in mind. If you ask me, always try to choose a ramp over stairs whenever it’s feasible.
How to Choose Stairs

Deep steps are easier for a dog to maneuver climbing. If your dog can easily climb human stairs without any discomfort, a stair height of 10-12 inches would be fine. On the other hand, if you have a puppy or a small dog, you should get foam stairs with a comparatively small height. However, it’s important to note that foam stairs are not suitable for heavy large dogs.

If you’re not sure what stairs would be a good fit, please check with the product’s description. It always mentions the permissible weight and dimensions that can help in making decisions. Also, please ensure that the surface of the stairs is anti-skid for better traction.
What to Look For While Choosing A Dog Ramp

Ensure that the ramp you’re thinking of buying is high enough so that a dog doesn’t have to climb the surface when he is at the highest surface of the ramp. Not to mention, the surface should be anti-skid so that your dog can grip on it while walking.

If you need to take it along with you when you’re traveling, you should go for the one that folds, is sturdy, and lightweight.

Measure a height your dog would need to climb with a tape measure and check out the product description before buying. That will suffice.
The EndNote

Your dog needs a ramp or stairs if he climbs up and gets off from high surfaces frequently. You might wonder if your puppy is so energetic and seems to be enjoying scurrying around the house and doesn’t really need a ramp. Well, it’s wrong to think that way because each leap can injure the puppy’s ligament and joints only to know later in his life that he needs surgery. Also, the cost of surgery can burn a hole in your pocket if you don’t have pet insurance. Be wise and take a step forward in making your pet’s life safer and better.

7 Signs Your Pup Might Be Developing Separation Anxiety

As dog owners, nothing is more important to us than the happiness of our pets. It can be difficult to leave your dog behind for any reason: a day of work, vacation, or even just to run errands, especially if they are showing resistance to your leaving the house. While you’re gone, not only do you wonder if they’re alright but what trouble they could be getting into around the house. Coming home to urination or other messes could be a sign that your dog has separation anxiety.

But how can you tell? And what do you do to fix it? Here are seven signs that your pup might be developing separation anxiety and some potential solutions. Once the problem is identified and remedied, you’ll be able to leave the house worry-free!
Urination and Defecation

If your dog is urinating and defecating in the house when you aren’t home, this could be a potential sign of separation anxiety, especially if your dog is older and already potty-trained. If this is a new habit, something is likely causing their accidents, and if it only happens when you leave home, it could very well have something to do with separation.

If your pup is having accidents in the house when you’re home, it probably isn’t due to your left. However, it’s still worth getting a veterinary checkup to see if any underlying medical conditions are causing the urination and defecation. If so, you can treat the problem with medication or even by feeding your pup dog food that supports urinary health.
Pacing

Just like humans, dogs can exhibit anxious movements as well. Often dogs who experience separation anxiety can be found pacing either when their owner is about to leave or has already left the house. Pacing can look like several things: either walking back and forth in a straight line or even walking around the house in the same route each time.

Pay attention to how your dog reacts when you start to leave home, and if the pacing is frequent, it could be a sign of separation anxiety. If you are able, it could be a good idea to install a camera or other recording device inside the house to see if your pup is pacing while you are gone, as well. If your dog is pacing while you are around, there is likely to be a different problem aside from separation.
Barking or Howling

Barking and howling are ways that dogs communicate to their owners that something is wrong, whether that be someone at the door or a need to go outside. Dogs are also likely to bark or howl if they are distressed about your leaving and suffer from separation anxiety when you’re gone. If you notice that your dog is barking or howling more than usual or at times when you’re about to leave home, this could be a sign of their nervousness.
Escaping

If your dog is suffering from separation anxiety, they may attempt to escape from their confined space once you’ve left the house. They may do this by digging under or chewing through doors, windows, their crate or kennel, or even the fence outside. If you’re coming home to scratches on the doors, bite marks on their kennel, or holes under your fence, but don’t notice their attempts to escape whenever you’re home, it is likely they are trying to escape due to separation anxiety.

Attempting to escape is a sign of separation anxiety that could potentially be very dangerous for your puppy and result in self-injury. It could even result in your pup getting out of the house or yard if their space isn’t secure enough.
Destruction

Destructive acts such as chewing and scratching are common in pets with separation anxiety. You may come home to find that your pup has chewed on door frames, windows, or even destroyed household objects while you were gone. This is another sign of separation anxiety that could be dangerous and result in injury to their teeth, paws, or nails. Not to mention, your home could suffer from serious damage as well!
Drooling or Panting

A sign of separation anxiety that doesn’t often come to mind is excessive drooling and panting. When your dog feels trapped or confined, they may drool or pant out of panic. If you’re coming home to find your dog with wet fur or panting for no reason, they are probably suffering from the anxiety of being in a confined space while you’ve been gone. This is sometimes coupled with pacing if your dog is loose in the house or outside and has room to walk.

