We try to keep every ‘best of’ list vary to cater for practically every type of dog owner. And you can probably guess why we’ve included the Gen7 Natural -Step dog and cat ramp on our list – the immediately noticeable astro turf surface on both panels of this bi fold ramp. Indeed, this product’s unique selling point is its natural feel surface which no other dog ramp possess, that we could find. This is an ideal product for those who have fake grass at home and have a nervous dog who will appreciate the familiarity beneath the paws. It’s niche, we get it. But it’s a good type of niche that does feel pretty nice to touch and looks good as well. This is definitely the best looking ramp. What you will get is a nice and grippy dog ramp that’s somewhat stylish, cheap (great) and sturdy enough for some of the uses highlighted in the above image galleries. If you have a small dog that struggles to get up and down furniture either in the home or in the garden but you don’t want some garish dog ramp like most of the others in this list then this is the perfect one. It’s made entirely of plastic and weighs less than 3kg which is pretty much like air. It’s got a nice curved rubber hook at the top which curves and allows easy entry for the pooch and at the bottom it has a no slip base so no need to worry if you have slidey laminate flooring. On the face of it, a dog ramp is a seriously simple product with little differences between one product and another. However, there is a difference between a good and a great dog ramp and the focus of this buyer’s guide is to help you separate the wheat from the chaff so that the dog ramp you end up buying is the best for your needs, the dog’s needs, your budget and the purpose you need it for. A dog ramp made for boats is not going to be the best dog ramp for SUVs and so on.

This guide is specifically for dog ramps and not steps so if you’re looking for steps only then you’re going to be disappointed. However, we still wanted to add some information to help distinguish between the two and why someone may want one over the other. You can, however, find some stairs which are long enough to get out of cars, boats and SUVs if you really wanted to just be aware that they are not very portable, not nearly as strong and still give your dog a lot of work to do to get up and down. We can’t think of many reasons you’d ever go for stairs over ramps for outdoor use to be honest. Places where dog ramps can be used It’s a brilliant product and we always thing a ramp is better than steps, even for indoor use as steps aren’t the most natural thing a dog would need to climb and over time can actually contribute to arthrosis and arthritis and other joint problems. A telescopic dog ramp is a type of ramp which is built like a russian doll with other segments of the ramp inside the ramp which slide out and fully extend into the full size product. Telescopic dog ramps tend to be lightweight, convenient and extremely portable which has led them to become one of the bestelling types of ramps on the UK market. To be fair, this is the kind of dog ramp you will likely end up buying for a car.If you’re a pet parent wondering whether your dog will willingly accept the ramp, here is a video that explains how to teach your pooch to safely use one. If you’re anywhere remotely serious about dog training then you are going to need several dog ramps! If you’ve ever watched any dog shows then you’ll have noticed from time to time a dog will have to traverse a dog ramp over some kind of an object. Sometimes the dog ramp may take them over a small body of water, over a fence or there might be an inclining dog ramp meeting a declining ramp to test their balance and coordination. Dog ramps only allow a dog to get to and fro from two places of different heights, true, but there are a few different places and situations where being able to do just that can be extremely handy and if you’re on the fence about committing to buying one or not then hearing all about them may help you make that decision. Below are just some of the most common places dog ramps have been used effectively. Getting in and out of a car The cons, which we must make sure to include is that folded it does take up a bit more space than some of the other traditional metal choices so bare that in mind especially if you don’t have a generous boot. Along with this, remember that this is made of wood which is a natural product and can weaken with age and may need ongoing treatment especially to protect the wood from rot which it can attract when it is used in the wet. We’re not gonna lie, the Gen7 Natural -Step dog and cat ramp is straight off the bat not the best performing dog ramp on our curated list. It is most definitely not a bad product as it does exactly what you need it to do but the high cost and below exemplary performance means that there are a couple which are better, overall.

The Petstep Original Folding Ramp folds in half for storage in small places and sports non-slip stabilizers on each end to grip steadily to most surfaces. Made of easy-clean plastic, you can use it inside or outside your home with no worries of moisture retention, which can weaken the construction. Those who have adopted a disabled dog or own a dog who develops a disability during their life will gain a lot from a ramp. On both ends, it comes with an angled rubber hook which grips well to a car with a decent lip and also comes with a safety attachment cable to give you added peace of mind. This rubber grip won’t cause damage to your car’s bodywork if you don’t have rubber boot lip protectors. From a product only point of view it is an excellent dog ramp which has been well designed, made and uses quality metal and plastic to provide a sturdy solution to get your dog in and out of the car. It has guiderails on the side to help nervous or elderly dogs stay on the path and it has a really good “Suregrip” cover which makes it non slip even in the wet conditions (don’t underestimate how important this is). It is a telescopic dog ramp if you haven’t been able to tell from the screenshots which folds neatly in the boot. It weights 6.3kg which isn’t the lightest option but not the heaviest either. Dogs up to 110kg are safe to use so although it’s been labelled as heavy duty, we have reviewed others which go up a lot more.

