Pet Steps for Dogs and Cats

You might be thinking you do not need pet steps because your cat or dog is young and can get along very well without them. That may be true however as dogs and cats age their joints become more brittle and arthritis pain can settle in. Getting a set of pets steps while they are young and using them may slow down the stiffness and the pain they might get when jumping down off the couch or bed. Some breeds of dogs are known for bad backs and hip pain when they age.

Besides at some point you are going to get tired of lifting them up and down, up and down every time they want up or down, if you have not reached that point yet! We had a mini dachshund and every time I got off the couch he would jump down, sometimes if I just moved and he thought I was getting up he jumped off. That's hard on the back and legs of those little breeds. If you have a jumper please get a set of pet steps to prevent accidental injuries.

If your pet seems reluctant to use the stairs try doing what many other pet owner have done before you use a bribe! Place a treat they love on top and let them climb up. You may have to walk them up manually the first time or two but once they get that treat it should be smooth sailing. If you have a dog with bad hips get the best pet stairs you can afford.

Pet steps come in plastic, wood, and foam generally they have carpet or anti slide strips on top. Some pet stairs are beautiful like furniture and others are functional and cost effective for any pet owner. Most owners buy more than one so they do not have to carry it around the house, though that is entirely okay.

If you have the funds buy two, perhaps you can get a fancier one for the living room and a less expensive one for the bedroom where no one will see it. Some models fold down for storage or you can move the stairs if you want to keep the animals off the bed or couch if they are wee little while you are gone. Other models are multi-functional they are not only pet stairs but can morph into pet ramps too.

The size of your dog or cat should be the main reason determining which pet step you pick. Look for how much weight it can carry, the materials it is made of, and the width of the steps. If you have a larger dog you may want pet stairs that are wider.

If you have a big dog and wonder if you should get a pet step, the answer is yes. Even if your dog can clear the couch or bed consider getting one especially if you have a dog that likes to jump on you in the middle of the night. That hurts!

If you get one while your pup is still small you can train him or her to get into bed at a certain spot, but you can teach an old dog new tricks too.
Besides your dog will age and those joints will get sore just like a smaller dog. If you have a very large dog over 150 pounds you might want to look into a dog ramp instead it may be easier on the dog.