CozyUp™ Steps & Ramp Combo

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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