Senior dogs can find it hard to get in and out of cars. A perfect solution is the PetSafe Solvit Deluxe Telescoping Pet Ramp, which makes road trips easy again.

Is it becoming increasingly difficult to hoist your dog up into the car? If it’s old age, bad joints, overweight – or absolutely any other reason your furry friend seems less inclined to jump to the ‘occasion,’ PetSafe’s Solvit dog ramp, the Deluxe Telescoping Pet Ramp model, is the answer to your problem.

Let me tell you why this ramp really changed my pet’s life.

Gunner, my chocolate Lab, has been with me since he was a small pup of about three months. I miss the days when I could just put him into the car easily and drive off! But now that he’s all grown up (4 years old) and on the chubby side, traveling with him is definitely not an easy job.

I still remember our last trip to the vet. Boy oh boy! Imagine a grown man trying all that he can to load his precious little (or not so little) child into the truck as safely as possible. It took me five minutes of trying to lift Gunner that I realized I needed at least one more person to load him up. NEVER AGAIN! I told myself.

This was the exact moment that I realized the need for a product that could help me my dog get up in my car – without whining in protest.

After spending hours surfing the internet, looking for the perfect pet ramp that could support Gunner, I decided to give the PetSafe Solvit Deluxe Telescoping Pet Ramp a try.

Before I dive into the specifics of the product, I believe that is important for you to understand the need for a pet ramp (this especially goes out to pet parents with heavy dog babies like myself).

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My Reasons For Getting A Pet Ramp

I learnt that if you have a big dog, such as a Lab like Gunner, the chances of him developing joint problems with age are monumental!

In fact, if proper care isn’t taken, your fur buddy can develop these problems at a relatively early age.

Imagine the amount of weight his joints have to bear every time that he jumps up or down a high platform. While we can’t always hold off age related problems, we can postpone them by taking away unnecessary stress.

May no harm ever befall our loyal companions! But hoping for the best doesn’t take away from the fact that dogs are extremely active animals, and are very prone to injury.

Being prepared for such an event, or minimizing the chances of a falling accident, are the best bet for any pet owner in this scenario.

Whether your dog has a sprain, limp, or amputation, or you want to ensure something like this becomes less likely, dog ramps should be your go to accessory.

What I Love about Solvit’s Dog Ramp

I ordered the PetSafe Solvit Extra Large Deluxe Telescoping Pet Ramp, which was perfect for Gunner, especially considering that he is a big boy!

One of the features that instantly stood out for me was how lightweight the ramp was. For me, one of the reasons for getting the dog ramp was to avoid the lifting process, and getting a ramp that weighed a lot would just have defeated the purpose.

What I also really loved about the ramp were the safety features already incorporated into it. It comes complete with built-in guard rails on the sides, a safety latch to secure the ramp, and tread material that prevents slipping.

How I Ramp Trained My Dog

For Gunner and me, the entire process of training him to use the PetSafe Solvit dog ramp just meant more fun time together. But, it was essential to get him used to the ramp – dogs have habits that just don’t go away easily.

I started with just laying the ramp out on a straight surface inside my house, and encouraging Gunner to walk up on it. Yes, I’m not going to lie, there were a lot of his favorite treats and toys involved, and it took a whole hour of encouragement to get him to walk up to the ramp.

Next I started inclining the ramp. I made small adjustments to the ramp in the start – nothing too steep – just enough to get him to get accustomed to it.

Finally, Gunner and I tested out the ramp with the truck. He still required treats to go up and come down, but at least he was willing to use the ramp.

Over time, Gunner has really grown to love his ramp – he literally comes out running when he sees me hold up the ramp.

The Verdict

All in all, the PetSafe Solvit XL Deluxe Telescoping Pet Ramp is perfect for Gunner! I no longer have to worry about sprains or falls, or even untimely joint problems.

The product is light to carry and compact enough to store, and the telescoping feature allows it to extend to a length that fits the rear of my truck perfectly.

I would perhaps recommend increasing the width of the ramp a little for dogs that are a bit bulkier than Gunner – but other than this, I found the ramp a great accessory for my dog.

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Note: PetGuide.com was NOT compensated for this review. Our reviewer received a PetSafe Solvit Deluxe Telescoping Pet Ramp to review. The opinions expressed in this post are the author’s. We provide unbiased feedback of the products and share products we think our readers would enjoy using and learning more about.