Pet Water Safety -- Not Every Dog Can Dog-Paddle

Does your pet know how to swim? Of course, you might answer--all dogs know how to swim. Not so, says MSNBC, Of pooches and pools -- teaching your dog to swim:

Diamond confirmed that some dogs are born swimmers. It's a good bet if the dog's breed includes the word "water," as in Portuguese or English water spaniel, it takes to swimming like a nursery-schooler takes to finger-painting. For owners of those breeds, the problem isn't getting the dog into the water, but keeping it on dry land. But other breeds aren't as water-friendly. Some dogs have to be taught to swim, Diamond said, and others, like bulldogs, take to the water like submarines take to the Cross Bronx Expressway. For the former, there is hope. For the latter, there are those bright orange canine flotation devices.

Among the dogs that swim naturally and gladly, she said, are water spaniels, setters, retrievers, Barbets, akitas, Kerry blue terriers, poodles and Hungarian pulis.

Among those that can't swim at all or swim only with great difficulty are basset hounds, bulldogs, dachshunds, pugs, corgis, Scottish and Boston terriers and greyhounds.

To be on the safe side, fit your pet with a Life Jacket (Amazon has a supply), especially out in the open water. If your dog swims in a pool or off the boat, a Skamper Ramp is a great help to get him/her out of the pool. Also worth strong consideration is a Pool Safety Alarm.

Eucalyptus Solid Wood Pet Ramp -- Makes Getting Up or Down Easy

This lightweight, manageable Wooden Ramp makes getting up or down easy for cats and dogs. The ramp enables your pet to enter and exit vehicles or climb stairways as high as three steps.

• Constructed of solid eucalyptus wood
• Covers a 60" span
• Folds in half to form two 30" sections
• Weighs just 12 lbs making it easy to transport
• 80 lb. capacity

The Wooden Ramp is an attractive, lightweight ramp not suitable for heavy, larger dogs above 80 lbs. Eucalyptus wood rivals teak in terms of durability and will remain beautiful and functional for years to come.

For heavier dogs -- Telescoping Pet Ramp.

If you need a pool ramp, very affordable Skamper Ramp.

Get Your Pet in Shape on a Pet Treadmill

One good way to exercise your pet is to place him/her on a treadmill.

Aquacise for petss! The Ferno Aqua Paws Underwater Treadmill System creates a low-impact underwater treadmill workout that helps your pets to increase muscle strength and endurance. The warm water assists in pain reduction, and it is a gentle way for older or arthritic dogs to exercise. The water height is regulated to accommodate different sized animals.

Interested in a traditional treadmill for your pet? Try:

• FitFurLife
• Jog a Dog
• Pawwws Pet Treadmills

[via Born Rich]

And for a laugh, check out this clip of cats on a treadmill [Hat Tip motostudios]

Booster Pet Bath & Ramp

The Booster Bath enables you to wash your dog at a convenient height to save your knees and back. It is an indoor/outdoor system which elevates your dog, contains him/her and provides water drainage. Legs nest inside tub for handy compact storage or travel.

Features:

• Easy access open entry on one end.
• Sturdy stand with rubber floor grips. Separates from tub for storage.
• 3 Adjustable restraints.
• Caddy on one side for supplies.
• Rubberized bath mat.
• Drain with 5' exit line.
• Shower nozzle, with on/off and volume control, snaps on rim.

Dimensions: 51" x 24", 33" high, 23 lbs. Booster Bath

Okay, next step. How to get your dog into the Booster Bath? Pair it with a 14" rubberized Booster Bath Pet Ramp. This portable ramp will have a myriad of uses around the house getting your pup into vehicles, grooming table, wherever you need.

At Booster Bath Pet Ramp.

Hat tip Super Cool Baby

Lab Step Stool

Attractive Lab Step Stool will help your pet climb up on the bed or furniture. Made of solid pine with carved sitting Labs as the side rails. Nonskid strips on feet for traction. Keep in the kitchen to reach those high shelves.

In Black Ash or Cinnamon finish. Measures 20"H x 18"L x 21"W.

At Orvis.

Roll-Up Pet Ramp

Some days that pet ramp just seems really heavy. We use a functional and durable Telescoping Ramp at Super Cool Pets daily and we do recommend it. But if you want something a tad bit lighter and easier to help your pet in and out of your vehicle, consider this Roll-Up Pet Ramp. It is a strong, lightweight pet ramp that you can roll up for easier carrying and storage. Choose from a 10-link dog ramp designed for vans with sliding side doors, 2-door cars, and small sets of stairs; or the 18-link dog ramp suitable for SUVs, trucks, and station wagons.

The roll-up ramp is safety-rated for dogs up to 160 lbs. Ramp has rubber footings and textured grips to provide stability and traction for your pet. Some of them can be a little timid about climbing up and down. A nylon storage bag is included. If you own a BMW and Volvo SUVs--they are not compatible with this particular ramp.

At Orvis.

Catnip-Treated Carpeted Ramp for Cats

As our cats get older a good household accessory is a ramp to enable access to furniture, window sills and cat trees. This Carpeted Ramp features no-slip lambswool "rungs". You can attach it to the furniture via a self-fastening strip at the end. Extra special kitty treat--these ramps are catnip-treated.

