Not portable – They are not portable even if you decide you need a portable solution later down the line Those who have adopted a disabled dog or own a dog who develops a disability during their life will gain a lot from a ramp.

We’re not gonna lie, the Gen7 Natural -Step dog and cat ramp is straight off the bat not the best performing dog ramp on our curated list. It is most definitely not a bad product as it does exactly what you need it to do but the high cost and below exemplary performance means that there are a couple which are better, overall. Large dogs are well-known for arthritis and joint issues including hip dysplasia, and vets are very supportive of ramp use early, especially when getting into vehicles and on high beds and furniture. The use of a ramp from an early age can mean your dog continues to enjoy high mobility into their senior years with less pain. Teaching a dog to use a ramp From a product only point of view it is an excellent dog ramp which has been well designed, made and uses quality metal and plastic to provide a sturdy solution to get your dog in and out of the car. It has guiderails on the side to help nervous or elderly dogs stay on the path and it has a really good “Suregrip” cover which makes it non slip even in the wet conditions (don’t underestimate how important this is). It is a telescopic dog ramp if you haven’t been able to tell from the screenshots which folds neatly in the boot. It weights 6.3kg which isn’t the lightest option but not the heaviest either. Dogs up to 110kg are safe to use so although it’s been labelled as heavy duty, we have reviewed others which go up a lot more. The Hewitt and Blue large dog ramp probably looks like another ‘also ran’ because it looks the same, works the same and is made from the same stuff as most other ramps we’ve reviewed and perhaps they are, but in our eyes it’s a bloody good one.A folding dog ramp is one where there are two or four hinges in the ramp to allow it to fold together to save space. When it’s needed to be used it just uncurls into position. These are some of the most common types of ramps as well as the most reliable provided the hinges are sturdy and made of rust resistant materials. These aren’t necessarily used for elderly dogs or dogs with joint problems as they are also handy for toy breeds to use to get up and down furniture such as beds. We would class this as a luxury product and not a necessity really. Dog training It’s very lightweight coming at 4.5kg and the rubber entrances and exits protect your car from scratches. The folding mechanism is handy but with it only being bi-folding it is still rather big when collapsed. Despite metal ones being overall the better choice, plastic ones offer the added benefit of being easier on your hands to carry and move around in the wet as it won’t slip. There’s also much less likely to damage vehicle interiors if it’s moved incorrectly – if that’s one of your worries then this one might be the one for you.

The RayGar dog ramp is a strong and durable plastic dog ramp that’s a softer approach to consider. Immediately you can see it looks similar to the trixie dog petwalk except this one is bi folding and a little more rugged to handle being used outside. The main reason we’ve included it is just to make sure we have a ramp for every taste and this is the only one that looks like this and can be used outdoors.If you’re a pet parent wondering whether your dog will willingly accept the ramp, here is a video that explains how to teach your pooch to safely use one. The anti-slip material feels like sandpaper which is pretty much the same thing that most of these dog ramps use but has drawn a little bit of criticism. It goes up to 90kg which is great but not spectacular. The materials feel sturdy and high quality but because it’s rubber it definitely isn’t the sturdiest and would not recommend over the more expensive ramps if you have multiple energetic dogs or larger breeds. Like we mentioned previously, jumping in and out of a car or a boat or whatever can cause stress on the joints that can lead to problems. If you have an elderly dog with joint and muscle problems then they may really struggle to get out of a car, especially if it’s an SUV. A ramp makes it virtually pain free and they will thank you for it. The alternative obviously is for you to physically carry them but that’s not practical and good for your joints either! On both ends, it comes with an angled rubber hook which grips well to a car with a decent lip and also comes with a safety attachment cable to give you added peace of mind. This rubber grip won’t cause damage to your car’s bodywork if you don’t have rubber boot lip protectors. Manufacturers of dog ramps will have a tried and tested blueprint which has been field tested and reviewed extensively over the years making them superior to anything you may be able to make yourself, probably.