Are you able to lift your dog? I have a five-pound dog that I can lift with one hand (although I always use two hands, as a matter of safety). I can lift a dog of 20 or 30 pounds relatively easily, if the dog cooperates. I can lift my 55-pound dog up onto my bed, but I have to do it half a dog at a time—front paws and torso on, then rear end. I can lift him down to the ground from the back of my vehicle (again, with his cooperation), and I lift him into the vehicle the same way I help him onto the bed. If he needed the help for stability’s sake, I could put a towel under his tummy and, by holding the ends of the towel, lift him slightly to steady him for walking up and down stairs. Luckily, we’re not at that stage yet.
I have young friends who adopted a baby puppy through a rescue. They knew he would be a big dog; his mix was husky and shepherd. But they didn’t know he’d end up at 90-plus pounds, standing as tall as a Great Dane. There’s very little chance that even the two of them together—young, fit, and healthy—could lift him onto a bed without his cooperation, and certainly not into a vehicle!
What can you do if your dog, for any reason, is too big and/or too heavy for you to lift? Is being able to lift a dog that important? I think it is.
When might you have to lift your dog?
Illness or injury would probably be your first guess, and you’d be right. Dogs can need help walking or even standing up if they’ve recently come out of surgery. After your dog’s spay or neuter, for instance, you might wish to carry her or him to your car. That will be easier if you’ve been practicing lifting the dog from the time you adopted him. Puppies are easy to lift, and it’s good for them to learn to accept and cooperate with being lifted while they’re still youngsters.
Your dog might contract an illness that affects his balance or makes him unwilling or unable to walk on his own. Your dog could sustain an injury—even something relatively minor—that will make him not want to put one foot (or more) on the floor. Of course, you’ll take him straight to the vet . . . but first you have to get him in the car!
Old age or infirmity may be another challenge. Infirmity can hit at any age. Even young dogs can have serious spinal issues that make it painful—and very unwise—for the dog to climb up or jump down more than a few inches. Yet you’d still like to give the dog the comfort of snuggling with you on the couch or sleeping on your bed.
Sadly, old age is not something all dogs experience. When you do have canine senior citizens in your home, you want them to be comfortable with you helping them get to their favorite places and engage in as many of their usual activities as possible.
What are some simple solutions to assisting your dog?
The simplest solutions to climbing on or down from furniture can be inexpensive . . . or very pricey. Doggy stairs are available in styles and sizes to suit almost any dog. The hardest part about choosing doggy stairs is finding a style that will work where you want to use it. The second hardest part is teaching your dog to use what you choose! I suggest early and frequent “doggy stair” training. If at all possible, start long before use of the stairs becomes mandatory.
Ramps are great for many reasons. I see them mostly used to allow dogs access to vehicles that are too high for them to jump up into or out of. Ramps seem to work well for large dogs, dogs with hip problems or arthritis, overweight dogs, and pregnant dogs. Ramps are made to fit many vehicle styles and heights, and most of them are portable—even foldable, to store in the vehicle.
Ramps are excellent for dogs who have trouble with steps, as well; for example, a ramp from your back deck to your back yard. Again, costs vary. Well-made, sturdy ramps are not cheap, but what a great investment for your dog’s comfort and safety . . . saves you the pain of lifting him, too!
If you have a long-backed, short-legged dog, you can guess there may be back problems in his or her future. Before those problems start, teach the dog to never jump on or off furniture (or your stair landing or back deck) at all. Offer a better choice from the start and reinforce him regularly for making that choice!
For those of you with big and/or heavy dogs, look into dog stretchers. They aren’t extremely expensive, and they fold down to be easily stored at home or in your car. In some cases, stretchers can be dragged by one person, but it’s better to have two people carry your dog, one on each end of the stretcher.
You’ll do your dog a huge favor by introducing a stretcher long before you need it. When the stretcher becomes a familiar sight, practice asking the dog to step near it, then on it . . . leading eventually to you and a helper lifting the dog while he’s on the stretcher. Only a few steady inches at first, of course! (Practice initially without the dog so that you and your helper are coordinated and confident.)
- Be sure to involve family, friends, and neighbors in preparing your “emergency plans” for lifting or moving your dog if the dog is ill or injured—especially if you live alone!
- Keep emergency numbers handy. Know who to call if you need help.
- Be sure your dog is familiar with the people who might help you.
Being prepared and routinely practicing your emergency procedures can reduce your stress and your dog’s stress in otherwise unusual situations.
