Access Elevation

Have you noticed how difficult it has become for your old dog to get up into the car?  If you are finding yourself helping them more and more to climb up to the truck bed or the couch then a dog ramp is the way to go.  A dog ramp is designed to help dogs get to higher surfaces without you, the owner, having to pick them up.

Ramps come in foam, wood, metal and any number of other materials.  The foam ramps are the lightest and are really meant for lighter, smaller dogs.  The angle is set, but can be steep or shallow depending upon your choices.  The cover is normally removable for washing.  Wooden ramps are usually heavier but sturdier and can handle larger animals.  They use either carpeting or a rough material to provide friction.  The wooden ramps often have storage built in underneath.  You can find ramps that are very stylish as well.

The most practical ramp is a collapsible model that you use to help your dog get in and out of your car or truck.  Some roll up, but other slide in and out to give you a variety of positions based upon the distance you need to cover.  Fairly light, so most people can manage them, they can be conveniently stored in the trunk when not in use.

If your dog is still enjoying life, but finding some aspects of their day to day life more challenging, take a look at a dog ramp.  This simple accessory can make such a bit difference to both of you.

Few things cause as much controversy in the world of dog training as dog shock collars.  For some reason, people have a tremendous aversion to using these collars to train dogs, but feel perfectly fine with whacking a dog with a newspaper or hitting them if they soil the house. 

Any competent trainer who uses an e-collar will explain that the shock administered is similar to that of a static discharge you get during the winter.  Furthermore, the trainer will take the time to let you see what your dog feels when they get shocked by having you experience it as well.

For people who object to the e-collar training, a dog in any manner that doesn’t involve direct human-to-dog contact seems cruel.  Because of this, people have now begun using all sorts of euphemisms to refer to these highly useful devices.  "Negative reinforcement collars" or "behavioral collars" are running side-by-side with the popular e-collar, but it doesn’t change the essential nature of the training aide.  Dogs are trained to avoid the uncomfortable stimulation by successfully obeying their owner’s commands.  Owners are still praising their pets and actively involved in the training process.

Regardless of which side of the debate you support, the fact remains that these collars are highly effective training aides. You can’t put a collar on a dog, send them out into the yard constantly pressing the button on the remote, and expect a dog to learn what you want.  You must take time to train yourself and your pets for dog shock collars to be successful, otherwise, why have a pet at all.