One of the hardest issues we’ve had with Sampson’s ACL injury and subsequent surgery has been getting him in and out of the car. Before he fully tore his ACL we did purchase a set of steps to assist him in getting on the bed, but since he can’t be on the bed, I’ve tried using the stairs for the car.
For some reason Sampson does not care for the steps at all. He uses them but he usually tries to skip one of the two steps, which has resulted with him falling a couple of times, and that really freaks me out. I certainly don’t want him damaging the mechanism in his leg.
So I was super excited when I was contacted by the wonderful folks at Solvit. My contact thought after reading my blog, that I might like to try a ramp for Sampson. I talked it over with Hubby, and went back and forth with the rep and we finally decided on the Deluxe Telescoping Pet Ramp. She was even kind enough to send me a video on how to train Sampson to use the ramp.
At first when I looked at the ramp I got a little nervous, while the ramp extends from 39″ up to 72″, I couldn’t see how to lock the ramp in place, but that’s the beauty of the telescoping feature. When you set the ramp up and extend it to your preferred length, the telescoping feature along with gravity, keeps the ramp from retracting. There are two little feet on one end that sit on the ground/floor. The ramp portion the pet walks on feels similar to sandpaper, so it provides traction and prevents slipping. When not in use, there is a snap to keep the ramp from opening up, and it has a handle on one side to make for easy carrying.
We set the ramp on the floor and left it there for a couple of days. Occasionally asking the dogs to walk across it.
Then the grandkids came over and I had to pick it up, because they kept trying to walk on it and it is not for people or children, only pets!
Sampson walked across it just fine when it was flat on the floor, but the first time I tried to use it, I had the ramp pitched too steeply and he wouldn’t even attempt it. I discovered that you can adjust the pitch of the ramp by extending it a little bit longer.
My dogs have both taken agility classes and I was pretty sure we wouldn’t have much of a problem, but we wanted to make sure we did it correctly so we started out small.
We set the ramp up in the room Sampson and I are sleeping in. Our mattress is no more than 6 inches off the floor. The first couple of times Sampson walked OVER the ramp or off to the side, but with a few treats, he quickly learned to go up and down the ramp.
So we moved it into the living room to try it on the couch, which is considerably higher than the mattress. He tried once again going over the ramp, but a little patience, coaxing and cookies and he was off.
I think he was super happy just to be up on his couch again.
After going on and off the couch a couple of times, we moved the ramp out to the car.
And then brought Sampson out.
Let’s see how he did with the ramp. (The volume may be a tiny bit loud, fair warning.)
If the video does not play, click here.
As you can see, after an initial hesitation Sampson walked the ramp like it was his job. It was so easy to train Sampson on the Solvit Telescoping Pet Ramp. All told it took us no more than 20 minutes from the time we started using the slight incline of the mattress until he was walking in and out of the car.
I think a good part of that is the quality and sturdiness of the ramp as well as the non-slip surface.
When it’s just Sampson and I in the car, I slide the ramp on the floor of the front passenger seat, I haven’t tried it yet, but I’m fairly certain if I’m driving the ramp will fit between the front and back seats. If Hubby’s driving, he likes to put the seat all the way back to give himself plenty of leg room, so the ramp won’t fit back there. I think we will more than likely have to strap it onto the roof rack, but I think that would be the case with any ramp we used.
All told, I’m so very pleased with the Solvit Telescoping Pet Ramp, I no longer have to worry about Sampson slipping or trying to jump when getting in and out of the car.
Disclaimer: I was given a Solvit Telescoping Pet Ramp in exchange for an honest review of a product. I have received no other compensation for this review. Heart Like a Dog only shares products and information we feel are relevant to our readers and would never share or endorse a product we wouldn’t use ourselves.
Very impressed with the short time it took you to teach Sampson to use the ramp. Sounds sturdy too which is always our worry. Great news all round!
The video was fab, he looks so much better. Looks like a brilliant product!
