Looking After Pets

The effort you put into choosing the right set of pet stairs doesn’t have to feel like a burden; it could really be seen as an investment of sorts. To continuously reap the health benefits and sheer convenience that dog stairs offer, it’s wise to make sure that your purchase is well thought out and thoroughly researched. Luckily, technology has ensured that we are no longer limited to the wares offered in local retail shops—though that’s not to say that they should be excluded from your consideration altogether. There are pros and cons to both shopping experiences, which we’re going to discuss in this article.

Your Budget

The amount that you have to spend will ultimately determine where you make your dog stair purchase. Unless you have a pet furniture store in your hometown, you might be surprised that any pet stairs you run across in a local shop will probably cost a bit more than you were expecting to spend. This is because traditional retail stores–especially those that aren’t of the “chain” variety–can only afford to keep stock of the things that their local consumers purchase regularly. Unfortunately, pet stairs haven’t become quite that popular yet. Thank goodness for the Internet, which allows businesses to offer a niche product and still make money because their “local customer base” include every continent with Internet access. You can browse online and compare prices of several stores in minutes. Not bad!

Decisions, Decisions…

If you have a specific type of steps in mind for your dog–say you want a beech wood finish with handles and a storage compartment–you’re going to find that online stores are going to have much more to offer in the way of specialty items. If you’re lucky to find a local shop that offers a made-to-order service, that might also be an option for you–but likely an expensive one. Finding a website that specializes in large dog stairs or any other type you may be looking for is as easy as typing in a search query, or you can simply browse the many websites until something special catches your eye.

Assembly?

If you aren’t very handy with building things, you might want to consider something pre-assembled. This is something that neither the Internet-based nor traditional shops particularly surpass one another in. Some local shops might have pre-assembled “display” steps–which is good because you can get an idea of the sturdiness and overall quality before you buy them–but the steps for purchase will likely be boxed and require assembly. The same goes for buying online. Because online purchases require a shipment through the mail, the business will save on postage if the item is sent in pieces in a small box. There are still online companies who ship their pet stairs fully assembled–such as HelpYourPets.com–so don’t feel as though assembly is a definite in your future. Just dig around either online or in local shops and see if you can obtain something pre-built.

Now that you’re aware of your options, it’s time to start doing some research to weed through the possibilities. Remember, it’s much easier to find a supplier if you base your search on the three key points we mentioned above. Good luck with your purchase!

So, you have decided that you’d like to purchase a set of pet steps for your dog. Envision the following picture: You’re psyched that the pet stairs you ordered online have finally arrived. Geez, the box is a lot smaller than you expected. You have to assemble the stairs, but you figure it’s a one-time price to pay for the steps. The instructions seem to be written in every language except English, and you certainly won’t make it through with the fragments you retained from high school Spanish. You’ve assembled bits of cheap plastic together—freehand—only to discover that the steps aren’t nearly sturdy enough for your dog, or that they’re too short to be used for your intended purpose (or any purpose at all!). Frankly, I can’t imagine anyone finding this scenario appealing at all. Not only do cheap dog steps result in added hassle and disappointment, but they’re a flat-out waste of money.

The best way to keep this from happening to you is to learn as much as you can about the requirements that your dog’s stairs will need to meet. Throughout this article you will need to ask yourself a few questions. These questions are important in narrowing down the possibilities for your dog based on his (and your) needs.

Question One: What does your dog weigh?

It does no good to purchase dog steps that won’t hold your dog’s weight, therefore you should probably bust out the scale and get your dog’s weight. You have to take into consideration the pressure your dog will put on the stairs isn’t simply his own body weight, but he will have gravity working on his side—especially when descending—which will add on a bit more weight. Therefore, read everything on the box if you’re browsing in the store—or all the “product info” if you’re looking online—and make sure that it clearly states the steps can handle your dog’s weight. If your dog is on the upper end of the limitations, consider going to the next size of steps.

Question Two: What is your dog’s height/length?

The size of your dog (both in height and length) is a good indication as to whether you have a large, medium, or small breed of dog. You need to make sure that the steps you give your dog have enough climbing and landing room, which means you need to have a look at the width of the steps (from the base of the back of the step to the front). Putting a toy-sized dog on gargantuan steps could make it very difficult for the dog to navigate the steps—not to mention the possibility of a slip resulting in injury. Below you’ll find a basic guide to aid you in choosing safe pets for your dog.