If your dog is excessively drooling or panting even when you are home, it’s best to take them to the vet to be sure your pet doesn’t have any medical conditions or allergies causing these reactions.
Attachment When Home

Another sign that your dog may be developing separation anxiety is an increased attachment to you when you are home. If your pet starts following you around more often than usual, especially if you’re about to leave the house, or waits outside the bathroom or behind other closed doors, this is a good sign that your pet is starting to develop fears about you leaving.

Often, if pets are suffering from separation anxiety, they will even sit on your lap or at your feet while you are home, trying to maintain as much closeness as possible before you leave again.
Why Do Dogs Develop Separation Anxiety?

It is not always easy to determine why your pup may be developing separation anxiety. You may never know why the sudden nervousness came from. However, if there have been significant changes to your dog’s life or life in your household, these changes could be the cause of your dog’s attachment.

Changes in residence, schedule, or family members can all cause dogs large amounts of stress. Pets are creatures of habit and love routine, so any change in their day-to-day life can leave them anxious and want the protection of their owner, making it stressful when you leave them at home.
Treatments for Separation Anxiety

Mild separation anxiety can be treated simply by leaving a distraction for your pup while you’re gone. Giving your dog a chew toy they will be distracted by for 20 to 30 minutes, such as a chew toy with food inside that they have to work to get out, will do two things. First, it will distract your dog from your absence, and second, it will help your dog learn to associate the treat in the toy with the time they’ve spent alone, helping them to get used to it.

For more severe separation anxiety, you can contact a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist to help organize a multi-step separation anxiety treatment that involves a series of steps taken by the owner to help your pup become more desensitized and comfortable with your leaving for longer periods. This can take much longer and be much more difficult than a simple distraction, so contacting a professional to help with this process is essential.

5 Easy Steps for Training Your Dog

Training your dog is a worthwhile experience that can not only make your pup more well-behaved and obedient but also allow you to form a stronger bond with them. Because dogs are genetically programmed to learn skills from humans, training them can help you take advantage of those instincts and end up with a happier and more devoted dog. Here are five tips on how to train your pup.
Choose a Good Name and Use it Frequently

There’s a reason why dog names such as “Tucker,” “Max” and “Cooper” are so popular. Short names that end in a strong consonant are easier for your dog to hear, which causes them to respond to you more quickly.

Once you’ve chosen a good name, be sure to use it frequently during training. Using your dog’s name when rewarding them for behaving well teaches them to associate their name with positive things. This means that the next time you call their name, they’ll respond quickly because they have good memories associated with it. In the best-case scenario, your dog should think about their name in the same way that they think about other enjoyable experiences, like taking a long walk or eating dinner.
Train in Short Bursts Rather than Long Sessions

Although you may think that training your dog in longer sessions will lead to more progress, this isn’t always the case. Studies have shown that training your dog in shorter sessions lasting for approximately 10-20 minutes can actually help them learn faster and more efficiently. This is because dogs, especially young ones, don’t have very long attention spans, and they often get restless quickly.

Training your dog with one or two sessions about once or twice a week can help you see the most progress. Your pup needs a break just like you do, so don’t push them too hard thinking that you’ll see results more quickly. Enrolling in a free dog training class can help you get started on the right foot and instill valuable skills into your dog.
Puppy-Proof Your Home

If you know that you’re not going to be able to supervise your puppy for some time, you should consider puppy-proofing your home with a pen, crate or baby gates. Just like a toddler, a puppy shouldn’t have complete freedom in an empty home, as they can easily get into trouble. Be sure to provide your dog with some chew toys and eliminate any opportunities for destructive behavior. Not only will this protect your belongings from being demolished, but it’ll also prevent your pup from forming any bad habits.
Discourage Biting and Nipping

While puppy biting and nipping is extremely normal, it’s best to discourage this behavior early on in the training process. Rather than scolding your pet, which can lead to anxiety, aggression or a lack of trust, a good tip is to pretend that you’re in a lot of pain when you’ve been bitten or nipped. For example, letting out a loud yell will surprise your dog so much that they’ll most likely stop this behavior right away.

However, if you don’t want to scare or surprise your pup, there are other methods to stop biting and nipping. Excess energy is a common reason for this behavior, so giving your dog something to chew on can allow them to use up some of their extra adrenaline. Exercising has also been shown to stop puppies from biting, as they often act up when they’re lacking physical or mental stimulation. Whichever method you choose to use, your puppy should generally stop biting after about six months.
Be Patient

Although training is often a fun and gratifying experience, it can sometimes be frustrating, especially if you’re trying to train an older dog. However, this doesn’t mean that you won’t be able to change their past behaviors. You just need a bit more patience throughout the process, and you may have to spend some extra time training your dog.

Your dog can sense if you’re getting upset, so it’s best to keep a positive attitude. As long as you can maintain that strong bond that you’ve formed with your dog, you should have no problem changing their old ways.

When training your dog, it’s most important to remember to have fun. Training is a rewarding experience that can allow you to bond with your pup on a deeper level and spend quality time with them. Keeping your sessions light and enjoyable is one of the keys to success.