Dog ladder?
- Thread starter sailnoproblem
- Start date
Sorry about the above posted picture I wanted to post it with my question. I just got a rescue dog and want to take him with me overnight. Problem is how do I get him in and out of the cabin as you can see the steps are very steep. I have a hard time myself. He weighs about 60 lbs. Any suggestions or ideas?
I had a Shepard/Rhodesian Ridgeback combination that weighed around 40# and she learned not only to climb up ladders, but down a near vertical 18' step ladder to get off the boat in the drydock in Papeete. If your dog is young enough to physically, it can probably handle those stairs without a problem. Keep moving the food from the cockpit to below and back. Hunger is a wonderful incentive!
I agree with Capta but first I would put non slip on any flat surface where the paws may land. Our 70 lb goldens are very agile and easily figured out the best way to get into and out of the cabin. That is until the first time one slipped and fell in. It took a long time for him to try it again. Luckily he was only bruised.
Our female would step down to the counter top, then to the settee, then to the floor.
Those steps look much harder to climb than ours are. I wonder about a custom aluminum drop in stair more like a standard stair. Maybe something to take him to the cushion at the bottom of the photo.
Our female would step down to the counter top, then to the settee, then to the floor.
Those steps look much harder to climb than ours are. I wonder about a custom aluminum drop in stair more like a standard stair. Maybe something to take him to the cushion at the bottom of the photo.
We have similar problems with our 70 lb golden as well. She can get up the stairs out the companionway, but cannot go down. Our current solution is to lift, which is fun in a seaway! Fortunately, you don't seem to have a sink right in front of the steps. Can you rig a ramp going forward. I agree with Ward that slipping is a feeling they never forget, so some non-skid or carpeting helps.
Thanks for all the suggestions. I'll try the food idea as he is only a year old. Judging from his temperament I think I will have to resort to a ramp suggested by rgranger.
[QUOTE="Kermit, ... think you need a bigger boat. With an elevator installed. But seriously I think he'll figure it out pretty quickly. If not, you can always get a bigger boat. With an elevator installed.[/QUOTE]
Kermit's not as crazy as you might think. Well, not on this thread at least. I saw on TV where a dog went into a cage-like thing, pushes a big red button (like the "easy" button on the Office Supply Ads) to go up or down. Might double as a dumb-waiter?
Kermit's not as crazy as you might think. Well, not on this thread at least. I saw on TV where a dog went into a cage-like thing, pushes a big red button (like the "easy" button on the Office Supply Ads) to go up or down. Might double as a dumb-waiter?
How about a different angle. Put a cover on the sink and let him walk along the counter? Can't tell how hard it would be, to get down from the other end, out of view on the left.
yeah or maybe a ramp that goes over the sink instead of all the way into the cabin. That might be a much better option than what I posted above.
I have an older rescue dog that can't get up and down the ladder into my cabin. Built deep platform steps(sorry no pix) - looks like you could do the same to the side, using the quarterberth as a final step. Perhaps braced to flip down when not needed to allow access at other times. A halyard clipped onto handle on the back of his safety vest would allow you to raise or lower him into cabin as well - this also works for on and off boat when anchored out. Non-skid, as previous poster mentioned, is a valuable addition to the steps.
My 65 Lb. nine year old standard poodle has difficulty with our similar companionway stairs. We have a plastic container with six life jackets inside that we got from west marine years ago. We place this against the bottom of the ladder and the dog has no problem continuing on up the ladder using this as the first step. A cooler would probably work also. We then toss the life jacket container onto the quarter birth until he needs it again. Getting back aboard from the inflatable is the next problem for you to solve.
For all you folks with big dogs or just would like an elegant boarding solution, if we can get six or more who want one, I can get side accommodation ladders similar to this one produced for around us$3500.00 each.