Hey, that’s great! I should probably get one of those for Callie & Shadow. Closed up I imagine it would fit in the trunk.
I have been waiting for your review. That is a nice sturdy ramp. It looks so easy to use. Thanks for the great review. I am going to share this. 🙂
Awesome, that is going to help Sampson, and you, a ton.
Great review Jodi and wow Sampson, what a champ. I admit we’ve bought a couple of those ramps – including this one. The dogs are fine with them and they are sturdy, although I did pinch my fingers in one that rolled up more than once. Luckily Jack & Maggie haven’t had to use them yet, because they are a bit of an inconvenience…lugging them around, setting them up, etc. and I’m kind of lazy ;(
Oh, i’m so happy for you guys!
I loved that video, and your song choice was PERFECT!
It doesn’t look like Sampson minds that ramp at all!
Great review for a great looking product!
ღ husky hugz ღ frum our pack at Love is being owned by a husky!
That’s fantastic and will make both Sampson’s and your life so much easier! We borrowed a ramp from a friend for Tucker… he refused to have anything to do with it. Luckily he was light enough that the dog daddy and / or I could pick him up.
We have the ramp in our bed room. We don’t mind it going up. Going down is scary. We pick up speeds in excess of 87 mph
Lily & Edward
That looks like an awesome ramp. We are never allowed to jump in or out of the car/SUV. Mom lifts us in and out…says it is good for her arm muscles. Some day she may not be able to do that anymore and this would be a great option.
I really enjoy your blog !!!!!! and have been so concerned about Sampson but very happy at his continued progress. KEEP IT UP BIG GUY !!!!!!!!! Luv ya !!!!!! Wags and Kisses Mariah, Trixie, Phoebe and Sherri
Good work, S.! You were up and down that ramp like a champ. I guess that helped your mom with her background music choice. Perfect!
Love and licks,
Cupcake
Cookies work every time. I used it for BJ and the steps.
That is awesome! Great review! I’ve been looking fora pet ramp for Sherman. It’s getting harder on him to jump in the Suburban. Actually he doesn’t jump in anymore, he puts his front legs up and waits for me to lift him the rest of the way in which has been hard on my back!
Solvit looks like they have a lot of great products that I could use around here!
What a great review and I’m glad it worked out so well for you. You couldn’t of gotten this at a more perfect time. I like how you let them get used to it in the house and tried it out on the sofa. Cleaver.
We have one if these & they are awesome! Digby is a Newfoundland, so we trained him to use the ramp since he was 6 months old. He is now 2 years old and just had TPLO surgery for a torn cruciate. Good thing he is used to the ramp!
Very cool! What a good trainer you are, and what a good student Sampson is! We briefly tried borrowing a ramp when our dog first became a tripawd, but she was still a hyper pup, even on 3 legs and wanted none of it. She always just sprang in, and sometimes I’d help her down if I was feeling like a worrier! (Which was most of the time…)
Wow, he did great, and you did great with the training! I was really surprised that all of that took only 20 minutes. I can see us needing one of these some day because of Sheba’s arthritis, and this looks like great quality.
Hello again Jodi! 🙂 With our new addition, Gus, who as you know has degenerative myelopathy, who is for now on his feet, (because we’ve lowered the amount of gabapentin), I know at some point he won’t be, and medications won’t help, but a better ramp than I have will be a must to get him out, and to the vet. THANKS for the good review, and for the tricks to get them used to it — A cookie or two really does go along way!
great to see your ramp is working we hve had no luck with steps with Norbert for the bed he wont even approach them with treats. WE may see if we can try a ramp for the bed next
retro rover
I would live to win one of your ramps for my dog. She is a 120 pound rocriler lab mix. She has arthritis in her hips and back legs. She no longer can sleep on my bed or get in the car. Its lonely at home for her when I go out since we have had to put down our little dog this year and our yellow lab 2 1/2 years ago. We are down ti one dog now and would like to keep her going as much as I can.