Large Breed: 16” Steps or Larger
Medium Breed: 14” Steps
Small Breed: 12” or Smaller

What will your dog primarily use the steps for?

This, again, is very important to ensure that you get the correct steps for your needs. Do you need the steps to aid your dog in getting to your extra-high bed? Perhaps you should look into purchasing high pet steps. Will the stairs be used for the car? Lightweight, mobile pet stairs will likely be the best option for you. The best way to figure this out is to simply dust off your tape measure and measure the distance from the floor to the top of the surface your dog needs to access. If you’re using the stairs for your bed which is 2.5 feet from the floor, try to get stairs that meet this height—or get as close as you possibly can without going higher than the bed.

Your ultimate goal is to provide your dog with a safe and helpful way to get to and from places. It would be well worth the hassle of spending an extra hour or two searching for just the right steps for your dog.

You’re snuggled nice and warm under your comforter, dreaming that you’ve just gotten supernatural powers and you’re exploring the fun of running super fast…when suddenly you’re jarred awake by your dog had pouncing onto your bed. –Ignoring the part about the super powers, does this sound familiar to you? It’s great to have a fuzzy pooch to snuggle with during the night time, but sometimes it’s hard to overlook your annoyance at the dog for pouncing onto the bed while you sleep.

For the most part, most of us don’t actually mind letting our dog sleep with us, but dogs don’t sleep in one spot all night long. Dogs are naturally inclined to protect the people they love, which may include a few nightly prowls around the house to make sure things are okay. In fact, your dog likely jumps on and off of the bed several times throughout the night, which is enough to leave you at your last straw if you’re a light sleeper. However, you should rest assured that there is a solution that can make both you and your dog have a happy night, and that’s by the use of dog steps for beds.

As the bulk of your night time stress is in fact due to your mattress jolting as your dog jumps on and off the bed, then dog stairs are the perfect solution. Your dog is able to evenly distribute his weight from the stairs to your bed—and vice versa—so you needn’t feel a thing when your dog goes for his night time patrol. The fact that most pet steps are carpeted also means that the sounds from your dog’s movement will be completely muted.

Now that you are aware of the comfort that dog steps for beds can bring you, you should also know that they can play a major role in preventing your dog from developing serious conditions such as arthritis later on in life. Yep, dogs can acquire joint issues with age just like we can. Large breeds of dog are already susceptible to hip dysplasia and arthritis, and small dogs can actually break body parts from landing improperly from a jump.

See, there are JOINT advantages to both your dog’s health and your sleepy time happiness through dog stairs for beds. Just make sure that you have the measurement of the height of your bed (from floor to the top of the mattress) when you go to purchase your dog stairs. It doesn’t do you or your dog any good if he has to leap to and from the stairs. Best of luck to both you and your dog!

Have you purchased a set of pet stairs for your dog, or are you considering doing so? You should know that you can get much more out of your steps than simply a means to help your dog safely access your furniture. We’re going to talk about just a few of the things we use our pet stairs for on a daily basis.

Have you ever heard of portable dog steps? Today’s modern designs of portable pet steps give new meaning to the term convenience! One type of portable pet step is made from a highly resilient type of foam. Some brands can actually support up to 300 pounds of weight! That’s enough to hold any dog! These steps are a perfect way to help your dog on and off high porches or in and out of tall cars. Other popular portable dog steps are made with either metal or plastic and usually can adjust in height to accommodate vehicles and other surfaces.

Aside from portable pet steps, there are many uses for your standard indoor steps, too! If you have a shorter breed of dog, try pushing the steps up against one of your windows. This is a great way for your dog to satisfy his nosiness at what’s going on outside. Find out the maximum weight limit on your steps. If they will hold you, you can use them for all sorts of chores around the house! I’m fairly short, so I’ve received tons of use out of my dog’s steps, including getting stuff on and off the top of the refrigerator, changing light bulbs, and giving my daughter a boost to the sink. If your pet stairs have a storage area, make good use of it! You can store pet toys and treats or any number of odds and ends! Don’t be afraid to get the most out of your steps!

For durable cat and dog steps, visit the Help Your Pets website.

