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Original poster

Advice on getting 37kg dog in boot of my car using steps.

26 replies

Doggysteps · 22/02/2025 22:11

My 37kg dog Sam has a leg injury and is unlikely to jump again so getting in the car is proving impossible. I bought a ramp, he’s terrified of it, tried all sorts including walking over it flat indoors for several days.

my friend has shown me dog steps for cars online, wondering if anyone has any and how did you get on with them? - are they sturdy?

I live alone so I really need a solution (currently lifting in and out in sturdy plastic basket with neighbours help but been difficult as sometimes no one available).

OP posts:
Rainbowstripes · 22/02/2025 23:37

Will he walk over it flat? And if so was there an in-between from flat to going into the boot? That's quite a bit difference, if he's happy walking on it flat I'd try really slowly building the steepness make sure you are using really sturdy things to prop it up. If he won't walk on it flat it could be a surface thing, maybe adding something like astro turf could help as it's a more familiar surface?

Sugarnspicenallthingsnaice · 22/02/2025 23:50

I just lifted my 35kg dog in and out, she hated being carried and wriggled a lot (and leaked pee on me towards the end!) but done quickly it was the easiest and least stressful method for her. She was terrified of ramps and steps too.

Original poster
Doggysteps · 22/02/2025 23:57

Yes he will walk over it flat, I put some towels and cushions under it the following day to make it wobble a tiny bit and that was ok too because I knew it would flex a bit when he went up it, it’s got a really good gripping surface without a gap at the top, it would seem an incline is too much. Maybe I just need to persevere.

I also set it up so he could use it to get on the sofa and he wasn’t keen.

@Sugarnspicenallthingsnaice you must be one helva strong person, I don’t think I could lift Sam and my car boot is fairly high unfortunately.

OP posts:
KeenOtter · 23/02/2025 08:48

If you have the ramp I would carry on with that.

Have it flat and put the dogs food bowl on it. The dog can eat the food from the side of the ramp no need to go on the ramp yet. Do that for a few days.

Build up to putting treats on the very end of the ramp so the dog still does not need to put his feet on the ramp.

Gradually put the food further up the ramp so the dog does have to out feet on it. If you use a clicker click and reward for foot on the ramp.

Just very gradually build up the interaction with the ramp.

Do not attempt to raise the ramp until the dog happily walks along it.

When you do raise it do it in very small increments eg on a brick to start with

Moonlightstars · 23/02/2025 08:51

KeenOtter · 23/02/2025 08:48

If you have the ramp I would carry on with that.

Have it flat and put the dogs food bowl on it. The dog can eat the food from the side of the ramp no need to go on the ramp yet. Do that for a few days.

Build up to putting treats on the very end of the ramp so the dog still does not need to put his feet on the ramp.

Gradually put the food further up the ramp so the dog does have to out feet on it. If you use a clicker click and reward for foot on the ramp.

Just very gradually build up the interaction with the ramp.

Do not attempt to raise the ramp until the dog happily walks along it.

When you do raise it do it in very small increments eg on a brick to start with

Do this!

Moonlightstars · 23/02/2025 08:53

Also is he meant to be 37kg? I know lots of dogs are but if he is overweight it would be good to get his thinner to improve his injury.

Majorityofthree23 · 23/02/2025 08:57

We had steps for our last rather heavy infirm dog. They folded up into a box shape snd popped in the boot and were very sturdy. The dog never trusted a ramp but the "stairs" worked brilliantly. They were quite expensive and at that time I bought them from the US (may be better options now). Made a huge difference to being able to take the dog out.

TheLurpackYears · 23/02/2025 08:57

It's a tough one. A friend if mine is in a similar situation with a massive elderly dog, he gave up lifting despite being extremely strong because it was damaging his back and he bought an old motor motorbility vehicle with a built in ramp. He'll sell it on after the dog dies.

soupyspoon · 23/02/2025 09:03

Ours wouldnt use a ramp, no matter what we tried. He would then just try to jump up

In the end we would put him in his dog box on the ground and then both of us lift him in the car. That was bad enough and he was only 3 stone I think. Occasionally I could lift him myself by crouching down, grabbing all his legs in my arms and lift him straight up but he was heavy

Beautyfadesdumbisforever · 23/02/2025 09:13

Oh I’ve been there. I ended up being very Heath Robinson and got a pallet cut it in half length ways and used the spare half to form a step at the end of it. I then covered it in carpet and used it to get my dog in the side door of the car with the seat down.
It worked because my dog could walk onto the pallet then step up on to the step and the third step was the car it’s self. The car door formed one side to the steps and I stood on the other side.
Once he got used to that I could use the proper steps but I never got him to walk in to the back of the car I think it was too open he felt safe when it was more enclosed at the sides.
Good luck it’s so easy to lift a large dog with two people and damn near impossible on your own.

user2848502016 · 23/02/2025 09:41

My parents dog refused to walk up a ramp too but did fine with steps.
Maybe you could see if anyone has some steps you could try to see if they work before you buy some? A shout out on local Facebook page maybe.

YourFlawIsLava · 23/02/2025 09:44

Can Sam put his front legs on the seat/in the boot? My dog is 53kg and some days can't hop in so he puts his front legs on the chair and I lift his bum and push. He sits in the back. He's a princess.

Can you not dangle some ham or another treat to bribe him to walk on the ramp?

Valkyrie3 · 23/02/2025 09:54

What sort of dog is he?

ladycardamom · 23/02/2025 10:07

Not what you're asking but might help. My 42kg rescue was scared of the car when I got him. I placed his front paws on ledge of boot and then squat down and lifted him up by his haunches if that makes sense.

