Have you purchased a set of pet stairs for your dog, or are you considering doing so? You should know that you can get much more out of your steps than simply a means to help your dog safely access your furniture. We’re going to talk about just a few of the things we use our pet stairs for on a daily basis.

Dog stairs are most often used to assist your pet on and off of furniture such as beds, chairs, and couches. Did you also know that there are portable pet steps available? These come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and materials to accommodate all breeds of dog. Some portable pet steps are made of an ultra durable yet lightweight foam capable of holding up to 300lbs, depending on the brand/supplier. Not only can these steps be used in your home, but you can also take them outside to help your pet get on and off of a raised porch or to an SUV or tuck. There are pet steps specifically designed for loading your pet into a vehicle. They can be made of lightweight metal or plastic and vary in height to accommodate most vehicle heights.

Aside from portable pet steps, there are many uses for your standard indoor steps, too! If you have a shorter breed of dog, try pushing the steps up against one of your windows. This is a great way for your dog to satisfy his nosiness at what’s going on outside. Find out the maximum weight limit on your steps. If they will hold you, you can use them for all sorts of chores around the house! I’m fairly short, so I’ve received tons of use out of my dog’s steps, including getting stuff on and off the top of the refrigerator, changing light bulbs, and giving my daughter a boost to the sink. If your pet stairs have a storage area, make good use of it! You can store pet toys and treats or any number of odds and ends! Don’t be afraid to get the most out of your steps!

For durable cat and dog steps, visit the Help Your Pets website.

While your pet may seem to be in overall good health, there could be underlying issues developing that you are not aware of. These issues may actually stem from the abuse your pet’s muscles and joints suffer on a daily basis.

When you allow your dog to jump to and from any surface that is greater than 12 inches from the ground, he can sustain serious injury. A foot of height doesn’t really seem like a lot, but it’s enough to cause a broken limb if your dog falls, or longer-lasting problems over time.

While small and large dogs are at a particular risk of sustaining bone or joint injury, any size or breed of dog is susceptible to harm through a fall or as a result of prolonged impact over time. Large dogs, like Great Danes, Golden Retrievers, and Labradors, are inclined to developing arthritis later in life, and condoning a large dog to jump onto and off of furniture everyday could cause arthritis to crop up earlier in the dog’s life. As for small dogs, they are more likely to break a bone in a fall or by attempting to leap down from too great a height.

While you could prohibit your pet from getting onto the furniture, this is a drastic measure. It’s natural for a dog to want to be near his owner, and if you don’t mind having him on the furniture, it’s best not to change his routine. The best way to preserve your dog’s health is to obtain a set of pet stairs that will allow him to safety navigate onto and off of furniture.

Carpeted pet steps are very popular as they not only provide cushioning for impact, but they also offer a non-slip surface. Most pet stairs can be categorized into three sizes: small, medium, and large. There are two things that you must consider when purchasing pet steps. The first is the height of the object you want your dog to get onto. For instance, if your primary use for the steps will be to allow your dog to get onto the couch, you will need to make sure that the set of stairs you purchase is tall enough to reach your couch. The second item to consider is the size of your dog. You can follow the guide below to determine what size of steps would be appropriate for your pet.

Small dogs = steps no wider than 12 inches

Medium dogs = 14 inch-wide steps

Large dogs = steps at least 16 inches wide

For more information about choosing and purchasing a set of pet steps, please visit Help Your Pets – Here.

Have you ever jolted out of sleep—and likely one of the best dreams EVER—only to realize that the reason you awakened in the first place was because your dog pounced on the bed? Many of us dog owners are familiar with this scenario, and frankly, it can be a little difficult—especially in a fear & annoyance-induced stupor—to resist the urge to shove Spot right back down off the bed and demand that he sleep on the floor.

