We have a medium sized dog 12 yrs old and his hips are showing his age. Bought a new 5th wheel Cougar. He first walked the steps fine and now he won"t even come close to the camper to get in. He is a wonderful dog very good with us but curious why all of a sudden doesn't want to get into the camper. Any tips or any special stairs that would help him. We really would appreciate any comments or suggestions.
How long/how many times and over what period of time was he okay with going in and out, before the problem started?
Was it hard for him to go up the stairs? Did he give indications of pain?
When he started refusing to go up the stairs, had the rig been moved at all? Different time of day? Anything that might make the steps look different?
The more info you have, the easier it becomes to figure out where the problem is, and that has to happen before a solution can be found.
There are steps and assist harnesses and ramps and all manner of things that can help him, but I'd be inclined to have a vet give him a good going over and specifically assess his vision. Failing vision does occur in older dogs and it can come on quite suddenly, or over time. If he's normally in familiar surroundings, he might function well enough that you wouldn't know he can't see.
susan
Fuzzy Wuzzy was a wabbit, Fuzzy Wuzzy had a dandelion habit! RIP little Wuz... don't go far.
Don't know if this will help, Not sure it is the "stairs" but ours loved going anywhere and getting in or out and there was no problem. Until at one campground she wouldn't get back in and yelped when she got out a couple of times. We lifted her in and out and couldn't figuire out why she was acting like she was. Long story short there was "stray" electric and when she went from the metal step to the ground she was the "ground" for "stray" electic. Very easy to check, just get out the volt/multi meter and see if there is any "stray" elec. One prong on metal step of RV and other prong on the surface of where she will land on (ground, dirt etc...) We did not feel it. Only the dog did. The problem was fixed by the campground telling us to use the elec box for campground next to us, until they got it fixed. It turned out to be a bad ground at the plug in the elec box. If I recal right I think the "stray" elec was something like 4 Miliamp. Not much for humans but the dog sure didn't like it. Not saying that is the problem but maybe. If you have stray elec all the time it might be your RV elec and not the campgrounds. Should be easy to trouble shoot. And I learned out of that trip that dogs are so much more sentisive to elec than us or maybe the rubber soles on shoes really do work as a insulator? Just a thought.
(Now that she is 16 we have to lift her most places anyway.)
* This post was
edited 07/06/12 12:08am by path1 *
(To cheap to buy new)
1990 37 ft 5th wheel that hasn't moved since 1996 (our best home)
1997 33 ft trailer (winter home in much warmer climate)
2005 25 ft M/H (our "stand up B" for traveling)
path1 wrote: Don't know if this will help, Not sure it is the "stairs" but ours loved going anywhere and getting in or out and there was no problem. Until at one campground she wouldn't get back in and yelped when she got out a couple of times. We lifted her in and out and couldn't figuire out why she was acting like she was. Long story short there was "stray" electric and when she went from the metal step to the ground she was the "ground" for "stray" electic. Very easy to check, just get out the volt/multi meter and see if there is any "stray" elec. One prong on metal step of RV and other prong on the surface of where she will land on (ground, dirt etc...) We did not feel it. Only the dog did. The problem was fixed by the campground telling us to use the elec box for campground next to us, until they got it fixed. It turned out to be a bad ground at the plug in the elec box. If I recal right I think the "stray" elec was something like 4 Miliamp. Not much for humans but the dog sure didn't like it. Not saying that is the problem but maybe. If you have stray elec all the time it might be your RV elec and not the campgrounds. Should be easy to trouble shoot. And I learned out of that trip that dogs are so much more sentisive to elec than us or maybe the rubber soles on shoes really do work as a insulator? Just a thought.
(Now that she is 16 we have to lift her most places anyway.)
A really good thought!
1996 HR Endeavor LE,Cummins 5.9 230hp, Allison 3060,
Front-Yamaha Enduro, Rear-Honda Helix Geeser Cruiser + 2 bikes,
22ft 1977 Cruiser in tow.
1 DW, 2 kids.
1 old dog, 1 fat cat.
I wasn't thinking this far ahead!
We've used a PetStep with several older dogs over the years, it seems to work great. Easy to carry, easy to clean, and all of our dogs liked it.
Chuck
Wonderful Wife
Australian Shepherd
2010 Ford Expedition TV
2010 Outback 230RS Toybox, 5390# UVW, 6800# Loaded Not yet camped in Hawaii, 2 Canada Provinces, & 2 Territories I can't be lost because I don't care where this lovely road is going
We have 2 dogs. One is older now, completely blind and almost completely deaf. He will on occasion "fall" out of the camper door and go "smash!" on the ground. ouch! That's gotta hurt! But we just pick the poor pooch up and put him in now. It's just part of life now!
Is your don't having vision problems?
DutchmenSport
2005 Chevy Silverado 3500 Dually Duramax 6.6L V8 Turbo
Century Truck Cap Commercial /Toolboxes
Northeast Outfitters Canoe
We have taken older, crippled dogs camping many times.They love to go even with their disabilities. We bring a 'step' from an exercise stepping class, this helps. Now, we have a 185lb English Mastiff that has had 3 knee surgeries on her back legs. She will put her two front paws on the first step and we have to move her back legs up , one at a time, until she can pull herself in. Getting into the back of the Suburban is really fun. We have a pretty good system, now and I can get her in myself. Spectators like to watch and give advice, "She just doesn't want to go or she would jump in". We work with what we have. The dogs are family members. We bought our current house to work with their physical limitations,(no steps, level yard, etc.).
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