Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Alright folks, we could use some input and/or tips. Anybody out there have a wooden staircase or go anyplace with their tripawd so that they have used one? The longer and narrower the staircase the better. How tough are they? Easy as pie? Complete disaster? Gerry's going to need to go up and down them 2-3 times per day.
The plan is to take Gerry along on the big family vacation this July to Virginia Beach. We'll be renting a beach house and the only way in and out is up a formidable staircase. There probably weren't many dog-friendly beach house options to choose from, but I do wish I had thought to say something to the house-pickers about the steps, but that decision was made just about a year ago and I was very aware that I might not make it this trip. At that time we had our paws crossed that it would be Yoda who might make the trip...
But anyways, Gerry and I are in training with staircases already. Getting ourselves in peak stair-stepping/hopping condition. I hope to get him to some actual wooden steps too though, to test him out and practice. We are also working on practicing going up and down TOGETHER so I can have my hand on his harness just in case. He doesn't quite see the point, but with time, and enough food incentive, I think we'll make progress.
Gerry has been a tripawd since 12/16/2009.
He was a shelter dog with a mysterious past and an irrepairable knee injury.
Videos and pics of Gerry's pawesomeness can be found at: http://gerry.tripawds.com
my concern would be - are they open backed steps, or are they 'runners and risers'. i'd think open back would be pretty dangerous in case of a slip. maybe you can go to a high school football field and practice on some risers/steps there??
Life is good, so very, very good!!! Gayle enjoyed each and every moment of each and every wonderful day (naps included). She left this world December 12, 2011 – off on a new adventure.
Love Never Ends
Probably going to be open-backed. They usually are there.
Good suggestion. Perhaps a football field. I'll check around.
Gerry has been a tripawd since 12/16/2009.
He was a shelter dog with a mysterious past and an irrepairable knee injury.
Videos and pics of Gerry's pawesomeness can be found at: http://gerry.tripawds.com
Boy, I'd maybe think about those sticky pads that you attach to the pads of the paws. I don't know what they are called or where to begin looking but admin posted them a while back.
You can't carry Gerry?
Comet - 1999 to 2011
She departed us unexpectedly January 23, 2011 at the age of 12 1/2.
She was born with a deformed front leg and a tripawd all of her life.
Well, you'll see here that I only needed the help on the slippery wooden steps in our old house that were very steep and treacherous:
But the best thing to do if you really don't need heavy duty dog booties is to try Pawz, these little balloon type booties. We just tried them on Wyatt Ray today in a slippery room, and LOVE them! Stay tuned for a review, but meanwhile, they're a cheap buy and offer lots of traction on stairs.
oooh, a beach house sounds soooo nice!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Haha, technically I can carry Gerry Comet, but he makes his displeasure known with a "HmmmMMMMMMmmmmMMMMM!" that becomes more insistent the longer he is in the air. He's about 50 lbs. and the staircase is pretty long, so I'd be worried he'd try to rebel as we went and that would be dangerous.
Always nice to see the pro, Jerry, take those steps. On the one hand, Gerry is not often so careful and wise as he goes up and down stairs, like Jerry. But on the other hand, Jerry did quite well enough for me even on smooth indoor steps. And the beach house outdoor steps will be unpolished or unvarnished, whatever you'd call it - just plain wood - so not so slippery!
I remember as a kid, going on these vacations annually for many years, those open-backed steps always scared me and my two legs on the first day there. But at least I knew by then how much fun was to be had if I faced my fears. I can imagine Gerry taking one look at those steps and turning right around.
But that's the last time I'm going to think that! Pawsitive thinking!!! I'll prepare him as best I can. I'll get him some of those Pawz to practice with (I'm pretty sure I've seen them at the pet stores here) over the next few weeks, see how that goes. We'll conquer this just like we've very nearly conquered his fear of the car! We have another test on that tomorrow. He survived a trip to Milwaukee a month or so ago with no whining or accidents, but he did have his tail between his legs for much of it. Since then though, he has sometimes hopped into the car without any coaxing - because he knows we're usually going to the park! Tomorrow we have a 45 minute car trip planned to a county park, where my brother has a frisbee tournament. He should love it there, so hopefully more incentive not to hate car rides! Paws crossed!!!
