Dog Ramp for a Large or Giant Breed: A Checklist

Why do large and giant breeds need a different ramp checklist?

A big dog changes every number. More weight puts more demand on the ramp, a wider body needs a wider walkway, a taller dog has less head room under a tailgate, and a heavy dog cannot easily be lifted if the ramp does not work out. So a rating that is fine for a terrier can leave a mastiff with no margin.

There is a training angle too. A large dog is hard to coax and impossible to carry onto a ramp they distrust, so the gentle introduction in how to get an old dog to use a ramp matters more, not less, with a big breed. Start with the ramp flat on the floor and build up slowly.

This checklist works for any seller. We have also said where our own ramp does and does not fit.

What weight rating does a big dog need?

Weigh your dog first, using your vet practice's scales if yours will not take a large dog. Then look for a rating comfortably above that number, not just equal to it. Ratings are the maker's figure and they vary a lot between ramps. A giant breed that is still growing will need a rating that suits the adult weight, so ask your vet or breeder what to expect.

Our ramp is rated up to 90kg. If your dog is close to that figure, or above it, choose a ramp with a higher rating. See dog ramp weight limit and width for the margin examples.

How wide and how long should the ramp be?

Width first. Measure your dog across the shoulders and hips, and look for a walkway clearly wider than that, with raised sides. A large dog on a narrow ramp may have paws near the edge on every step. Our page does not state the ramp's width, so ask us before ordering if you have a large or giant breed.

Length sets the slope. A longer ramp is gentler for the same boot height. With our 155cm ramp, a 55cm lip is about 20.8 degrees and a 65cm lip about 24.8 degrees. Big dogs often travel in SUVs, estates and vans with high floors, so measure rather than assume, and check the figure in the ramp angle calculator.

Will your dog's head clear the boot opening?

This is the check people forget. A ramp lifts your dog towards the roof of the opening, and a tall dog with their head up may have to duck as they step in. Measure from the boot floor lip up to the lowest edge of the open tailgate or roof, and compare it with your dog's height at the head when standing naturally.

If the gap is tight, a longer or gentler ramp does not create more head room. In that case your car may simply not suit that dog, and it is better to find out before you buy than after.

Foldable Non-Slip Dog Ramp
A folding ramp to help a dog get into the car. View

Can you lift a big dog instead?

Sometimes, but not safely for everyone. Canine Arthritis Management suggests lifting, ramps or steps as options for getting an arthritic dog into a car, and notes that owners should not put their own safety at risk. Lifting a large or sore dog is a case for asking your vet first, because it is easy to hurt yourself or the dog.

If lifting is not an option, a ramp or steps is the alternative. See ramp or steps for the car and getting a dog with sore hips into the car.

Is our ramp suitable for a large breed?

It can be, within limits. Our Foldable Non-Slip Dog Ramp is rated to 90kg, is 155cm open, has a non-slip surface and raised sides and folds in half with a carrying handle. For a Labrador-sized dog with a boot lip around 55cm, it can fit the checklist.

It is not the right fit for a dog at or over 90kg, a boot lip much above 65cm for an older or stiff dog, or if you need a confirmed width we have not published. In those cases a longer, higher-rated ramp from another seller would suit better.

Before you buy

• Weigh your dog; measure width and head room
• Measure the boot-lip height with the car loaded
• Ask us about anything the product page does not state
• Check the returns policy: 30-day refunds, nothing to send back
• Ask your vet before using a ramp if your dog has a mobility condition or is recovering from surgery

Introduce the ramp slowly: how to get an old dog to use a ramp works for a big dog as well as a small one.