Have you noticed that your dog struggles from time to time when it comes to jumping up onto the couch, chair, or bed? This could point to physical issues that need to be addressed.

When you allow your dog to jump to and from any surface that is greater than 12 inches from the ground, he can sustain serious injury. A foot of height doesn’t really seem like a lot, but it’s enough to cause a broken limb if your dog falls, or longer-lasting problems over time.

Dogs of all sizes and breeds are at risk from joint injury such as the early development of arthritis or hip dysplasia. Small dog breeds are at a particular risk due to the natural fragility of their bones. Many small dogs such as Chihuahuas and Pomeranians have been known to suffer broken legs from jumping or falling from furniture. Large dogs already have a risk for arthritis as they grow older, but encouraging them to jump to and from heights everyday will inevitably jump-start this condition.

While you could prohibit your pet from getting onto the furniture, this is a drastic measure. It’s natural for a dog to want to be near his owner, and if you don’t mind having him on the furniture, it’s best not to change his routine. The best way to preserve your dog’s health is to obtain a set of pet stairs that will allow him to safety navigate onto and off of furniture.

Carpeted pet steps are very popular as they not only provide cushioning for impact, but they also offer a non-slip surface. Most pet stairs can be categorized into three sizes: small, medium, and large. There are two things that you must consider when purchasing pet steps. The first is the height of the object you want your dog to get onto. For instance, if your primary use for the steps will be to allow your dog to get onto the couch, you will need to make sure that the set of stairs you purchase is tall enough to reach your couch. The second item to consider is the size of your dog. You can follow the guide below to determine what size of steps would be appropriate for your pet.

Small dogs = steps no wider than 12 inches

Medium dogs = 14 inch-wide steps

Large dogs = steps at least 16 inches wide

For more information about choosing and purchasing a set of pet steps, please visit Help Your Pets – Here.

If you’re reading this article, you’ve probably already got yourself a nice set of pet steps; but if you haven’t yet purchased dog stairs, you might want to take a minute to seriously consider the benefits. Every time your dog jumps on and off of objects such as furniture, his joints absorb the impact. Over time, this can lead to the early development of arthritis, not to mention that any time your dog jumps from something, he risks the possibility of a broken bone. Besides, pet stairs are wonderful to use by the bed to keep your dog from pouncing on and off the bed, simultaneously jolting you awake.

Some dogs may not take to using pet stairs straight away. This is not uncommon an uncommon occurrence, especially if the dog is older. All it takes is a little effort on your part to show your dog (in a way that he can understand) that using the stairs is worthwhile to him.

We’ve always had the best results when using our dog’s favourite treat as encouragement to use the stairs. For our bedside pet steps, I would sit on the bed in front of the steps dangling our pup’s favourite biscuit. At first he would try to go around the stairs to jump on the bed. When this happened, I hid the treat behind my back and gave my dog a firm “No!” After a few attempts (and many acts of re-positioning my dog in front of the steps), my dog finally understood that he would receive praise and a treat when he used the stairs. It didn’t take him long to learn to use the stairs on a regular basis.

You may be interested in a more “extreme” method of training your dog to use his pet stairs. This method involves denying your dog total access to the furniture unless he uses the pet stairs to climb up. For instance, if your dog primarily likes to lie on your bed, but refuses to use the steps, tell him to get off—or bodily remove him if you have to. Place him in front of the steps and motion for him to climb up. Do not let him onto the bed until he uses the steps. As with any type of training, it’s good to encourage your dog with words of praise. Dogs respond more to their owner’s tone of voice more than the actual words, therefore a cheery “Good boy!” goes a long way in convincing your dog that he’s pleasing you when he uses the stairs.

For information about getting your dog a set of pet stairs, visit Help Your Pets.

Dog steps may sound a little funny, but you have no idea how much stress it takes off of any dog owner. Steps For Pets are just like our steps, we use our steps to go up or downstairs. Taking into account how much smaller a dog is then us they need steps a lot more then we do. The steps eliminate dogs from having to jump from tall heights and hurting themselves.

The dog steps were made for older dogs to begin with. Many older dogs suffer from arthritis, bad backs, or hip problems. But, you know that almost like men dogs never grow up even when they reach that age, they still want to be able to get on the coach or the bed like before. Therefore the dog step has arrived!

