Active dogs need to have healthy joints if you want them to stay active. I wish we had done more for our golden retriever Sheba’s joints before she was diagnosed with arthritis. She has been doing pretty well, but this last spring she started to limp more. We had her on joint supplements only with just an occasional pain pill to help her through a bad spell.
Disclaimer: We were provided with one Solvit Deluxe XL Telescoping Pet Ramp free of charge in exchange for this review. Wag ‘n Woof Pets only shares products we believe will be of interest to our readers, and all reviews are our own honest opinions. Solvit is not responsible for the content of this article.
This time it was worse. The worst part was when we had to try to keep her from playing so she could get better. She enjoys her fetch, and even though we don’t let her jump a lot, she still wants to be out there chasing the ball. I had been taking her swimming and for shorter walks, knowing that was good for her joints, but we still had to keep her on the pain meds. The only thing I could think of was that getting in and out of the car was aggravating her pain. We had thought about pet ramps for cars before but never did anything about it. It was long past time to do so.
We got the opportunity to try out a Solvit ramp, and chose the Deluxe XL Telescoping Ramp. We have a truck and an SUV and wanted something big enough to use for both vehicles, yet light enough for me to handle on my own, since I am the one who takes the dogs places more.
Sheba can be timid, and my biggest fear was that she would be afraid of the ramp and it would be difficult to get her to use it. I wanted to train the other two dogs to use it as well. Cricket also has some achy joints at times, and Luke has his bad knees to worry about. Even though Cricket only weighs 22 pounds, if she’s wet and dirty I’d rather not have to pick her up and put her in the car (plus my old back can be achy too!).
We started out laying it flat on the ground outside next to the car. I put treats on the ramp so they could get used to stepping on it, and then walked them back and forth across it, luring them with the treats. It went better than I expected, so the next time we were able to prop it up on the stair outside and do the same thing. Sheba was a little more hesitant then, but relaxed after a few tries. I considered going to a higher step, but decided to take the plunge and try it on the car the next time. No problem!
The ramp is light enough for me to carry (my hubby will tell you that I’m weak, and I do have problems with my hands gripping things). I had just a bit of trouble extending it at first, but when my hubby helped me, I realized I was trying just a bit too hard and needed to just get it in the right spot to slide easily. Plus I think it loosened up after a few times of being used.
The rubber feet make it grip to surfaces nicely, and there is a snap that locks it in place for when you are carrying it. In the video clips below you can see the dogs easily going up and down it. The only issue I still have is that Luke and Sheba are a bit afraid of it when I’m closing it and putting it up in the car. But they can retreat to the front seat and I think they’ll get over that in time.
This ramp is heavy duty, and it does not have to be extended out all the way. You could see in the video that it wasn’t extended as far when we used it for the truck. Solvit makes many high quality, durable products for pet travel, active dogs, and senior care. They pay attention to detail, and this ramp comes with a one year warranty.
I think it makes sense for all dogs to use a ramp to protect their joints, no matter their age and health, especially if they get in and out of vehicles a lot. It can be even more important if they are active, injured, or older. If your dog participates in sports, you want to do everything to keep their joints healthy and rested at times so they can continue to do so. Ramps can be used not just for vehicles but in the house as well for furniture (and Solvit has other smaller ramps, and stairs, available as well), and our friend Pamela will even be using one to get her dog Honey on and off their sailboat!
By the way, between the ramp, an increase in her joint supplements, and after a few days of rest and pain meds, Sheba is doing better!
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I would choose the Deluxe XL Telescoping Pet Ramp. I recently got a cart for my Corgi and this would help him get up on the porch on his own. Thanks!
I think this would work quite well for that. Good luck!!
I have one of these for Sampson and they are excellent. My biggest problem is remembering to set it up. Delilah just jumps (there really is no controlling her) and Sampson has taken to putting his paws up and we lift his butt. I would say that is my main issue, is putting the ramp up and taking it down, especially when we are somewhere exciting.
We trained him similarly. We left the ramp on the floor in the house for the longest time, letting them get used to it. Then I had them walk across it, then it went up on the couch and finally into the car. My one suggestion to you would be to make sure you have the ramp secure in the car. One time I had it too close to the edge and Sampson stepped out on it and the whole thing dropped! I was so lucky he didn’t get hurt and wasn’t afraid to use it again.
I did have to body block Sheba from jumping out of the car a couple of times! I think (hope) they’ll break that habit in time if we use the ramp enough.
Thank you for that tip….I will remember that. I’m pretty OCD about checking it so far, and I also make sure that it’s not setting on the cargo cover which wouldn’t be as secure. But I know I could easily get complacent (forgetful) about that in time.
Ramps make life easier for you and the doggies. Ours wasn’t quite that long but it did the trick until Bentley got too old even for the ramp. Then we had to lift him in/out of the SUV.
I think the Smart Ramp may work best for us! Love these products 🙂
I think the quality is so great, and these products could really last a lifetime. Good luck in the giveaway!
I would love the Deluxe XL Telescoping Pet Ramp #62320. I have a nine year old German Shepherd who I need to lift into our truck. This would be so nice and he could imagine that he is doing agility like he use to 🙂
Sounds like you could definitely use a ramp! Training the dogs to use this was really fun, almost like training for agility! Well, I imagine…we’ve never done actual agility training but I’ve always wanted to! 🙂
Good luck!
