Keeping Your Dog From Jumping

Smaller breed dogs and those with longer backs and shorter legs are more vulnerable than some other breeds to the physical consequences of jumping. There are often serious back issues that can result when we enable our beloved pets to participate in activities too stressful for their more delicate bodily structures. We want them to participate in our play-filled games; we innocently encourage them, not realizing it is not always in their best interests.

As puppies it is their natural inclination to run and jump and to play with all-out enthusiasm, expending great amounts of energy in the process and pushing their bodies to the limits of their endurance. Games, such as tossing a Frisbee and chasing after balls and sticks are quite normal…and they want to please their owners.

Some of these puppies can suffer from progressive injuries to their spines and necks, injuries not always apparent until a few years have elapsed. Many large breed dogs are prone to joint problems, by their genetics, later exacerbated by their lifestyles. A number of small breeds are not designed by nature to climb, jump and sprint through life.

We can discourage our pets by steering them away from potentially injurious patterns of play, and on the home front, utilizing pet ramps and dog stairs to make their travels a smoother and safer process, with low impact on their bodies. Getting in and out of vehicles can also be aided by their regular use. Accessing higher places at will to reach a favorite chair, sofa or bed is managed safely and easily with pet ramps and stairs.

As an added benefit, pet owners who have difficulty lifting and carrying their pets due to their own health issues, or mature years, can rest assured that these veterinarian recommended accessories of superior quality, can stand up to years of constant use by large or small dogs. These products t serve all breeds of dogs from puppy hood through their senior years and for all events in a pet’s life: recovery from surgery, injury, or from general over-exertion; they ease the rough spots of pets with varying health issues. In my home they are great multi-taskers, keeping my dogs from jumping and out of harm’s way.