The Steps For Pets come in a range of different styles and sizes. You can get steep steps, which allow the dog to almost have to slide down them when they are jumping down. There are also, heavy duty steps which are good wherever you keep them. Regardless of what type of dog step you decide to purchase, make sure that it is the best choice for your particular breed of dog.

The only bad thing about the steps is they can run you a pretty good penny. They can cost in the neighborhood of 0.00-0.00. Many will say, that’s not a bad price to pay to ensure your dog won’t hurt themselves. Well, I have an alternative option for you. Do you enjoy doing arts and crafts? Well, you could make your own dog steps for your animals. It’s extremely easy and cost efficient the cost for everything will run you about .00.

So, you have decided to build your own Steps For Pets. That is a great alternative! Not only does making your steps save you money but it allows you to put more pride in what you’re doing for your best friend. You’re going to need someone who is a well renowned carpenter to help you. Make sure you pick up about 3 2×4 pieces of wood, some cushion to line on the stairs and some carpet or material to cover over everything. The best part is the material; these are going to be your dog’s best friend so get creative if you want to. Remember a dog is like your child you want them to be happy to receive the gift.

Make sure that you let any small children know that the dog stairs are not a toy for them. They are for the dog to use to climb so they don’t hurt themselves. Remember the stairs are made from wood and could injure a little child. So, please keep an eye on your children when you have dog stairs in the home.

Many older dogs need to be trained on how to use these stairs. Whenever something is brand new there is a learning process. Do not scold your dog if they are not using the stairs, instead show them how. You can do this by placing a treat above their heads and making them follow you up and down the stairs with it. This is probably the easiest way to train.

Dog stairs are a great invention. It ensures that your dog does not get hurt when it’s jumping around all the time. And, the steps eliminate any late night accidents. Every dog owner should own a set of dog stairs!

You might be fiddling around with the idea of getting your dog a set of pet steps. If so, you’re probably concerned about the sturdiness of the steps…and maybe a little worried that it’s going to look ghastly with your living room décor. Don’t fret—we’ve written this article to show you that pet stairs come not only in a variety of materials, but also in a variety of finishes.

If you have already had a look around the Internet at dog stairs, you’ve probably noticed that the three main core materials available in dog stairs are plastic, metal, and wood. Let’s start this chat by addressing plastic steps. If you will have more than one use for your pet steps, such as moving them between a couch and a chair (that are the same height), as well as aiding your dog in and out of your car, then you might find the lightweight feature of plastic stairs a particular benefit. Just a bit of fair warning: most plastic steps require some sort of assembly, depending on the brand and type of steps, and they also usually come in a limited range of colors (tan). With plastic steps, you have to be particularly conscious of the weight restrictions; a smaller weight capacity is definitely a down side to most plastic stairs.

Our next material is metal. Metal steps are very sturdy and can hold a great deal of weight, making safe for pets of all sizes to use. Metal is still lightweight, but not so much as plastic steps—but at least you don’t sacrifice durability and sturdiness! Many metal dog stairs boast a collapsible feature, meaning it can fold in on itself to lay flat. This is great if you like to store it in your car or a small place when it’s not in use. If you have a need for flexibility in incline (adjustable height feature), you might want to consider a model that locks at several different inclines. This is especially handy if you want to use it for different cars. You’re probably wondering why I’ve mentioned cars twice. Well, metal steps are usually used for loading pets into cars—which is why they’re usually referred to as “pet loaders.” Sure, you can use them in your home, but they tend to add a “cold” feel to the room.

Last, and probably the most popular choice in pet stair material, is wood. Wood dog steps are extremely durable. They can hold an excessive amount of weight and they won’t easily be knocked over. Many come with padded steps to prevent your pet from slipping and to add just a touch of comfort to his movements. They also come in a variety of colored wood and carpeted finish. The color range of carpeting is vast, so no matter what your décor requires, there’s a color to suit it!

Just ask yourself what your needs are and be sure to pick steps that meet those needs as best as possible. Happy shopping!

Have you ever jolted out of sleep—and likely one of the best dreams EVER—only to realize that the reason you awakened in the first place was because your dog pounced on the bed? Many of us dog owners are familiar with this scenario, and frankly, it can be a little difficult—especially in a fear & annoyance-induced stupor—to resist the urge to shove Spot right back down off the bed and demand that he sleep on the floor.