For the most part, most of us don’t actually mind letting our dog sleep with us, but dogs don’t sleep in one spot all night long. Dogs are naturally inclined to protect the people they love, which may include a few nightly prowls around the house to make sure things are okay. In fact, your dog likely jumps on and off of the bed several times throughout the night, which is enough to leave you at your last straw if you’re a light sleeper. However, you should rest assured that there is a solution that can make both you and your dog have a happy night, and that’s by the use of dog steps for beds.

As the bulk of your night time stress is in fact due to your mattress jolting as your dog jumps on and off the bed, then dog stairs are the perfect solution. Your dog is able to evenly distribute his weight from the stairs to your bed—and vice versa—so you needn’t feel a thing when your dog goes for his night time patrol. The fact that most pet steps are carpeted also means that the sounds from your dog’s movement will be completely muted.

Okay, so now that you know the comfort side of purchasing dog steps for beds, you should also know that dog stairs are a great way to prevent joint and bone ailments from impairing your dog in the future. This is especially true for large and small dog breeds. Larger dogs are prone to arthritis and hip dysplasia, and small dogs can develop spinal issues or even break bones by leaping from heights.

Now that you see the JOINT advantages (pun intended!) to purchasing dog steps for beds, you just need to make sure that you purchase the appropriate height of stairs for your bed. Getting stairs that are too short or tall for your bed will hardly make a difference if your dog has to jump to and from the stairs. So just make sure that you get the measurements from the floor to the top of your bed’s mattress. Best of luck with your “new” sleeping arrangement!

Hunting for the perfect set of stairs for your dog doesn’t have to be a stressful experience--as long as you know where to look. There are two main places that you can conduct your shopping, and that is either on the Internet or in one of your local stores. There are benefits to using either shopping method, but you might find that one better suits your needs than the other. To help make your decision a little easier, we’ve written this guide pointing out the most obvious advantages and disadvantages to both in-store and online shopping.

Your Budget

Let’s face it, most of us are definitely feeling a pinch in our wallets these days, so one of the most influential factors of where you will purchase your pet stairs is how much you can afford to spend. Unless your hometown has a specialty furniture store that offers a “pet furniture series,” you’re probably going to find that this product will run a little more expensive in-store than on the Internet. With Internet-based stores, businesses are able to specialize in a specific item (like dog stairs/furniture) and offer their products at cheaper prices because they aren’t limited to the consumers in a certain demographic area. Online businesses WILL get customers because they can reach out and serve the entire world! So as far as finding a competitive price, you’ll probably find better luck online.

Decisions, Decisions…

The beauty of shopping online for your pet stairs is that you have a large selection right at your fingertips. This is especially helpful if you are looking for something out of the ordinary--a particular finish, color, weight capacity, etc. You can use a search query on most sites to instantly weed out the steps that don’t meet your needs. If you’re looking for large dog stairs, your search for such will pull up only the products that match that criteria. You might not be in the market for cherry wood steps with a weight capacity of 300 pounds, but the option is likely out there on the Internet somewhere. The variety offered in your local pet shops is likely to be very limited, unless you’re lucky enough to find a shop that takes custom orders--which is not unheard of.

Assembly?

If you aren’t very handy with building things, you might want to consider something pre-assembled. This is something that neither the Internet-based nor traditional shops particularly surpass one another in. Some local shops might have pre-assembled “display” steps--which is good because you can get an idea of the sturdiness and overall quality before you buy them--but the steps for purchase will likely be boxed and require assembly. The same goes for buying online. Because online purchases require a shipment through the mail, the business will save on postage if the item is sent in pieces in a small box. There are still online companies who ship their pet stairs fully assembled--such as HelpYourPets.com--so don’t feel as though assembly is a definite in your future. Just dig around either online or in local shops and see if you can obtain something pre-built.

Budget, availability, and assembly requirements aren’t the only factors to keep in mind when searching for a pet stair supplier, but it’s definitely a start. Don’t be afraid to browse a bit before making your purchase—and good luck!