Young dogs that are not big enough yet, but also older dogs with back or joint problems cannot get into the car alone. Leaving the dog at home is not an option.
«Why don’t you just put your dog in the vehicle?» I am often asked.
There are many reasons for this: I don’t want to get my belongings dirty, my dog is too heavy, I already have back problems anyway.
The solution: a dog ramp! It makes driving with my dog a lot easier every day.
That’s why I’m presenting my top 5 products to you today and explaining what is important when buying a dog ramp for the car.
My favorite dog ramp
The big car dog ramp test
PetSafe Compact telescopic dog ramp
You can easily slide this dog ramp from PetSafe together. The ramp is only 71 cm long. So the ramp doesn’t take up much space.
This can be very practical, especially if you plan to take the dog ramp with you on vacation. The compact design of the ramp leaves enough space for the rest of your luggage.
The ramp for dogs is made of aluminium, an extremely stable and durable material that also impresses with its low weight. The ramp weighs only 6.35 kilograms, which is easy to handle even for children.
You have a big car and don’t know if the ramp is big enough? You don’t have to worry about that with the PetSafe dog ramp. When unfolded, it is 1.78 m long, 41 cm wide and 13 cm deep.
In this way, even large distances between the trunk and the floor can be bridged.
The comfortable width ensures stability, even with large dogs. With a maximum load of 136 kilograms, the ramp is suitable for all dog breeds.
The floor is covered with a special anti-slip coating that provides support so that your darling does not slip when walking on the ramp.
The slightly raised railings on both sides offer additional safety. So your dog has an optical and physical limitation that shows him the way.
Trixie Telescopic Ramp Petwalk
A cheaper option is the Trixie dog ramp.
This consists of an aluminum-plastic mixture and therefore also offers a lot of stability. Just like the PetSafe ramp, this model also has an anti-slip coating on the tread. Side rails ensure that your dog does not accidentally step over the edge.
With a weight of 5.8 kilograms, this product is one of the lightest of its kind. This means that the ramp is not a burden even with daily use and can also be used by dog owners who cannot lift heavy without any problems.
The length can be infinitely varied between 100 and 180 cm, depending on the distance between the trunk and the floor of your car.
With a width of 43 cm, your four-legged friend has enough space to run.
Overall, the Trixie dog ramp can be loaded with a maximum weight of 120 kilograms. This means that the ramp can be used by almost all dog breeds. It is even possible for two large dogs to use the ramp at the same time.
Another aspect speaks in favor of this product for dog owners: it is easy to clean and therefore requires little work.
So if your darling ever runs up the ramp with muddy paws, you don’t have to worry. With the water hose, the dog ramp looks like new in no time.
dibea dog ramp made of plastic
The cheapest boot ramp for dogs in our test is the ramp from dibea, which costs only around 45 euros.
This product is not a telescopic ramp, which means that you cannot slide it together steplessly. Rather, the dibea dog ramp can be folded in the middle so that it doesn’t take up too much space in the trunk.
When folded, the ramp has the dimensions 79*40*19cm. When unfolded, the ramp measures 156*40*9cm.
The outer material is made of plastic. To ensure that the surface does not become too slippery, especially when it rains, the tread was also covered with an anti-slip mat. This rough surface prevents your darling from slipping and, in the worst case, getting injured and is therefore a must-have.
With a weight of only 5 kilograms, the ramp is easy to operate at any time. Even children or pensioners who cannot lift heavy will have no problems.
Overall, the ramp can be loaded with up to 90 kilograms. The product is therefore also suitable for very large and heavy dog breeds.
Karlie wooden dog ramp
The Karlie dog ramp is also not a telescopic ramp.
It can only be folded or unfolded. There are no other length settings.
When unfolded, the ramp is 1.20 m long. What is perfectly adequate for low trunks can become a problem for SUVs, jeeps or other raised cars. Because the short ramp length ensures that the ramp is relatively steep, which could be a problem for your dog.
The anti-slip inserts on the tread provide a good grip, but when it’s wet and the ramp is too steep, even the best material can’t do much. The ramp is therefore not suitable for high cars.
The Karlie dog ramp is made of wood, a very stable material that is not that easy to clean. Constant wetness should be avoided at all costs.
The load limit is 50 kilograms. Many dogs can be transported with it without any problems, but the ramp is not recommended for very large and especially heavy dog breeds.
Kleinmetall telescopic dog ramp DOGWALK3
The last ramp in the test again has a telescopic function.
It is infinitely adjustable and can take a length between 73cm and 163cm.
When pushed together, it hardly takes up any space, but when fully extended it is long enough to bridge large differences in height without the ramp becoming too steep.
The tread is 35cm wide and consists of a non-slip diamond-shaped material. Lateral safety bars ensure that your dog does not accidentally slip off.
The ramp was made of aluminum and additionally reinforced with plastic. This ensures high stability and very easy cleaning. The weight of 5.5 kilograms is very low.
To ensure that your car is not damaged when using the ramp, the contact surfaces are angled and have foam padding.
This way no scratches can occur. In addition, the foam ensures that the ramp is stable and cannot slip.
Purchase advice
You should pay attention to this when buying a dog ramp for the car
A dog ramp for the car has many advantages, provided it is adapted to your needs. That’s why you should think carefully about what you need before you buy it.
Your individual wishes, but also the size and weight of your dog and the structure of your car play a decisive role. For example, the requirements for a dog ramp for an SUV and one for a Smart differ enormously.
1. Loading capacity of the ramp
In order for your dog to be able to use the ramp safely, it must be suitable for your dog’s weight. Otherwise, material fatigue may occur and the ramp will collapse.
If you have several dogs, you should take into account that the dogs may want to get in the car at the same time. Then you should rather choose a high resilience.
For small dogs, the load capacity is given for all ramps. Owners of larger and above all heavier dogs have to deal with this point more.
2. Ramp width
The ramp must be wide enough so that your dog can get on and off safely. A ramp that is too narrow is a balancing act, your dog may be briefly distracted and slip off. To avoid this bad experience, the ramp should be big enough.
You can easily test how wide your dog prefers the ramp by covering a passage on the floor with adhesive tape and seeing how much your dog “sways” when walking.
Allow for a bit of a buffer when doing this, because the incline of the ramp means your dog is likely to lunge.
3. Ramp length
The longer the ramp for your dog, the flatter the incline and the easier it is to get on and off. You should also consider the height of your trunk. The higher this is, the longer the ramp should be.
You can use a board or stick to simulate the position of the ramp on the trunk. This will give you a better idea of how steep the ramp actually is.
4. Your dog’s safety
With a dog ramp there are a few safety precautions that make everyday life easier for you and protect your dog from injury.
This includes a good anti-slip coating. Especially if you want to let your dog get into the car in the rain, without appropriate non-slip material it can quickly happen that your dog slips. Your dog will remember this bad memory for a long time. Some four-legged friends even refuse to use a ramp again.
Another important safety feature of a dog ramp for the car are side «railings» that prevent your dog from slipping off to the side.
I have…