I recently bought a new bed which is
29 inches high. Poor little Spencer had trouble getting up on the
old bed, which was a lot lower, so there was no way he would be
able to get up on the new one without help.
So, I recently bought two sets of doggy stairs to help. They're
very different in design, but both are good options for people who
may need something similar.
The first set I got was the Heavy Duty Four Step from
HelpYourPets.com. It's 26 inches
tall, and built to support 200 pounds. Another nice feature of this
product is that you can get them built with lidded storage, so that
you can put stuff inside and out of the way. If you hate giving up
floor space to a large set of stairs like this, that's a really
nice option!
The second set I got was the Six Step Foam with Shearling Cover
from
PetStairz. What's nice
about this product is that it's a bit taller than the other one at
27 inches (and the cover itself seems to add another half inch),
and
much lighter since it's made of foam rather than
plywood. Also, with more steps to cover roughly the same vertical
distance, I think this set might be easier for dogs with stubby
legs to climb because of the smaller tread height--but be aware
that the tread
depth is smaller, too, which may be a
problem for some dogs. The manufacturer didn't provide me with a
weight limit, but said the high-density foam would certainly
support Glindy's 65 pound frame without damage.
It's also worth noting that the PetStairz are cheaper, and free
shipping is included in the price. Because of their heavier weight,
shipping costs might be a factor when considering the HelpYourPets
units--especially the larger models.
Personally, I like the foam PetStairz better because they're
lighter, softer, and the cover is removable. I threw my back out
lugging the heavy duty wooden steps upstairs the other day, and
have stubbed my toe on the hard wood more than once in the middle
of the night. And of course, the carpet is tacked onto the wooden
frame, so one has to clean them the same way you do real stairs,
rather than just tossing a removable cover into the washing
machine.
However, Spencer seems to like the the model from HelpYourPets a
little better, even though he has to leap higher to reach each
step. I think it's because he likes to get both sets of legs on the
same step before attempting the next one, and the deeper tread
depth of this unit seems to suit him a bit better.
It's hard to say whether one product is really better than the
other. A lot of it probably depends on your needs, and those of
your dog. I'd recommend both products without hesitation, though,
as they are both great products with excellent customer service
behind them.
One final note about the HelpYourPets stairs: my first set of
stairs arrived with shipping damage. If you order the unit with
lids, make sure you check
inside the stairs for cracked or
split wood, as the heaviness of the stairs tends to get the package
thumped around and dropped a lot in transit. However, I received
excellent customer service from the HelpYourPets folks, and they
sent a replacement out to me right away. The second unit arrived in
good shape, so it was probably a one-off thing. Despite the initial
problem, I've been happy with the product, and really pleased with
their responsiveness.