Hoppinggreen · 23/02/2025 10:13

DDog is 40kg and is struggling to jump into the boot now. We tried a ramp and he walked up it once with treats but I don't think he realised what he was doing until it was too late and now won't do it again.
He will put his paws up and I can scoop his bum up but generally if I am taking him in the car DH is with me anyway and he can lift him.

Original poster
Doggysteps · 23/02/2025 10:46

Yes he’s 37Kg, a large breed, and I’ve slimmed him down from a slightly overweight 42kg. Vet said to lose no more.

I live alone so no one to assist with a lift.

thanks for all the comments, working my way through them all.

OP posts:
Original poster
Doggysteps · 23/02/2025 12:51

Beautyfadesdumbisforever · 23/02/2025 09:13

Oh I’ve been there. I ended up being very Heath Robinson and got a pallet cut it in half length ways and used the spare half to form a step at the end of it. I then covered it in carpet and used it to get my dog in the side door of the car with the seat down.
It worked because my dog could walk onto the pallet then step up on to the step and the third step was the car it’s self. The car door formed one side to the steps and I stood on the other side.
Once he got used to that I could use the proper steps but I never got him to walk in to the back of the car I think it was too open he felt safe when it was more enclosed at the sides.
Good luck it’s so easy to lift a large dog with two people and damn near impossible on your own.

This sounds an interesting way of getting round things that I can probably manage.

Can I ask, do you then put that step in the boot of your car so you can use it at the other end of your journey?

And if so, is it quite heavy as I haven’t got the best of backs at the moment

OP posts:
Original poster
Doggysteps · 23/02/2025 12:52

ladycardamom · 23/02/2025 10:07

Not what you're asking but might help. My 42kg rescue was scared of the car when I got him. I placed his front paws on ledge of boot and then squat down and lifted him up by his haunches if that makes sense.

We’ve done this in the past, but my concern would be getting him out as he has a back leg injury and I’d be worried about this with him jumping out

OP posts:
Original poster
Doggysteps · 23/02/2025 12:56

KeenOtter · 23/02/2025 08:48

If you have the ramp I would carry on with that.

Have it flat and put the dogs food bowl on it. The dog can eat the food from the side of the ramp no need to go on the ramp yet. Do that for a few days.

Build up to putting treats on the very end of the ramp so the dog still does not need to put his feet on the ramp.

Gradually put the food further up the ramp so the dog does have to out feet on it. If you use a clicker click and reward for foot on the ramp.

Just very gradually build up the interaction with the ramp.

Do not attempt to raise the ramp until the dog happily walks along it.

When you do raise it do it in very small increments eg on a brick to start with

I laid it flat in the hallway and blocked the area around it off so it was sort of like a tunnel with no roof, he’s been trotting over it quite happily backwards and forwards of the kitchen so I know from an under foot point of view he’s not scared of it. I think it’s when it’s raised.
Also, he’s quite large and I’ve noticed that although the ramp is 50 cm wide, his paws pretty much come up to the edge of the fabric part of it, I’m kicking myself for not buying the wider one

OP posts:
Beautyfadesdumbisforever · 23/02/2025 13:55

Doggysteps · 23/02/2025 12:51

This sounds an interesting way of getting round things that I can probably manage.

Can I ask, do you then put that step in the boot of your car so you can use it at the other end of your journey?

And if so, is it quite heavy as I haven’t got the best of backs at the moment

Show quote history

i did take it with me a few times but it was really heavy and cumbersome but it did give him the confidence to walk up the steps that I bought.
He would never use any of them to get in the back of the car because he was too open I think he thought he would fall off and because he was hesitant he probably would have. I can’t remember the name of the steps I bought but they were extra wide.

biscuitsandbooks · 23/02/2025 14:35

Does he need to travel in the boot? It might be easier to get him into the back seat as he can jump into the foot-well then up?

Original poster
Doggysteps · 28/06/2025 09:01

Thought I’d update this for anyone else coming along later with same problem.

I recently bought HUGE caravan steps (Milenco MGI double) which have to travel in the boot and take up slightly over half of it but dog can now get safely onto back seat, the ramp was just too wobbly. I put a vet bed type of rug on the steps to shield his feet from the slightly raised plastics knobbly surface.

I fed him in the car for about four days using new steps on the trot twice a day and he uses them quite happily if there’s a treat thrown onto his bed as I was him to get in the car.

OP posts:
TheLurpackYears · 28/06/2025 09:03

A friend of mine resorted to buying an ex motorbility vehicle with a dropped bumper and wheelchair lift.

Original poster
Doggysteps · 28/06/2025 09:05

TheLurpackYears · 28/06/2025 09:03

A friend of mine resorted to buying an ex motorbility vehicle with a dropped bumper and wheelchair lift.

my dad suggested something similar and it was on the back burner as an idea (although possibly a bit crazy one).

OP posts:
noctilucentcloud · 28/06/2025 09:27

Doggysteps · 28/06/2025 09:01

Thought I’d update this for anyone else coming along later with same problem.

I recently bought HUGE caravan steps (Milenco MGI double) which have to travel in the boot and take up slightly over half of it but dog can now get safely onto back seat, the ramp was just too wobbly. I put a vet bed type of rug on the steps to shield his feet from the slightly raised plastics knobbly surface.

I fed him in the car for about four days using new steps on the trot twice a day and he uses them quite happily if there’s a treat thrown onto his bed as I was him to get in the car.

I have a 37 kg dog too who's getting older - there's no way I can lift him and I also live alone. At the moment he can still get in the car but I was wondering about caravan steps at some point - good to know they worked for you. Hope your dogs leg is healing well.