Carpeted Ramp in Forest Green, Oatmeal, Dusty Blue, Merlot, Soft Sage, Heather Gray, or Cocoa. Dimensions: 37" long x 7" wide.

Pet Steps with Brown Paws

We love these! Cute Pet Steps with Brown Paws are for dogs or cats, or us to use around the house to get where we want to go. Available in bone print also and in 2, 3 or 4-steps.

Plywood construction. Steps are sturdy and support at least 200 lbs.

Pet Steps with Brown Paws ships from and sold by CatsPlay.

Paws Aboard Doggy Boat Ladder

For you boaters who bring your dog along. This Doggy Boat Ladder attaches to the boat's ladder to give your pooch easy access in and out of the water. Great choice if your dog is arthritic or elderly, or perhaps has a condition such as hip dysplasia. May save some backstrain for you boaters, too!

The ramp detaches from the boat ladder when people need to use it and floats next to the boat. Slip-resistant ribbed surface for safety. Easy to carry, install and store. The Doggy Boat Ladder is rust and corrosion-proof, as well as UV resistant.

Features:

* Portable, lightweight and durable
* Easy to attach and remove from any boat ladder
* Reduces pain and strain for pets and owners
* Measures 16 by 64 inches, and it folds in half for easy storage

Doggy Boat Ladder from Paws Aboard.

Pet Loader’s™ Dog Stair

We share our home with two fabulous Golden Retrievers, Molly and Jessie. Molly gets all the press at Super Cool Pets, since she is the more "eccentric" of the two. Jess is an angelic, beautiful, sweet Golden. She has her quirks (no one ever feeds her!), but they are not as exaggerated as Molly's. Molly is "one of those dogs", who is just different.

We use a pet ramp to take our girls on their favorite road trip--the beach. Lately Molly just stands at the end of the ramp, or goes around the side of our SUV. Something about the ramp, which we have been using for years, just doesn't meet with Molly approval anymore. So looking around for alternatives, perhaps these folding steps will do. She seems to love the steps on the boardwalk at the beach.

These folding steps, Pet Loader™, are purportedly wider and more stable than a dog ramp, and do not sag, which may be Molly's issue. They have a more graduated angle and washable carpeting for greater traction. Can hold up to 560 lbs. Pet Loader™ is light-weight and folds down. Easy to carry and store. Fits SUV's, boats, trucks, trailers. Optional wheels available.

Dimensions: 22”wide, 18” long, and 7-1/4” high. Available in 3-, 4- and 5-step models with 16" platforms. Buy at PAWShop

Skamper Ramp Pet Pool Ramp

Now that warm weather is here, pool owners will be opening their pools. The Skamper-Ramp Pet Pool Ramp can be a lifesaver for the pet that gets stranded or tired in the pool.

It provides an easy access point out of the pool, also effective on floating docks, boat swim platforms, most boats, thin ice rescues and vinyl pools. It is constructed of heavy duty polypropylene recycled box-corrugated material.

The ramp purportedly is 8 mm chemical and UV resistant and will withstand high levels of chlorine and other pool related chemicals.

The Skamper Pet Pool Ramp can either anchor using holes drilled into your pool deck or be secured using other tie down points such as pool cover, skimmers or ladder railings. Comes with all instructions, ramp, hardware.

Wood 3 Step Pet Stool

We all know our doggies shouldn't sleep on the furniture. But lots of them do. It's comfortable for them and nice for us to have the companionship when we are watching TV or reading. Some dogs are too small to jump up, some may have hip dysplasia or arthritis, or enjoy those cookies a little too much. For whatever reason, they just can't quite make it.

The Wood 3 Step Pet Stool will help your pet access those tough-to-reach spots. The hardwood finish will look nice anywhere in your home. Includes anti-slip kit for extra safety and measures 18 x 18.75 x 24.25.

Wood 3 Step Pet Stool

Telescoping Pet Ramp -- Review

Do your dogs love to ride in the car? Our 3 year old Golden Retrievers do, and if too many sunny afternoons go by without an outing, they let us know. So we grab our gear and head for the SUV. We actually bought the SUV for this very reason, since two 80+ pound pooches couldn't lie down in the back of our 4 door. Quandry--they couldn't or wouldn't climb in. Jumping out is no problem for them, although we must protect against injury upon impact to one of their front legs, especially on parking lot asphalt.

Solution: the Telescoping Pet Ramp. This ramp has been invaluable. One of our girls does have to be coaxed in sometimes, but normally they trot right in and out of the car.

Orvis recommends this ramp to safely access vehicles, furniture, vet/grooming tables, swimming pools, and more. It adjusts from 39" to 70". It can be fully extended for trucks or SUVs, or shortened to allow the dog access to a bed or couch. The durable, nonslip carpeted surface with high sidewalls guarantees even a skittish dog comfort and sure footing. Rubber feet on top and bottom provide firm grip.

Portable and lightweight, it only weighs 20 lbs and has an easy-carry handle. When traveling, we store it on the exterior roof rack, secured by bungee cords. More times than I wish to admit, we have driven off cluelessly, forgetting to attach the cords, only to hear the ramp whip off and crash to the road. Since the Telescoping Pet Ramp is made from fiber-glass reinforced ABS material--it has survived every abuse intact. It can also be easily secured in the back of the vehicle, and is easily stored in the home.

Orvis and Amazon.