Here is a complete guide on how to carry a large dog downstairs. It is difficult to carry your dogs as they (and you) get older. With age your dogs become larger and heavier. Joint pain, arthritis, and leg weakness make it difficult for the dogs to climb the stairs. You need to understand the weightage of the task of carrying larger dogs. Learn how to take care of a dog.
Wrap your arms around the limbs
- The best trick is to wrap your arms around his limbs. To lift him this way, first make him stand away from you. That is, you should face his back. Now, wrap your arms around his front and back legs. While wrapping keep your arms close to your body. If you do this, you can prevent him from running away.
- Now after wrapping him around your body, lift him in the air. Lift him to your height. You may lift him till your stomach.
- If you dogs are larger, their weight may strain your back. To avoid the strain on your back, bend your knees. This position of bending the knees will help in balancing your weight and will put very little pressure on your back.
- You need have a strong grip and good balance while you climb up or down the stairs carrying your dog. Bending your knees will also increase your balance.
Practice
Before you carry him downstairs or upstairs, practice lifting him on a level ground. Practicing at ground level will help in building good endurance. You will discover new techniques of holding him while practicing. While practicing, watch his behavior. Check how he is reacting to the hold. Ensure he is comfortable. Talk to him. Assure him he is safe and you are only taking him downstairs.
One step at a time
While practicing, familiarize yourself with your dog’s weight. Lift your dog and take the first step. Analyze how you feel. If you find it difficult to breathe or pressure on your back, take it slow. Take one step after the other. Put your first step. Do not put your next step on the next step. Bring your other foot to the same step. This gives better balancing. Also, this action helps in reducing the pressure on your back. After you reach the top step bend slowly and let your dog down.
Tips to carry your dog down the steps
It is easier to carry your dog downstairs than to carry it upstairs. This is because gravity works in your favor. While climbing up the stairs with a heavier dog, gravity works to your opposite direction. However, when you carry your dog down the stairs, you work along gravity. Gravity aids you in carrying your dog. Dogs also feel less heavy while carrying them downstairs. The main drawback in carrying your dog downstairs is that the next step is not visible. The body of your dog obstructs the view. Therefore, the chances of slipping are higher. Bottom line, the risks involved in carrying your dog downstairs are more. Therefore, be very careful while carrying your dog downstairs.
Things to consider while carrying large dogs downstairs
- Grab your dogs correctly. Do not hold them incorrectly. Holding him incorrectly will make him uncomfortable. He may jump out of your hands. You may lose balance and fall. Do not grab him by his collar, by the scuff of his neck or underneath his arms.
- Carry him only when needed. Your dog has to be physically active. Most of the dogs become lazy as they grow old. Their laziness may bring him diseases. Therefore, make sure he participates in minimal exercises. If you carry him often, he would take comfort and will not put in effort to move his legs. You will strain your back if you carry him frequently.
Alternative to carry your dog downstairs
There are lifting harnesses to assist you in carrying your dogs. These harnesses are specially designed for dogs with mobility issues.
How to choose the right support harness to carry your dog downstairs?
There are different types of harnesses in the market. Make the right choice based on your needs. Let me give you the different harnesses in the market:
Hind End Harness
Some also call it the rear harness. As the name suggests, the harness is used to support the back of the dog. The support is attached to his back legs. Also, the harness wraps over his back completely. You can hold his back using the harness. You can support him completely without bending over. The rear leg weakness is common in older dogs.
Support sling
This is a mid-body support. You can use these types of harnesses if your dog can carry their own weight but are not steady while walking. The mid-body support wraps around the dog’s abdomen.
Front end harness
The front end harness helps you to support dogs with weakness in front legs. Dogs with weakness in front legs tend to limb. However, they can carry themselves.
Total body harness
Of all the harnesses, this is the best. These harnesses are best for very old dogs. If your dogs are just getting older, then use the first three harnesses abased on their needs. Use the total body harness when he gets too old to walk. If you start using the total body harness during the days he just started getting old, you will make him lazy.
The total body harness has two parts. One part is used for the front legs and the other part for the back leg.
Rear support leash
This is one of the most affordable and simplest harnesses used to carry your dogs. These leashes have two loops.
Dogs love to be happy. They are the happiest when they can run and play. Therefore, help him to remain active as he grows older and becomes larger. Focus on his diet. Avoid fatty foods as they make them obese. If you make dog obese in his older days, his risks of getting cardio issues increases.
