The Best Dog Stairs for Bed (Review) in 2020

What to Look for When Buying Dog Stairs for Bed

Before you decide on the right set of dog stairs, you should have a clear idea of your needs in mind. Otherwise, you are going to end up with a product which is totally unsuitable. Check out these points which you need to put on your priority list.

• Size of the Stairs

All dog stairs have their own set of measurements which you need to take into account. First, you have the height of the stairs. They need to be big enough to reach the bed, sofa or other furniture item that they will be rested against. Make sure that you get your tape measure out and choose a product which is appropriate. Next, you have the height and width of the steps themselves. Your dog needs to be able to climb up them comfortably and safely. Some are specifically designed for smaller dogs, while others are suitable for all sizes.

• Weight of Your Dog

Before you choose a set of dog stairs for bed, you should check to see how much weight they can accommodate. Afterwards, you need to accurately weigh your dog. There is no point investing in a set of stairs that are going to collapse the moment they set a paw on them! And ideally, you should choose some stairs which have least 20% greater weight capacity that your dog so that you are not putting strain on them every time your furry friend goes up and down.

• Grip and Other Safety Features

When you set up your dog stairs, you want them to stay in place, which is why it is worth looking into what sort of gripping they have on the bottom. Other common safety features include rails on the sides and wider stairs which offer more room. The safer the stairs, the more likely it is that your dog will be able to use them without issue.

• Ease of Assembly

Some dog stairs come ready to set up instantly, while others come in parts which you need to fix together. Many don’t require tools to get set up, but if you need them, this is something which is worth knowing beforehand.

• Materials

You should check out what sort of materials have been used to make the dog stairs. Wooden ones are nice and sturdy but may take up more space and will hurt if you bump into them in the night! Otherwise, you have condensed cardboard which is lightweight but may not be as sturdy. Plastic alternatives may not be as stylish, but they have the obvious advantage of being very easy to clean.

• Storage and Portability

When you don’t want the stairs to stay in one place for a long time, you should think about the storage options. The ones which don’t disassemble will be the trickiest to store, but if they are foldable, you have a greater array of options. You should also consider how lightweight they are and whether they come with any extra portability features like a handle in case you want to take the stairs around from place to place.

Who Should Buy Dog Steps for Bed?

There are plenty of dog owners who should consider investing in stairs for bed. If you have an older dog who is entering their golden years, they may have arthritis and joint problems, and can no longer jump up onto higher surfaces. Disabled or injured dogs may need that extra help which doesn’t risk them causing further damage to themselves. Even if your dog is fully fit, a set of stairs can help to prevent issues occurring further down the line. Otherwise, you may have a pooch who is simply too small to get up on higher furniture items, and you want to give them a helping paw!

How to Teach Your Dog to Use Pet Steps

Just because you have bought a set of stairs and put them up against the bed, it doesn’t mean that your furry friend is going to be automatically drawn to using them. So, your first action should be to give your dog the opportunity to give the stairs a closer inspection by sniffing around and touching them as they would like. When you are training your dog to use the pet stairs, go slowly, and have plenty of treats to hand.

Don’t set your sights too high, to begin with; if you can get them up onto the first step on that initial training session, it is a good start. You can entice them up with a treat and offer them plenty of praise when they get there. And once they have gotten up the first step, you can practice going back down again. Gradually, you can get them to go all the way up and down again through the same method. Take your time and appreciate that all dogs have different learning speeds.

Pet Ramp vs. Pet Stairs

Dog stairs are a safe method of allowing your pooch to climb onto furniture or other type of raised platform, but if you have a dog who is particularly jumpy or struggles to flex his or her joints, a dog ramp could be the better option. Dogs with serious musculoskeletal issues may be better off with a ramp as the incline is much gentler and this can reduce any pain or discomfort which they are feeling.

However, one of the main disadvantages of dog ramps is that they require a lot more floor space as they need to be longer to reach the required height. Dog stairs don’t have this problem and are often foldable and easy to store away or transport around the house as needed. If your dog is comfortable getting up and down steps, investing dog stairs can end up being the ideal solution.

Best Dog Stairs for Bed FAQ:

Q: How do I know if my dog needs stairs?

A: There are a number of clear signals that your dog needs stairs. First of all, if you have an older dog whose joints have seen better days, stairs can provide a more comfortable way to get onto their favorite furniture or into the car. Alternatively, you may have a dog who is suffering from arthritis and you are worried that they are causing further damage to themselves by jumping up and down from furniture. Perhaps your pooch is simply too small to keep making such big leaps over and over again. It could be that you have a puppy whose joints are still developing, and you want to protect them. Otherwise, a dog who is recovering from an injury or surgery can also end up benefitting from pet steps for bed.

Q: How do I store dog stairs?

A: The way that you store your dog stairs depends very much on their design. Some have legs which fold up, allowing you to put them anywhere from a closet to underneath your bed. Others can be disassembled when they are not in use and stored wherever you have space. Finally, you have dog stairs which have fixed designs and cannot be easily dismantled. If you are low on storage space, these may be trickier to store inside your home.

Q: Why should I use stairs when the dog can jump?

A: As we have already talked about, you may have a dog who is older, disabled or otherwise injured and jumping is not the straightforward task that it once was for them. You may have a pooch who is simply too small and jumping up could result in an injury. Another alternative is that you are simply trying to prevent your dog from putting the kind of strain on their joints which is naturally caused by jumping. Finally, dog stairs prevent the kind of scrabbling around which could be damaging to your furniture or other upholstery.

Our Top Pick

Solvit PupSTEP + Plus Pet Stairs

There are a number of reasons why these pet stairs have topped the list of our favorites. First of all, they are extremely lightweight and portable, but strong enough to support over 120 lbs. Specifically designed for smaller and medium-sized pets, their tread size and stair spacing ensure that your dog won’t have trouble going up and down as they would like.

When you don’t need the stairs, you can simply fold them up and tuck them away wherever you would like. And since there is no assembly required, they are ready to go whenever you need them. As for safety, the built-in side rails and non-skidding feet give the staircase an extra level stability. Cleaning can be done easily using some mild detergent.

Ultimately, they provide the safe and stable way of giving your dog access to higher ground that you have been looking for!

Sources:

1. 15 Ways to Help Ease Your Dog into the Senior Years - PetMD
2. How to Help a Dog Overcome Its Fear of Stairs - wikiHow