I know I sound all self-assured now (ha! yeah right!), but I'm still interested in more tripawd experiences with wood steps, if any of you have more to share. Thanks!
Gerry has been a tripawd since 12/16/2009.
He was a shelter dog with a mysterious past and an irrepairable knee injury.
Videos and pics of Gerry's pawesomeness can be found at: http://gerry.tripawds.com
GerrysMom said:
Anybody out there have a wooden staircase...
FYI: Petco has a sale going on right now with big savings on pet steps and ramps:
Don’t miss our reviews of the best pet ramp alternatives for helping Tripawds into vehicles including the PetLoader folding car steps, and Otto Step for SUVs and trucks.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I don't have much advice to offer - but I did want to tell you that Dante has an aversion to wooden steps. Our deck is a few feet high, and we recently re-built it. We made the steps wider specifically for him and he won't use them. Much to my dismay, he'd rather jump the 4 or 5 feet off the deck, and jump UP the 4 or 5 feet than use the steps. He does stairs inside no problem, and the steps out the front door. But he won't use wooden steps. We spend all day outside lifting him up on the deck and catching him before he jumps off. He'll stand at the top of them and shift and pace a bit, then decide to go jump off somewhere else, with me in tow chasing him to put him on the ground. We haven't put the railing up yet, once that's up he won't have the choice.
Not really advice, but I guess a possibility to be aware of.
Hi Bri,
When Mag was still a quad-pug we rented a beach house that had the open, wood stairs. She would not go up or down them, but then, that was Maggie. It was the open part that scared her. She also was very hesitant on tile stairs, anything slippery.
My parents have wood steps in the back yard that are pretty wide, and closed. After her amp those were the only stairs she would regularly go up on her own. She would try the carpeted stairs in the house, but they were too steep for her. Now remember how small Mag was- only about 12" at the shoulder- so I always felt that was her limiting factor, not that she was a tri-pug.
I would think a rear amp would be fine going down stairs, better control than a front amp (Mag would go down anything on her own). Up I would think would be limited by strength.
Of course that does not take into account general fear.
For Mag it seemed to be about her confidence on the surface. I built a TimberTech deck in my back yard- its one of those 'fake wood' products, and it is a bit slippery. She was fine walking on it but I had to put carpet pieces on the two 4" high steps or she would not even try to go up them. She would go down anywhere- even off the side of the deck (less than a foot high) but she would not come up unless the carpet was there.
Karen
I'd probably go to the dollar store and look for something that is rubber, like bath/shower mats and bring some heavy duty scissors and cut them to fit the stairs. You may have to invest $20 but then you can just toss them in the trash before you leave.
If Gerry can get a good footing, then it won't be so scary.
Gerry looks smaller than 50lbs - the carrying thing is out.
And don't go by me...I took the death fall down my own indoor stairs this past October while Comet sat at the top of them and watched me! I had on socks. I hee-haw hardily about it now. But it wasn't funny at the time because I thought I had ruptured an organ and was fixing to die! I've never passed out in my life but I guess that is what was happening (according to the doctor I triggered a nerve in the brain from the scare). I couldn't tell my husband I was dying (I knew I was!)- all I could say was dial 9-1-1 (which was a first for us)! I survived with a big fat bill for the ambulance ride and hospital visit and not even a bruise!
I traumatized Comet to the point she won't let me carry her up or down the stairs! But if daddy is home, she always catches a ride up the stairs.
Comet - 1999 to 2011
She departed us unexpectedly January 23, 2011 at the age of 12 1/2.
She was born with a deformed front leg and a tripawd all of her life.
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