Elder Dog Solution?

[Do26]

Definitely no easy solution. We, for instance, have younger smaller breed dogs, and are not getting any more greyhounds. It will be too much to lift them in 10 years. By the time they need ramps, most dogs have issues making the ramp not all that easier than stairs.

Less incline will hurt less than stairs or a steep ramp, but less incline takes a fair amount of space. Ours balk at an incline equaling the steps incline. We have to use about half the steps incline at the most. Something like 3x the space of the steps seems to be the sweet spot for ours. We put in a new deck in the yard, so I was able to experiment with the ramp length.

If I had to, for a Mh, I would get or make something with a platform one step down from the rv floor level, then a ramp or shallow stairs parallel to the rv.

[caninecop]

A lot depends on they ramp you use, with a pet that big you need a ramp that is not going to have a lot of play in it when they step on it. A lot of ramps have a guide on the weight it will hold. When we had our Queensland healer and he got old we had to get one that would hold a 100-125 lbs. pet. He had no problem because the ramp didn’t give when he walked on it.

[frogpond]

Thanks all for the suggestions! It’s not an easy solution.

[fred42]

All of the pet ramps available are two short to produce an acceptable slope coming out of a Class A regardless of pet health. I have used two of the longest ramps available and joined them using an upside down plastic storage container that was roughly half of the distance to the RV floor. The storage container platform and the ramps can have holes in them to allow pinning then in place with some carriage bolts (no nuts). The container can also have holes allowing a 90 degree turn when a tight campsite would not allow a strait run. Not for human use, of course. Only the top RV to box ramp needs to be removed to allow shutting the Class A door or for humans to use the step.

We had a very large 15yo lab that needed this. Also had a much smaller dog that did not need it but had to use it since it was setup. The incapacitated dog needs to be guided by a human on the ground. We called all of this our "Dog and Pony" show, but did not charge admission.

[frogpond]

fred42, thanks for your real world reply. I've been hoping to hear from someone that has experienced this and has come up with a real solution. Do you have any photos of your setup for your dog? Any additional information would be appreciated! Thank you!!

[Camp CA]

Put down your pet's favrite food treat at the bottom of the ramp to encourage him/her to walk down the ramp. Do the encouraging going up the ramp. Worked for us with getting our greyhound to jump from the ground onto the truck backseat.

[PandS]

These helped with our old dog. They're not cheap, and their not light, but they're solid and worked much better for us than a ramp. We bought a six step system.

https://www.petclassics.com/Folding-...tairs.109.html

[George Schweikle]

Watching since our old GSD might someday need assistance getting into the motorhome. The folding step product looks promising since dogs have likely been used to climbing stairs during their life rather than being confronted with something new like a ramp.

Originally Posted by PandS

These helped with our old dog. They're not cheap, and their not light, but they're solid and worked much better for us than a ramp. We bought a six step system.

https://www.petclassics.com/Folding-...tairs.109.html

[frogpond]

PandS, thank you for your suggestion. After checking into this approach, I just ordered a 6 step Max product from them. I hope this works for the girl!!

[HelG]

We have a couple of older dogs at home and have found that they prefer stairs to ramps, even though ramps are much easier to navigate and easier on their backs.

But training is key, there's no way around it. Maybe add some sort of railing? I'm thinking about that to take away their fear of using the ramp to the backyard.

[PandS]

Originally Posted by frogpond

PandS, thank you for your suggestion. After checking into this approach, I just ordered a 6 step Max product from them. I hope this works for the girl!!

Hope it works as well for yours as it did for our old girl.

Susan

[Charming]

We had been discussing some type of ramp for our older greyhound, Gracie. The day before leaving on our most recent trip required us to do something rather than discuss, seems the motor on the outside steps died.

The step to the first inside step of the motorhome was too much for Gracie and she did not like to be lifted. Sadie, doesn't like any steps, more on her later.

Inside the motor home we have a piece of carpet covered plywood to cover the step well when driving and at night for more floor space. We started using that to get up to the inside steps. Took a few times but Gracie adjusted quickly. Sadie didn't like the ramp anymore than she likes steps, but she would with prodding go up.

Sadie was 5, almost 6 when we adopted her from a rescue group in Florida. She had been off the track for several years and her owner/breeder moved out of state and gave up her dogs. Sadie had never seen steps. She is still very difficult with steps or getting into vehicles. Unlike Gracie, she doesn't mind being lifted if necessary. The ramp has helped her, she will step on it, but still has to be coaxed up the steps. Unfortunately, she is not food or treat driven. Learned that teaching her how to use steps at home. Only worked once, then she caught on and never again.