Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

Our Golden Retriever is starting to have occasional difficulty getting into our vehicles. After a great deal of research on Amazon and other websites we chose this ramp. He took to it like a duck to water. It's sturdy and stable. With the rounded sides (that also serve as a handle) it's quite easy to set up and take down. It slides to 1/2 the elongated size for easy storage. The weight of the ramp is manageable - it's mid-range in weight compared to other ramps. There were two valuable lessons I found in my research. 1. While initially training your dog to use the ramp, stretch it out flat on the floor and let your dog walk on it and get used to it. Then, get your dog to use the ramp to get to a small height, like a favorite chair. Depending on your dog's motivation, a treat or two helps. In our case, a tennis ball worked well. After a bit of practice, try getting your pet to use the ramp to get into a vehicle. Be patient and don't create fear by pushing your dog too hard. Make it fun. We took agility classes with our Golden a few years ago, so we used those skills to make a game of the ramp training. 2.) Don't wait until your pet is injured or frail to start using it. Begin using it when they are young so it's just part of their normal routine. Then when they "really" need it, there's no training or adjustment when they're not feeling well. The walking area is wide enough for very large dogs and the surface is non-slip but not sticky. The rubber ends that hold the ramp in place do not slip and the ramp doesn't bounce when your pet is walking on it. Some of the other products looked good, but the stability and ease of use of this ramp where what sold us on this particular product. It's a good backsaver for pet owners as well, especially those of us with large dogs.