Best Pool Ramps for Dogs: What to Look For Before You Buy

Why a dog needs a dedicated exit

VCA Animal Hospitals tells owners to teach a dog to climb out of the pool, boat or dock without help, and notes that you may need dog-friendly ramps or steps. Dogs do not instinctively know where the exit is, and even strong swimmers can struggle to find the way out.

A ladder built for people is a poor substitute, because a dog has to be taught to use one and may panic if it cannot find its footing. A ramp or broad steps give a dog something it can see, reach and climb with all four feet, which is the whole point of buying one.

Ramp or steps: which suits your dog

A ramp spreads the climb over a longer distance, so it is gentler on sore joints and easier for small, short-legged or older dogs. The American Kennel Club makes the same point about home ramps and stairs: sloping ramps are kinder to arthritic dogs and to breeds prone to back problems, such as Dachshunds, Corgis and Basset Hounds.

Steps take less room, but they ask a dog to lift its body a set height at each tread. If your dog is small, elderly, recovering from an injury or built long and low, a ramp is usually the safer type to look for. Ask your vet if your dog has joint or heart conditions before encouraging regular swimming.

Traction, width and slope: the features that matter

Choose a slip-resistant surface, because a wet ramp becomes a slide if the surface is smooth. The AKC advises slip-resistant material on any dog ramp, and adds that the width should comfortably fit your dog, since a surface that is too narrow reduces confidence and can lead to a fall off the side.

Look for a low, gradual angle that is easy for the dog to start on, and check the maker's stated weight limit, especially for large and giant breeds. A raised edge or side rail helps keep paws on the surface. Because pool edges vary, check how the ramp is held in place and whether it suits your pool's wall, steps or deck.

Teaching the dog where the exit is

The AKC advises pointing your dog toward the shore or pool ramp while you swim together, and repeating this until the dog understands how to get out. If you are not in the water, stay near the exit to help the dog find it. Treats or a favorite toy at the top reward each success.

Practice with the dog calm and the sessions short. Never push or pull a dog onto a ramp. The AKC's guidance on introducing home ramps applies here too: let the dog sniff and explore, lure with a treat, and reward every step, so the ramp is something the dog wants to use.

A ramp is not a safety system

Never leave your dog unsupervised in or near the water. VCA also advises fencing and covering a pool so a dog cannot get in alone. A ramp helps a dog that is already in the water, but it does not stop a dog that falls in unobserved.

Add a life vest for dogs that struggle. The AKC says some breeds, including short-legged and long-bodied dogs, find swimming difficult, and that a vest with a sturdy lifting handle keeps the back level so all four legs paddle. A plain pet life jacket and a swimming life jacket in sizes from small to large are worth comparing, and our dog life jackets collection has more.

What to avoid, and care after swimming

Avoid ramps with no traction, no stated weight limit or a surface that you cannot secure at the pool edge. Do not force a dog that avoids water, because it may be tired or in pain. Keep sessions short too: the AKC suggests no more than 10 minutes at a time to reduce the risk of water toxicity.

Rinse your dog after swimming, since chlorine and other pool chemicals can irritate the skin. Check with your vet before regular swimming if your dog has arthritis, heart disease or epilepsy. When you are ready to compare designs, see our dog pool ramps.

This page is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your pet.