Choosing a set of dog stairs does require a certain amount of effort in making sure that the stairs will meet both yours and your dog’s needs. Some of your concerns might be that the stairs won’t be sturdy enough or that they will stick out like a sore thumb in your home. Hopefully by the end of this article your concerns will be soothed and you’ll be ready to shop around!

There are three common materials that pet stairs are made from: plastic, metal, and wood. First, we’re going to talk about plastic pet stairs. Plastic stairs have the advantage of being light-weight, which means that you can easily move them from room to room as you need to. The down side is that most of these require that you assemble them yourself, which can be a bit of a pain if you aren’t feeling up to a project. Also, they usually have a limited range in colors, the most popular being beige. Plastic steps make a fair selection for a small dog, but if you have a heavier or larger dog, you might find less availability in steps of the plastic variety that are capable of handling a larger weight range. Lightweight plastic probably isn’t a good choice of construction for a large dog.

Metal stairs are generally used for loading and unloading your dog into the car, but they can be used for other purposes as well. They aren’t nearly as light as plastic steps, but they are very easy to store or take with you in your car as many (but not all) are built with the ability to collapse into itself. The adjustable incline (again, not all metal steps have this feature, but most do) allows you to adjust the steps to various heights, which means more versatility! Metal stairs are great for all sizes of pets and usually have a fairly high weight capacity. They probably wouldn’t be the most attractive type of stairs to have in your home, however.

The last pet stair material we’re going to talk about is wood. Wood dog steps offer a great deal of convenience and safety. They are solid enough that your dog won’t be likely to slide or knock over the steps, and they have a higher weight capacity (some even a sturdiness capable of supporting up to 250lbs!).  Of the wooden variety, you can choose between a stained wooden finish or a carpeted one. Both the stains and the carpeting come in a wide variety of colors, so you shouldn’t have a problem matching your decorating scheme.

Just ask yourself what your needs are and be sure to pick steps that meet those needs as best as possible. Happy shopping!

Have you purchased a set of pet stairs for your dog, or are you considering doing so? You should know that you can get much more out of your steps than simply a means to help your dog safely access your furniture. We’re going to talk about just a few of the things we use our pet stairs for on a daily basis.

Have you ever heard of portable dog steps? Today’s modern designs of portable pet steps give new meaning to the term convenience! One type of portable pet step is made from a highly resilient type of foam. Some brands can actually support up to 300 pounds of weight! That’s enough to hold any dog! These steps are a perfect way to help your dog on and off high porches or in and out of tall cars. Other popular portable dog steps are made with either metal or plastic and usually can adjust in height to accommodate vehicles and other surfaces.

Portable pet stairs aren’t the only steps capable of being used for different purposes. Many standard indoor dog stairs are capable of much more than simply providing a safe way for your pet to ascend and descend to furniture. Have you ever thought of scooting the stairs near a window so your dog can see what’s going on outside? This is perfect for smaller breeds as it allows them to satisfy their curiosity. Depending on the weight limit of your steps, you can even use them to make your chores a little easier, like changing light bulb. Be sure that you find out the precise weight capacity from the manufacturer rather than testing your weight on the stairs (you don’t want to get injured!). Don’t be afraid to use your imagination and get the most out of your pet stairs!

For durable cat and dog steps, visit the Help Your Pets website.