Has anyone trained an older dog to use stairs/steps to get up and down on furniture? I am concerned that our dog (15 pound 8 year old mix breed) is going to hurt herself trying to get up on and down from the back of the sofa where she likes to stay.
If you have used stairs, were they 2 or 3 step and what problems have you found?
Had an oldster that size and bought him stairs (foam covered with furry fabric). He used them a few times, but he looked a little too unsteady doing so for my comfort, and I worried that he might fall off the side. I ending up donating them; he was smart enough to train his staff (me and my husband) lift him up and take him down. Our cue was the merest clearing of his throat, lol.
Think ours were two-step, as the final third step was the one onto the seat of the couch.
For our puppy last year, we purchased ramps instead for each couch, and I think they work much better. She’s at her full grown weight of 11# now, and no longer requires them, but we’re keeping them in storage for when she’s older.
I used a step stool for my old shepherd so she could get on the bed. She taught herself to use it and would initially only use it is I wasn’t looking. She got over her vanity as she got older…
Mine have refused to use the steps from the pet store; they seem either too rickety or too narrow…or both?
I bought a low bench off of Amazon for the foot of my bed. My older guy will use it to get up and down; my younger ones will often use it to get up, but still leap off the side. 
Ramps are kinder for old dogs.
I had one of those ottomans with two smaller steps inside you can take out.
I put it at the end of my bed with one step by it and she used that for many years without trouble.
Once getting very old, I put a long dog ramp there and that was much easier on her.
They sell ramps in all sizes, get the longest that will fit whatever space you have.
They have cushiony tops today that makes dog paws easy to manage without slipping.
Chewy has all kinds of sizes of stairs and ramps, for an older or less athletic dog, a ramp would be better.
I added a long bathroom rug to mine because the top was kind of slick:
Something like this would work to reach the seat on a sofa:
My husband build 3 square 18x18 inch blocks that open on the top, but the hinges and handle are flush that my 75lb boxer cross uses to get up and down. We also laid clear stair grip tape on the top.
I think the raise is 4 -6 inches. I would have to check. They are big, they take up space, but I can use them as storage trucks and they are wide enough, do not wiggle, and he uses them once he figured out that was easier than jumping up on the bed.
I got something like this (but not this exact one) The ramps were bulky and difficult to go down. This seems to provide enough traction without being actual steps.
I have a three step one (plush/“stuffed” like the last one shared, but actual square steps) for my corgi to get on and off my bed. She can’t get up without, so it was easy to get her using them. She’s good about going up, but only “ok” about going back down - she usually walks down the top step and then jumps sideways from the middle one.
I purchased a carpeted ramp with rails (sides) from Etsy. It was such a blessing for my old girl. I also felt my purchase was validated (of having the sides on the ramp) when she would lose her balance and wobble, those sides kept her from falling off.
I chose a ramp over stairs because I could adjust how steep the ramp was. I was worried the stairs would eventually become too difficult for her as well.
I had a taller miniature Schnauzer (he was a stray so who knows if something else was in his pedigree). As he aged, I bought a couple of puffy ottomans, with a microfiber fabric, and one was next to the bed, and the other was by the window. It gave him an intermediate step up and down from the bed. He worked with that very well for a few years.
The last year or so, I worried about him sliding off the ottoman getting up or down. So, I took the metal bed frame off, and put the mattress and box springs on the floor. So, ottoman the was no longer needed.
I tried steps for an old cat. She wouldn’t use them. What she would use is the box spring - the mattress was off center by a couple inches. It might not be enough room for a dog though.
We have a 3-step made of a handful of milk crates screwed together, with some carpet tiles on the tops. It works great, if you can get them to use them.
Not the prettiest thing though!
I have an 11 year old 8 lb shelter mutt (terrier mix of some sort) that started having trouble jumping up onto furniture a few years ago. I ordered these steps off of Amazon and have been very happy with them! They’re foam inside, and a kind of fuzzy fabric on the outside. They’re lightweight and easy to move around, which has come in handy for travel. My dog had no issues adapting to them, I just used a treat to convince her to step onto them, and she quickly figured out that they were a great way to get up and down.
If I’m remembering correctly, they also come in a 3 step version. However, the 2 steps are enough to get my dog close enough to her destination.
Edited to add: Searched my Amazon order history and found a link for you in case it might he helpful. I ordered these August 2019 and have been super happy with them. They’ve held up well, my dog uses them numerous times every day.
I bought one of those before the ramp and my little 11 lb terrier had trouble slipping on those, why I tried a ramp, that I had to add a rug to give her better grip.
The rug try didn’t work on those steps, it slip too.
For a while, I put the ramp over the steps and they kept the ramp steady there.
Then I needed another ramp, for the bed and bought a longer one, that worked great there.
Each one has to try until it finds something that works for their dog.
My ramps had about 2-3" rails on the sides, part of the main frame, that let the dog know if it was stepping too close to the edge.
Not dogs but my cats used them! Didn’t take any effort to train them. Maybe I used treats to get them to walk up/down it once. After that, they knew exactly what to do. I also got this for my mom’s cat to get up/down from the couch and it worked so well my mom also got her one for the bed.
That’s the 5 step model, but the same brand has 3 step and 4 step versions. I think I had the 4 step version for my bed, which put the top step even with the top of the mattress.
By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. You may also receive promotional emails from The Chronicle of the Horse. You can opt out at any time.
For Customers
Company
Terms of Use
