We love having our pets near us in our homes, whether beside us on the couch or in the bed. However, as our pets get older, they tend to have more difficulty jumping up and down. In fact, we shouldn't allow our pets to jump so much as they get older to avoid any fractures. There are many products on the market to help dogs and cats get up to a couch or bed, but there is a new product available to offers both a ramp and steps in one.
We've been a fan of PetSafe and its products for a long time and love receiving new products to review and share with our readers.
We recently received an email with a release for the CozyUp™ Steps & Ramp Combo which piqued our interest because we are getting older. We then thought about our grandparents' dog, Bandit. Bandit is a 13-year old Shih Tzu mix who has always been active. Recently, we've noticed, Bandit is a little more hesitant going up and down steps in the house, but he still loves to leap from the couch to the floor, which scares us because we are afraid he will break a bone. We decided to review the CozyUp Steps & Ramp Combo with Bandit.
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Bandit is very curious about these new steps |
The CozyUp™ Steps & Ramp Combo transitions from a ramp to stairs in seconds which allows pets easy access to all their favorite places with this single product. This product is designed for both older dogs and cats with aging joints or smaller dog breeds who should avoid jumping down from the couch or bed. The Steps & Ramp Combo adjusts from 16-20 inches in height and its heavy-duty carpet cover keeps pets from slipping or tripping. This product is designed to support pets in all life stages. You could use this product beside your bed during the night and transition it to a ramp by your couch during the day to help your dog or cat easily rest beside you. The step ramp folds flat for easy storage under your bed or couch, or the back seat of your car.
The CozyUp Steps & Ramp is designed with heavy-duty carpet to help keep your pet from sliding. The furniture is independently tested and rated to support pets up to 200 pounds.
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Diagram of using the ramp beside the bed Diagram Credit - PetSafe |
Ramp Beside the Bed or Couch
To use the StepUp as a ramp beside the bed or couch, place it directly next to the bed in the "ramp" mode. You should allow your pet to approach the ramp on his own. When he touches the ramp, you should reward him with treats and praise. Continue this process until your pet chooses to walk up. Do not force him! Once your pet is sitting on the bed comfortable, call him to walk down the ramp. Make sure to reward him with praise and treats once he reaches the bottom of the ramp.
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Diagram of dog using steps Diagram courtesy PetSafe |
Steps Beside the Bed or Couch
Begin by placing the steps in your desired location with the top of the step resting at the bed or couch. You should allow your pet to approach the steps on his own. As stated earlier, do not force him to climb the steps. When he touches the step, reward him with treats and praise and continue with this until he chooses to walk up. You should follow the same process of rewards with treats and praise to encourager your pet to walk down the steps.
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Bandit barking for his treat during acclimation training to use the ramp |
Our Review
As we said earlier in this post, Bandit is a 13-year old Shih Tzu mix who is approximately 18-20 pounds. Bandit has been an active dog and still insists on jumping from the floor to the couch and back down. I've been quite concerned that he is going to break a bone when he jumps. I've told my parents numerous times that he needs some steps to get up on the couch beside my mom. I jumped at the opportunity to review the CozyUp Steps & Ramp Combo.
The steps came in one piece in the box and all I had to do was pull it out and unwrap all the plastic and bubble wrap. When I first placed it beside the couch, all Bandit did was bark at it! I tried to coax him up the steps by sitting on the couch beside the steps, but he bypassed them and jumped up directly to the couch. I then pulled out the treats and began tempting him up the steps with the treats and praise. He was quite hesitant to climb up the steps, but I continued providing treats and praise. He did make it all the way up once, but then insisted jumping down from the couch.
The next step was to convert the steps to a ramp to see if he'd use those better since he has been hesitant going up and down steps at my parents' house lately. He would begin by putting his front paws on the ramp while I was tempting him with a treat. He couldn't seem to get a grip with his back feet (maybe because of the floor). I then lowered the ramp by unlatching the latch on the back legs which lowered the height from 20 to 16 inches. Bandit was better able to climb up the ramp this time. He is still a little hesitant to go down the ramp.
I believe my next step will be to place a rug under the front of the ramp/steps to give him better traction. The instructions with the CozyUp Steps & Ramp Combo state to take your time with your pets to help them acclimate to climbing up and down.
It's very easy to convert from the steps to the ramp. You must always start from the top step and go down. I'm convinced with additional work, Bandit will use these regularly when he realizes how much easier it will be.
I'm also sure my two cats would love this beside my bed. I have a rather tall bed that I must use steps in order to get in it. My two cats can easily jump from the floor to the bed in one leap, but they prefer getting up via my steps.
