Planning to Build Dog Ramps
For Beds And Couches
It’s very easy to make dog ramps for beds or couches with a little measuring and basic tools and materials. The most important things to determine are the degree of slope that best suits your dog's ability and the amount of room you have for a ramp.
The dimensions of the extra wide ramp shown in the photo are:
Base length = 36 inches, Height = 18 inches, Platform = 18 x 18 inchesDETERMINING THE MEASUREMENTSGot pen, paper and a measuring tape? Write down the following measurements as you figure them out:HEIGHT
- Measure from the floor to the top of the bed or couch your dog is trying to reach
- If your dog is agile enough to handle a step up and you want a shorter ramp, make this height 2-3 inches (50-75 mm) lower
LENGTH
There are two lengths to consider: the ramp by itself, or both the ramp and an added platform. The Ramp - The slope of the ramp is the length along the base of the triangle divided by the height of the triangle (slope = base length/height)
- The base length therefore = slope x height
- The slope should be 2 to 1 or less, meaning base length = 2 x height
- For example, if your bed is 24 inches (610 mm) high, the base part of the ramp should be at least 48 inches (1220 mm) long
- The longer your base length and the lower your height, the more gradual will be your slope
- For instance, if the bed or couch height is 24 inches (610 mm) and the base length is 72 inches or 6 feet (1830 mm) long, you will have a 3 to 1 slope
- A dog that has difficulty walking will require the most gentle slope possible
The Platform- This is a level area that the dog steps onto when coming off the bed
- We suggest a platform that is square, with a length and width that match the width of the ramp
Remember to calculate the base length of the ramp + the platform length to arrive at the final length for your indoor dog ramp. Make sure you have room for a ramp this size!If you do not have room, another option is to do a combination of ramp and steps, also known as a dog step ramp. You keep the slope of the ramp, but at 10 or 12-inch intervals, use a 2 to 3-inch vertical step up. We suggest you draw this on a piece of paper to see how much shorter the ramp can be. WIDTH The width you make the indoor dog ramp depends on how wide your dog is and also on how much room you have. We suggest the following: - 6-10 inches (150-255 mm) for small dogs
- 10-14 inches (255-355 mm) for medium sized dogs
- 14-18 inches(355 to 455 mm) for large dogs
Once you’ve figured out the dimensions, go to the instructions for building dog ramps for beds or couches.
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