Manual

A few people use dog ramps and stairs to help their dog reach greater heights indoors. However, all dog ramps used in this scenario were made of soft materials and not the same kind of dog ramps that the bulk of this buyer’s guide describes. With so many dog ramps to choose from, it can be overwhelming narrowing down which is best for you and your dog. But we’ve done the research for you, and here are the ramps we consider the best value and construction to meet most dog needs. Manufacturers of dog ramps will have a tried and tested blueprint which has been field tested and reviewed extensively over the years making them superior to anything you may be able to make yourself, probably. We’ll look at the ramps first, then a ramp buying guide with the most common ramp questions so you decide which ramp is best for you and your furry friend. Anyway, what you’ve got here is a dog ramp that doesn’t have any metal in it whatsoever and made using only plastic. It feels very rubbery but it is quite strong and can handle most breeds of dog up to perhaps Labradors. Much larger ‘giant’ breeds should not be using this.

In addition, it has foam pads on both sides to both give it grip when in use and to protect the car’s body paint from damage if they are coming out of a car. A dog ramp can help create a stable bridge between land and sea and minimise the risk of an unnecessary accident. Even if your dog is fit, capable and healthy the change of movement caused by a body of water can catch them out. Short legged breeds The RayGar dog ramp is a strong and durable plastic dog ramp that’s a softer approach to consider. Immediately you can see it looks similar to the trixie dog petwalk except this one is bi folding and a little more rugged to handle being used outside. The main reason we’ve included it is just to make sure we have a ramp for every taste and this is the only one that looks like this and can be used outdoors.A folding dog ramp is one where there are two or four hinges in the ramp to allow it to fold together to save space. When it’s needed to be used it just uncurls into position. These are some of the most common types of ramps as well as the most reliable provided the hinges are sturdy and made of rust resistant materials. Sports Utility Vehicles and Crossovers have a higher ride than usual cars and are a bit of a climb to get out even for the biggest of dogs. A dog ramp makes it an easy transition from the car to the ground. Even if your dog can get out of the SUV themselves, jarring the jump causes the joints and muscles can take its toll over time and lead to problems further down the line. Like we mentioned previously, jumping in and out of a car or a boat or whatever can cause stress on the joints that can lead to problems. If you have an elderly dog with joint and muscle problems then they may really struggle to get out of a car, especially if it’s an SUV. A ramp makes it virtually pain free and they will thank you for it. The alternative obviously is for you to physically carry them but that’s not practical and good for your joints either! Large dogs are well-known for arthritis and joint issues including hip dysplasia, and vets are very supportive of ramp use early, especially when getting into vehicles and on high beds and furniture. The use of a ramp from an early age can mean your dog continues to enjoy high mobility into their senior years with less pain. Teaching a dog to use a ramp The anti-slip material feels like sandpaper which is pretty much the same thing that most of these dog ramps use but has drawn a little bit of criticism. It goes up to 90kg which is great but not spectacular. The materials feel sturdy and high quality but because it’s rubber it definitely isn’t the sturdiest and would not recommend over the more expensive ramps if you have multiple energetic dogs or larger breeds.

Despite metal ones being overall the better choice, plastic ones offer the added benefit of being easier on your hands to carry and move around in the wet as it won’t slip. There’s also much less likely to damage vehicle interiors if it’s moved incorrectly – if that’s one of your worries then this one might be the one for you. Pet Gear Tri-Fold is the best dog ramp for cars in 2023. It’s highly-reviewed by most dog owners thanks to its lightweight and durable build that makes the product easy to carry around. Additionally, the ramp’s surface is very comfortable on the dog’s paws and skid-proof. What we like about it is that it has guide rails on the side to make it easier for inexperienced ramp dogs to navigate. It of course also features an ant slip surface which is ideal if you’re looking for a solution for dogs with mobility issues that need to take it nice and slow. The materials used are aluminium and plastic which is really high quality and protects itself from rust and degrading over time, although it’s not invulnerable if it’s constantly stored improperly.

Aside from the surface, it is also a normal dog ramp underneath which folds onto itself once. It weighs 7.7kg which is slightly heavier than usual. It has rubber grips to grab onto the desired surfaces as well as protect them from damage when engaged. It’s fully extended size is 42″/106cm which is standard and we have no complaints – it’s suitable for cars, estates, SUVs, crossovers and boats. It can hold dogs up to 113 kg which is decent.