What Are YOUR Dog Stairs Made Of?
Choosing a set of dog stairs does require a certain amount of effort in making sure that the stairs will meet both yours and your dog’s needs. Some of your concerns might be that the stairs won’t be sturdy enough or that they will stick out like a sore thumb in your home. Hopefully by the end of this article your concerns will be soothed and you’ll be ready to shop around!
There are three common materials that pet stairs are made from: plastic, metal, and wood. First, we’re going to talk about plastic pet stairs. Plastic stairs have the advantage of being light-weight, which means that you can easily move them from room to room as you need to. The down side is that most of these require that you assemble them yourself, which can be a bit of a pain if you aren’t feeling up to a project. Also, they usually have a limited range in colors, the most popular being beige. Plastic steps make a fair selection for a small dog, but if you have a heavier or larger dog, you might find less availability in steps of the plastic variety that are capable of handling a larger weight range. Lightweight plastic probably isn’t a good choice of construction for a large dog.
Our next material is metal. Metal steps are very sturdy and can hold a great deal of weight, making safe for pets of all sizes to use. Metal is still lightweight, but not so much as plastic steps—but at least you don’t sacrifice durability and sturdiness! Many metal dog stairs boast a collapsible feature, meaning it can fold in on itself to lay flat. This is great if you like to store it in your car or a small place when it’s not in use. If you have a need for flexibility in incline (adjustable height feature), you might want to consider a model that locks at several different inclines. This is especially handy if you want to use it for different cars. You’re probably wondering why I’ve mentioned cars twice. Well, metal steps are usually used for loading pets into cars—which is why they’re usually referred to as “pet loaders.” Sure, you can use them in your home, but they tend to add a “cold” feel to the room.
Last, and probably the most popular choice in pet stair material, is wood. Wood dog steps are extremely durable. They can hold an excessive amount of weight and they won’t easily be knocked over. Many come with padded steps to prevent your pet from slipping and to add just a touch of comfort to his movements. They also come in a variety of colored wood and carpeted finish. The color range of carpeting is vast, so no matter what your décor requires, there’s a color to suit it!
Now that you’re aware of the different types of pet stairs, your luck in choosing the best stairs for your pet should be a little smoother. Good luck and happy shopping!