We have that same ramp, love it!
I have heard very good things about this ramp. I think it helps that it is wide and makes the dogs more comfortable using it. Your dogs certainly look very comfortable with it.
I think you’re right, and that was part of the reason I chose the largest one they had. I think the width really does help the dogs to be more comfortable on it.
It looks like your pups got the concept of the ramp fairly quickly! We don’t have a ramp or steps or anything similar because our pups are only 4 years young and still very capable of hopping in and out of our Jeep on their own. I think it’s a great idea for senior pups or those who need to take it easy as far as running and jumping are concerned. I certainly wouldn’t mind getting our paws on a ramp, however, because you just never know when it might come in handy, so I entered your pawsome giveaway 🙂
Hopefully your dogs never have an injury or anything, but if you already had a ramp and that happened, it would be great to be prepared!
I have to laugh – my husband just made one of these for Daisy! He used heavy board and covered it with carpeting, then put molding strips on the side to prevent splinters, a grip underneath to keep it in place, and a flexi-handle on the front for easy lifting. It goes from the ground right up to the car seat. Apparently we could have marketed it! 😉
It’s so nice to have a handy husband (mine is more handy when it comes to automobiles than carpentry), and yes, you certainly could have marketed it!
it’s a pawsome and helful idea, specially for large pups. we bought one for the huskies and they never used it to enter the car, only to leave the car…I sometimes thought the kid me…that was no fun to lift them up :o(
Oh no, that had to be pretty hard on your back (I know from lifting golden retrievers!).
That looks really nice! Perfect for larger dogs. We’ve never needed one since I could always pick up my dogs.
That is one of the joys of having small dogs, it’s easier to transport them!
I really like the Wood Bedside Ramp.
I saw that and thought it looked very nice too!
What a pawsome ramp!
It’s great that it seems to be helping! When Mr. N gets older, I think we’ll need steps for the furniture.
We got steps for our bed when we got a high bed and our beagle Kobi had trouble jumping on it. Now they are a permanent piece of furniture and all the dogs use them!
Glad to see that training this was so easy for you! It sounds like a ramp is something that your crew really needs. Unfortunately, my car is too small for a ramp to fit in it easily (I can hardly fit a tub of kitty litter in the back!), so I think it would cause more stress trying to figure out how to fit it in. Luckily, my car is pretty low to the ground, so Barley just steps in and then steps onto the back seat, which is less exertion than she does when she hops onto the agility table in class, so I don’t worry too much.
With three dogs I like the spaciousness of an SUV, we haven’t had a normal car in quite a while! But that is definitely an advantage to them, it’s much easier for dogs to get in and out.
Great review! Love the video, especially because it looks like Cricket is sniffing for those training treats 🙂 Can you use it for the back seat of your truck?
Oh, you noticed that, very observant! That’s exactly what she was doing…that was the first time I had them on it without using treats, and I’m sure she thinks she got ripped off. 🙂
We could not get it to sit right for the back seat of the truck, because of the way the door opens. We could have used it, but they would still have a pretty good jump to the seat. I think I saw on their website though that there is some kind of back seat adapter, which I need to look at if we start using the truck more for the dogs.
That ramp is such a awesome idea! Way better than lifting an older dog in and out of a vehicle!
Especially when you’re an older person too. 🙂
Oh this is fantastic!!! Great product!
ღ husky hugz ღ frum our pack at Love is being owned by a husky!
What a great idea!
That is great you all get a lot of use out of it. Mom says we have no where to store it in the car for one thing, and then the hassle of setting it up and taking it down, she would rather just lift Katie. Katie doesn’t travel much these days anyway. Bailie and I are only 40 lbs, so we are easy to lift in and out. We are never allowed to hope in and out on our own. Mom says lifting us all keeps her from needing a gym visit.
Your Mom definitely knows how to stay in shape, Emma! 🙂
A ramp would be so great in getting Bentley in and out of our SUV. We have to pick him up now and it is uncomfortable to him. He’d much rather walk on his own.
Oh yes, our beagle Kobi hated being picked up too! He would have loved to have had this.
We love these products. Since I had back surgery twice and a knee surgery, another one of this company’s ramp would be perfect
Lily (& Edward)
It sounds like you definitely need one then!
I love this idea! We have steps, but not a ramp. With Sydney’s partial cruciate tear and subsequent injuries, it was a pain when we had to slow her down. She’s doing so much better now and loves to run and play and even walk the property on her own. It’s nice to see her being so active.
I think she’d love a ramp, because she doesn’t like to jump into the car. Walking into the car would be more her speed.
It sounds like for a dog like Sydney, a ramp would be a great option. I’m so glad for her and you that she is doing so much better now!
what a great review, they have some really nice products and yes must needs to help out the joints.
We have one of these – bought it awhile back for Becca. I don’t use it because it’s just too much of a hassle to set it up and down. I take the guys in the car everyday down to the park and I just can’t be bothered. We finally settled on some small plastic steps that are lightweight. If you only put the dog in the car on occasion, these work great though.
I can understand that. Since we only go places a couple times a week it’s not so bad. I’d probably get tired of it if we made daily trips too.