Giveaway
Thanks to the generosity of our friends at PetSafe®, one lucky reader will win the CozyUp™ Steps & Ramp Combo. The giveaway is open to U.S. residents, 18+ years of age, except where prohibited by law. The winners will be selected randomly by Rafflecopter and contacted via email and will have 48 hours to claim their prize. Failure to respond will result in forfeiture of the prize and a new winner will be randomly selected by Rafflecopter. Please note that to qualify for the prize comment MUST be left on this post. The giveaway closes on Monday, July 5 at 11:59 pm ET.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
That looks super helpful, especially for we of the senior set. I use one plastic step stool for the bed, and dad's, umm, homemade steps for my chair, but we're still waiting for dad to make me another set for a bench I like to hop up on but then have a hard time getting back down. I like the ramp idea.
ReplyDeleteThat really is super nice and a clever design to also become a ramp!
ReplyDeleteI told The Hubby this morning that Sweetie needs a better way up onto the bed than an old box to jump onto!
ReplyDeleteThat looks like a great product.
ReplyDeleteVery cool. My oldest dog is 12 and a year or so ago we bought a ramp to help him get on/off the bed. He's still pretty active for an older pup, but does hesitate a bit now when it comes to jumping on and off furniture.
ReplyDeleteThis is a very smart design. I love his it can be steps or stairs, very neat, looks good quality and sturdy.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite thing is that you can convert the steps into a ramp. This makes the item very versatile.
ReplyDeleteHaving furniture and tools to help aging pets is so helpful. It helps keep them active and semi independent. I like that the steps convert to a ramp to make it easy for them and provide 2 different options for elevation.
ReplyDeleteI like that it has a ramp option because I know my previous dog had trouble with some steps because her body was soo long even though she had short legs
ReplyDeleteThat is such a wonderful idea for an older pet! I really like the way it converts to a ramp!
ReplyDeleteWhat I like best is the steps lay flat like a ramp or it can be steps. Great for dogs or cats who have troubles jumping up on things or for pets who have arthritus. I have a cat who could use this and I also know a dog who could use this. This is a very useful tool for your pets.
ReplyDeleteLove the ramp combo. Great idea
Hope I Win
This is perfect! I was just starting to explore ramps for our senior pups to have help getting on the beds. We have stairs but one doesn't like to use them :)
ReplyDeleteI love that the steps can be converted to a ramp!
ReplyDeleteThe peeps think cos of my age that I'll soon need one of these even though I still still jump from the pink perch onto the Tower of Power with no effect. Perhaps TW can use the ramp.
ReplyDeleteThat's awesome. We have stairs that were for our angel Gracie, but Ava, who is still quite young, loves using them, so we have just left them.
ReplyDeleteWe have the same thing with our cats and the steps. Even the youngsters adore them!
DeleteMaking the two steps into one unit is an inspired idea. they steps also don't look too heavy which is great. We had steps for our senior Peanut, then Harvey adroed them and now everyone uses them so we can't remove the steps at all!
ReplyDeleteThis makes me think, yes pets can leap but do we want to make them? Aren't steps a good idea for any age of pet? I think they are.
It's amazing how much of a difference a product like this can make for our pets as they are getting older. This past weekend, we actually took the time to build a ramp up to our bed for our girl so that she could easily get up onto the bed after a day of running and playing. She's usually pretty agile, but too much playing leaves her feeling a little stiff.
ReplyDeleteI Love the PetSafe brand! Their products are such great quality. This is a great product, I love that it can be a ramp or steps, and that it can fold away under the bed or couch! My dogs are seniors now, 12 and 13. I worry about their mobility, they both have some arthritic pain.
ReplyDeleteLove & Biscuits,
Dogs Luv Us and We Luv Them
We need this so badly for Pierre. He sits "deadweight" for me to lift him onto the bed every single night. LOL!
ReplyDeleteI used boxes of different sizes for Bear to use as stairs into bed (you also have to be sure they are sturdy or packed full so the box doesn't collapse). This would've been so much easier though!
ReplyDeleteI like that it's versatile and can easily switch from steps to a ramp.
ReplyDeleteThis looks super sturdy, which I definitely need. I have a German Shepherd who weighs 92 pounds, so she could definitly use this as she gets older.
ReplyDeleteThis would be so helpful for our dog who has arthritis and has trouble jumping.
ReplyDeleteIt looks very well made and sturdy and I like that it's 2 products in 1.
ReplyDeleteI love the ease of access!
ReplyDeleteIt looks very sturdy
ReplyDeleteI love that it comes in one piece and you just set it up and that it is strong enough for a 20 lb dog
ReplyDeleteThis is a very smart design. I love his it can be steps or stairs, very neat, looks good quality and sturdy.
ReplyDeletesallstun
at....hotmaildotcom
The CozyUp Step & Ramp Combo has a wonderful design that I really like.
ReplyDeleteThis product looks great - I'll have to see if it is available in Australia.
ReplyDeleteIt looks a little steep when in ramp mode, but I think the option to start as steps and convert to a ramp as the pet ages would be an easy enough transition.
This would've worked nicely for the white doggy that Mom and Dad had long ago. He had bad knees and didn't move around so good when he got old. Bessie the doggy is old now and is having problems getting in and out of Dad's auto. Do you think the PetSafe steps could be used to help her with that?
ReplyDelete