Marty Feldhake

The perfect accessory for the owner of an older or smaller dog is a set of pet stairs.  These wonderful little constructs give your pet free range to areas previously blocked off by their challenges.  Getting the right set of stairs for you home requires a few decisions, but the process is fairly simple and straightforward.

Older pets
If you have a pet that has gotten older, a set of stairs can help them maintain a full lifestyle without pain or effort.  There is no reason to miss that wonderful doggy grin when your pet gets into your car for a ride, the stairs will help them get there.  The same type of steps will allow your dog to get on and off the couch or your bed.  It is just a matter of finding a step tread that is short enough for them to use comfortably and long enough to reach the surface of your choice.

If you have a truck, there are steps that are designed specifically for use with the hitch. You can leave this step in place if you so choose, and let your dog to get up and down with ease.  The best thing is that you don’t have to lift your dog; after all, you aren’t getting any younger either.  Other versions are adjustable and either fold up or slide out to accommodate the needed slope and distance.

Smaller dogs
Smaller dogs aren’t necessarily small in heart.  These energetic pets are just as eager to get up on things and enjoy the view.  The jump down can be particularly hard on their joints if the distance is significant, so adding stairs to their lives can be a real boon.  Here again, we encounter the situation of a short but heavy dog, like a basset hound, which isn’t exactly built for vertical mobility.  Picking up one of these pups isn’t a piece of cake.  Let them move on their own power using pet stairs.

Considerations when buying
The type of steps you purchase will depend on things like your dog’s size, age, and weight.  For smaller dogs, the treads are understandably shorter to accommodate the shorter legs.  Smaller dogs can also be supported by foam whereas larger animals will need more support.  Pay close attention to the weight limit mentioned when looking at pet stairs; the limits are there to protect your dog.

One of the most flexible set ups are made from PVC piping.  Available in a variety of colors and sizes, these steps can be designed to hold up to 250 pounds.  The carpeting covering the steps is available in various colors, making them perfect for matching the color scheme of your chosen room.

If style is important you can find units in wood, with fine furniture style finishes and even custom made units designed to blend in seamlessly with your décor. You can even buy one to match the dog bed.  If you go with a custom choice, make sure your designer understands how tall to make the treads and how much weight the unit will need to support.

Pet stairs make life more manageable for any number of animals.  Take a look online and see just how much this field has grown before purchasing a set for your own home.

When it comes to training your dog to stay within your yard, electric pet fences are a useful tool.  Something you can install yourself as needed, electric dog fences are customizable.  You determine the exact boundaries for your dog’s roaming.  The system consists of a wire that transmits a radio signal to a specific receiver.  You bury the wire under ground and initially mount flags above the wire.  Your dog wears the receiver on a collar.  When the receiver gets close to the wire, it transmits a small electric shock to your dog.  This discourages the dog from getting close to the set limit.

Without some sort of fencing it only takes a moment for your dog to get out into traffic or way too close to strangers.  A dog that gets out of your yard can get easily lost.  Using an electric fence allows you restrain your dog without adding visible fencing.  You get to maintain the look of your yard and still know that your dog is safe.

The receivers that come with the electric fence set up can be fairly sophisticated.  Some collars require you to set the level of shock and others can gradually increase their severity until the dog changes their behavior.  With your assistance in training most dogs need only a few lessons to understand the new system.  Electric dog fences allow your dog the freedom to run around the yard, and give you peace of mind from knowing that your dog is safe. Another helpful hint is to use dog gates to keep your dog out of unwanted areas.