Ramps for getting dogs into cars

[s2kjock]

Has anyone any experiences or recommendations for these?

I am looking at something relatively light and easy to use to help a c 35-40kg dog get in and out of the boot of a jacked up estate/small SUV - currently using a bit of plywood with some rubber matting stuck to it which, while it does the job, is quite long and awkward and needs to be stored in the rear seat passenger space lengthways.

There seem to be lots of options online, but reviews are "mixed" - as it is for an older person to use, something better/lighter than a grubby 1500 x 600mm length of 20mm ply might be an improvement.

[bhippy]

My OH is a dog groomer. One of her customers has some steps which seem really good. If these look like the kind of thing you're interested in, let me know and I'll ask her where she got them and how much etc...

[Mammasaid]

We got one of these for our collie, it works well once you get the dog used to walking up it. It's plastic and lightweight, so easy to lift.

amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B074F1SCXH

[s2kjock]

Thanks.

The step ones I think may be more tricky as the dog gets older, and the open back nature of them may well spook him - he's not very bright!

Good to hear that plastic ramp one works well - the reviews are not always great, but it does seem simple enough to do the job.

[CAPP0]

We bought a ramp for our previous dog when she got older and she wouldn't use it, cue yours truly lifting a GSD in and out of the car at all times.

Tried it with our current GSD when he was having some health issues, not a chance once again.

Bought some folding steps, lighter than those above, like this: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B091HGYXSY/ref... although it says they're not currently available. Anyway, put the steps on the car, only had to ask the dog to go up just the once, he went straight up them and was completely happy using them all the time he needed them. Only thing I would say is, guide them up the steps so they don't put a foot off the side. Fold up really small to carry with you, too. He's fine again now but will keep them for when he's older.

The trouble with a ramp is carting it about. I (literally) couldn't give ours away, it went in the tip having not really ever been used.

[Byker28i]

Mammasaid said:

We got one of these for our collie, it works well once you get the dog used to walking up it. It's plastic and lightweight, so easy to lift.

amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B074F1SCXH

We have exactly the same one, used for our old lab. To get her used to it we had it low over the back door step.

[Jasandjules]

Byker28i said:

We have exactly the same one, used for our old lab. To get her used to it we had it low over the back door step.

I have very similar but it is mad out of wood and has little slats of wood every foot or so for extra purchase.. Was used for a 12 stone dog so needed to be strong

[s2kjock]

Jasandjules said:

Byker28i said:

We have exactly the same one, used for our old lab. To get her used to it we had it low over the back door step.

I have very similar but it is mad out of wood and has little slats of wood every foot or so for extra purchase.. Was used for a 12 stone dog so needed to be strong

Was this a DIY job or a bought one? I was struggling to think how I could make a folding one out of timber without the hinge mechanism needing to be so beefed up for a large dog that it would end up being very unwieldy.

[otolith]

One useful bit of advice my friend and serial GSD owner gave was to always get your dog used to being picked up and carried because you never know when you’ll need to do it. But yeah, lifting large muddy dogs into the boot is worth having a workaround for!

[bigmowley]

Slightly off topic but just finished making one for our old boy Corgi to get up and down from the bed. Even found an off cut of carpet to match.

[the-norseman]

We have a set of steps for our two large dogs to get into our XC90.

[GetCarter]

Byker28i said:

Mammasaid said:

We got one of these for our collie, it works well once you get the dog used to walking up it. It's plastic and lightweight, so easy to lift.

amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B074F1SCXH

We have exactly the same one, used for our old lab. To get her used to it we had it low over the back door step.

We have exactly the same. Used it for the last two dogs as they got old. To get them used to it, we just took them to the bottom of the ramp and put lumps of cheese every foot up the ramp. Took them about 3 days to learn it was good news using said ramp!

As mentioned it's pretty light, and folds to sit on the floor by the back seats.

[Griffithy]

We use the Trixie Folding Steps.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Trixie-Aluminium-folding-...

It is light and very easy and fast to use and fold, quite small when folded and it serves perfectly to get
our Great Dane in and out of the lifted Defender and Range Rover.
It was a very good buy after a long search.
Looks decent as well.
Also available with 3 steps for smaller cars.

[Jasandjules]

s2kjock said:

Was this a DIY job or a bought one? I was struggling to think how I could make a folding one out of timber without the hinge mechanism needing to be so beefed up for a large dog that it would end up being very unwieldy.

It was bought. I got a carpenter who owned a large dog to make it. I can get a pic if I can find it in the garage if you want to PM me your mobile number.

[LeadFarmer]

Many years ago I fitted a loft ladder to the floor of my LR Defender, and screwed a piece of plywood over it, then a layer of camping mat. Made a false floor above the ladder so the ladder slid and tucked away under this floor. Not something you can do with most cars though.

[Piersman2]

CAPP0 said:

We bought a ramp for our previous dog when she got older and she wouldn't use it, cue yours truly lifting a GSD in and out of the car at all times.

Tried it with our current GSD when he was having some health issues, not a chance once again.

Bought some folding steps, lighter than those above, like this: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B091HGYXSY/ref... although it says they're not currently available. Anyway, put the steps on the car, only had to ask the dog to go up just the once, he went straight up them and was completely happy using them all the time he needed them. Only thing I would say is, guide them up the steps so they don't put a foot off the side. Fold up really small to carry with you, too. He's fine again now but will keep them for when he's older.

The trouble with a ramp is carting it about. I (literally) couldn't give ours away, it went in the tip having not really ever been used.

This is the same set we bought for our retriever/rottie last year when he was a little younger and the OH didn'want him jumping in and out of the Freelander.

Great bit of kit, folds small enough to fling on the back seat or tuck behind the fronts seats on the floor... but beefy enough for our 40KG lump to trot up and down. We don't use them often now, he just kangaroos in and out, but we keep them in the car because they take up so little space.

He took to them immediately, didn't hesitate to walk up and down the steps. Takes about 3 seconds to flick them open and 2 seconds to collapse them backdown again for storage. They weigh very, very little as well.

[gazapc]

Not directly related but my pup had a fear of getting into the back of the car when little. I bought a plastic fold up ramp to try and help.

I set it up, put some food at the top and started to coax her up; she basically jumped over the ramp into the car and never had problems again

[loquacious]

A couple of dog-walking friends have solutions for large dogs getting into and out of their cars. One chap has a C43 estate just for the dogs (lovely couple, minted!) and he has custom-made steps for their two huge GSDs both of which are knocking on and they wander up and down them with consummate ease.

The other couple have a Nissan SUV type thing and two gig retrievers and they got a ramp for them. Again, they both use it happily.

[230TE]

Mammasaid said:

We got one of these for our collie, it works well once you get the dog used to walking up it. It's plastic and lightweight, so easy to lift.

amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B074F1SCXH

I bought a ramp exactly like that for our dog. Unfortunately he is convinced that if one of his paws touches the ramp he will die. I have tried everything including putting the ramp flat on the floor and trying to bribe him to walk on it with biscuits. Have now given up, dog ramp is in the loft and I have gone back to deadlifting 30 kilos of basset hound into the boot of my car twice a day.

The ramp does seem a good strong design and good value provided your dog is not a total idiot.

[popeyewhite]

I pick my lab cross up and place her in the back. I looked at ramps/steps etc but the storage was a nuisance, and you have to take the ramp along for the ride. Dog is used to it now and doesn't 'paddle' at all. If anything she seems to enjoy it, daft thing.