pet connection

For the past six years I must have lifted my two Shar Pei into a car at least 100 times.  For every trip to the park, the animal clinic or a play-date, I have picked up their 45-pound furry bodies because they can’t jump very well. They completely embrace their *non-sporting breed dog* features. Each time I finally heaved them into the car I have cursed to myself, “Get a dog ramp!”

Well, I found one. And gave it away. Figures.

The Ramp4Paws is so nice and functional I couldn’t keep it myself. I had to donate it to someone who really needs it. Like a big dog rescue.

I asked Dennis Guyitt, with Golden Retriever Rescue of Southwest Florida, to bring a few dogs to my house so we could test out the ramp on larger and senior dogs. My 9-pound Chihuahua, Roxi, was miffed, but she is recovering from the hit to her small-dog ego.

The photo above right is from the Ramp4Dogs website. I liked it, but on second glance, I think they photo shopped in the black dog. What do you think?

Anyway …

You’ll see in the video below how well-designed the ramp is. It comes in a carrying case, weighs about 15 pounds, and rolls out to make a ramp almost anywhere. We tested the large version.

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Amber, 8, and Wiley, 2, were our canine testers. In the video you will see I chose to leave in the first attempts the dogs made at using the ramp (even the FAIL), because I want to show real-world trial and error of using a ramp for the first time. It only took two tries and six liver treats to teach these  beauties how to use the Ramp4Paws.

The Ramp4Paws retails for $160-$220 depending on which size you want. There is a smaller version, for sedans. Both sizes work for dogs who weigh 160  pounds or less. There is a side-entry strap for sedan’s back seat access.

Here is a photo from the Ramp4Paws website showing a dog named Daisy Lou post-surgery:

Following her surgery, Daisy Lou also used the ramp to climb up the front steps to her house. She is trained to wait at the foot of the ramp for a command.

I have to add this adorable photo Dennis took of a Golden and a child. Dennis is a professional photographer who used to work for Kodak and basically rode the wave of digital photography as it happened. We two are Apple-geek buddies from way back.

Now, he donates his time photographing dogs and rescuing Golden Retrievers.

The Ramp4Paws ramp will certainly help his rescue as they save and transport dogs from shelters to veterinarian clinics then to foster homes.

We all need a little boost now and then.

Or a ramp.

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