Stairs vs Ramps
 

My little one is getting on in years (she'll be 10 in July). I currently have a footstool next to the bed and she has just recently stopped using it to get up on the bed. She jumps down onto it when she wants to get down. I moved it from one side of the bed to the other in hopes I could see what her difficulty was. Instead of using it to get down, she just started to cry until I moved it back to where it was.

Now, my question is, I really don't mind picking her up and putting her on the bed, but I'd like her to have the freedom to do it herself. I've looked at the stairs online, but I think she's kind of stuck in her ways and I'm afraid it will be a waste of money. I have also seen ramps advertised to get into cars and I thought she might be able to navigate on a ramp better - or will this be a waste also.

Any thoughts? TIA

I would go with stairs because you need a longer space to keep a ramp from being very steep. If the pet already has issues a steep ramp is harder.

I introduced my pups to stairs when they were young, so I don't have the problem of "set in their ways".

That being said, I chose stairs because they don't take up the amount of room that a ramp does. Mine took to stairs rapidly - like, within minutes. I only had to teach one, then he taught the others. The rise of the stairs is only 6", and the top step (landing) is even with the mattress top, so they only have to step over.

In the past, with other (and larger) dogs, I used a chest at the end of the bed. It was half way to the top, so it was a good intermediary (not to mention useful). But as the dogs got older, they, too quit using it. I noticed - just like you - that getting down was OK ... it was only up.

Then it dawned on me! It takes more muscles, energy, and stress on old joints to make the spring UP. Down is a lot easier. So that may be the problem with your pup, too: it hurts to go UP.

If her knees/hips/muscles hurt her badly enough, a ramp would be easier, but it will take up more floor space in your room. Place it parallel to your footboard. Otherwise, maybe the stairs would work ... she'll just need a little coaxing to learn.

In either event, good luck. Just remember that old dogs CAN learn new tricks ;) - but sometimes it takes longer. As soon as she figures out she can keep her independence, she'll love the change in her "routine".

Luck and best wishes to you both.

We used puppy stairs for our yorkie all her years. Go on puppystairs.com and they have a lot of ideas. We have the blocks and they are light weight which is nice. We could easily pack them up and put them in our fifth wheel too. Hope you find something for your baby.

if you have the room for it, a ramp with traction would be ideal. if you have someone handy in the house you could even build one to fit your bedroom. I had my father build a simple little thing for my yorkie when she was a baby. just used 4 pieces of plywood to build the ramp and put a towel over it for traction. the ramp is easier on the joints as long as its not steep. if she doesn't have joint problems then stairs are ok as long as they are high enough to reach the top of the bed and the steps aren't too far apart for her.

Thanks for the input. The blocks look promising.

When we moved into this home, hubby built a ramp out of plywood with carpet remnants glued ontop for traction. Gypsy now has joint pain so we think it is better than stairs. If you make it yourself it is easier to get the right height you need. In fact hubby is thinking about making our wider for our boston to use also, though it has recently been discovered Sophie can get on our new bed from the side.

The thing that is really weird about Bailey is - My sofa is just as high as the bed. She has no problem jumping up on it - especially when the blinds are up so she can look out the window and let people know what she thinks about them walking by. The material on the sofa is Micro-fiber, but the material on the footstool is leather. Maybe she gets a better grip of the fabric on the sofa.

I like the ramp idea, but I'm a senior with noone to build one for me. I was also thinking of covering the footstool with corduroy, but think it will turn her off. The older she gets, the more resistant to change she has become.

Ahh, but the reward (looking out the window) for jumping is much better than trying to jump to the bed when she can just sit there and whine for your assistance ;).

Suggestion (depending on how much of a neat-nik you are): Go to one of the Big Box Stores (Home Depot, Lowes', that kind) and purchase a board - 8" x 6 or 8'. Tightly staple (or glue) some old towels to make a friendly surface, and prop one end up with books (your footstool) or what have you. Voila! Instant ramp with no construction. You can even try it with an ironing board (put the pointy end down to the floor, the wider end at the top).

In any event, put her on her leash, find a tempting goody, hold it in front of her nose and coax her up and down the ramp to get used to it.

If it works, you can make it a little fancier by putting a thin (1/2") or so padding of foam under the towel so it's "cushy" ... I'm sure you can figure out ways to make it look nice after you're sure she'll use it.

She's getting along in years ... I can empathize with her ;) . I want things the way I want them - I guess she does, too :)

Good luck.

Actually Lee, she doesn't whine for my assistance. She barks at me - demanding to be picked up, then demands I put her toys up on the bed with her. Do you think she's playing me?????:D

Great idea about the plywood from Lowe's. Gonna do it.

Thanks

Oh NO! Say it ain't so!!!! A Yorkie who knows how to "play" its owners :eek: :rolleyes: Yeh, mine give me that pathetic, "What? Li'l ol' ME?" thing, too.

You don't need a whole sheet of plywood, just a board like you'd use for shelving. Maybe 1" thick. They have inexpensive boards, and they have really expensive stuff, so get the cheap stuff. You're going to cover it, anyway.