Even if you are overcome with annoyance when awakened by your dog, a part of you probably thinks back to all the times your dog snuggled with you while you cried or chilled out next to you while you watched The Godfather marathon on TCM. It just doesn’t seem right to suddenly deny your dog the tradition of sleeping with his favorite person—you!—when the reason he gets off the bed in the first place is likely to scope out the house to make sure you aren’t in danger. It’s completely natural for a dog to feel compelled to get up a few times during the night; he’s the watchman while the family sleeps. That being said, you DO need your sleep, which is why it’s highly suggested that you consider investing in a set of dog steps for beds.

The main problem with your sleeping arrangement is the jerking sensation when your dog jumps off of and onto the bed, right? Dog steps make it easier for your dog to move between the bed and the floor with very little disturbance. Most dog stairs come in a carpeted finish, too, so you don’t even have to worry about his nails clicking on the steps and waking you up.

Now that you are aware of the comfort that dog steps for beds can bring you, you should also know that they can play a major role in preventing your dog from developing serious conditions such as arthritis later on in life. Yep, dogs can acquire joint issues with age just like we can. Large breeds of dog are already susceptible to hip dysplasia and arthritis, and small dogs can actually break body parts from landing improperly from a jump.

Now that you see the JOINT advantages (pun intended!) to purchasing dog steps for beds, you just need to make sure that you purchase the appropriate height of stairs for your bed. Getting stairs that are too short or tall for your bed will hardly make a difference if your dog has to jump to and from the stairs. So just make sure that you get the measurements from the floor to the top of your bed’s mattress. Best of luck with your “new” sleeping arrangement!

The effort you put into choosing the right set of pet stairs doesn’t have to feel like a burden; it could really be seen as an investment of sorts. To continuously reap the health benefits and sheer convenience that dog stairs offer, it’s wise to make sure that your purchase is well thought out and thoroughly researched. Luckily, technology has ensured that we are no longer limited to the wares offered in local retail shops—though that’s not to say that they should be excluded from your consideration altogether. There are pros and cons to both shopping experiences, which we’re going to discuss in this article.

Your Budget

The amount that you have to spend will ultimately determine where you make your dog stair purchase. Unless you have a pet furniture store in your hometown, you might be surprised that any pet stairs you run across in a local shop will probably cost a bit more than you were expecting to spend. This is because traditional retail stores–especially those that aren’t of the “chain” variety–can only afford to keep stock of the things that their local consumers purchase regularly. Unfortunately, pet stairs haven’t become quite that popular yet. Thank goodness for the Internet, which allows businesses to offer a niche product and still make money because their “local customer base” include every continent with Internet access. You can browse online and compare prices of several stores in minutes. Not bad!

Decisions, Decisions…

The beauty of shopping online for your pet stairs is that you have a large selection right at your fingertips. This is especially helpful if you are looking for something out of the ordinary–a particular finish, color, weight capacity, etc. You can use a search query on most sites to instantly weed out the steps that don’t meet your needs. If you’re looking for large dog stairs, your search for such will pull up only the products that match that criteria. You might not be in the market for cherry wood steps with a weight capacity of 300 pounds, but the option is likely out there on the Internet somewhere. The variety offered in your local pet shops is likely to be very limited, unless you’re lucky enough to find a shop that takes custom orders–which is not unheard of.

Assembly?

Assembling something–with or without instructions–is not a very fun process. Unfortunately, both online and traditional stores are more likely to sell their steps in an “assembly required” state. For local shops, it saves on warehouse and sales floor space if they don’t have a massive amount of pre-built steps lying around. For Internet-based businesses, it costs a great deal more in packaging and shipping to send a full-sized pet stair through the mail, so many online retailers also ship their pet steps flat-packed. Don’t feel as though you have to resign to the idea of spending hours on assembly for the sake of your pet. There are still online pet stair websites that ship their items pre-assembled, such as HelpYourPets.com, you just have to look around and even send an enquiry to see if it’s possible to have them built before shipment. One perk of ordering online and having the steps delivered, though is that home delivery means you can bypass having to load and unload the stairs from your car!

Now that you’re aware of your options, it’s time to start doing some research to weed through the possibilities. Remember, it’s much easier to find a supplier if you base your search on the three key points we mentioned above. Good luck with your purchase!

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