The 6 Best Dachshund Ramps Australia: Tested & Evaluated 2024

Dachshunds are special in so many ways, but their short legs and long bodies certainly stand out immediately. However, the body shape of a Dachshund is not just cute - it comes with its own set of problems. Getting up on high surfaces is one of them.

A Dachshund ramp is a simple piece of gear that will help make your doggo’s life much easier. To help you find the best one for your Doxie, we joined forces with veterinarians, canine behaviourists and dog parents to form a team of independent experts. We then spent months researching dozens of dog ramps in order to fond the best Dachshund ramps Australia offers before deciding on the list below.

Before we jump staight to our list of the best ramps, we'll share why your Doxie may need a ramp and what to look for when shopping around for them. Let's get to it!

Australia's Best Dachshund Ramps Reviewed

Now you know why your Doxie may need a ramp and what to look out for when looking to buy one. Ahead, we share the best Dachshund ramps in Australia, as tested and loved by our panel of independent experts and their furry companions.

Need help getting your Doxie inside the car? Want to allow them easier access to the couch? Want to bridge a set of stairs in your home to make the climb easier on your Dachshund’s back? This ramp from i.Pet can do the task.

Namely, being 180 cm long, the ramp is long enough to offer an incline that’s not too steep while allowing your Doxie to reach most surfaces in your home and your car.

However, my favourite use for this ramp is as a portable ramp for the card. This is because this ramp folds down threefold. When folded, it becomes quite small (41 x 69 x 19 cm) and easily fit in my car without taking up too much space. And when it’s time to use it, I simply unfolded it, let the safety latch snap into place, and let my pooch enjoy the freedom of walking up and down on their own. It’s as easy as that.

This ramp might not be the widest ramp available, since it’s 41 cm wide, but for a Dachshund that’s more than enough. It also comes with a non-slip walking surface which is a must-have safety feature.

Overall, our team of researchers all agreed it's a great product that you will enjoy using for years to come. 

If you are looking for a dog ramp that you can easily pack and bring with you anywhere you go, this option from Rosewood might be just what you are looking for. The main problem with many portable ramps out there is that they are still quite bulky when folded - but this one isn’t.

This Rosewood Ramp folds down nicely so that it looks like a suitcase, complete with a handle on top to help you carry the ramp. When folded, the ramp measures 40 x 40 x 20 cm, which is quite manageable and even more petite than our number one choice. It’s also not very heavy, weighing less than 3 kg total.

The main downside our team of independent experts noted about this Rosewood ramp is that it is not as sturdy as some other options. It’s made completely out of plastic, and the official weight capacity is only 40 kg. However, this should be more than enough for a Dachshund ramp.

The ramp also has a ribbed surface that was created to make the ramp less slippery. However, since it’s just plain plastic, the surface does get a bit slippery if wet, so be careful about that. The ramp is 1.5 meters long when fully extended, which is a good length for a Dachshund.

Most ramps for dogs tend to be built in such a way that they need to lean onto something, be it the trunk or your car or some other surface. This is especially common in portable dog ramps. However, this does not always work perfectly and sometimes it’s not even an option. For example, when you want to set up a ramp to help your Dachshund climb onto the bed or the couch, that kind of setup might not work, and even if it does, it will be quite awkward.

The solution? A freestanding ramp like this one from Pet Gear. Unlike our number one and two choices, this kind of ramp does not need to lean against anything. It can stand on its own on any flat surface.

This particular model is 142 cm long and 40 cm wide, which feels comfortable for a Dachshund. The ramp will get your dog up to the height of 58 cm. That might not sound awfully high, but it does create a bit of a steep incline considering the length of the ramp. Many dogs might not have a problem with this, but if yours are injured or very old, like mine, the incline might be an issue.

Finally, even though it is freestanding, this ramp is also foldable. It folds down quite neatly and easily for storage, which everyone on our team of independent experts liked. However, don’t expect it to be tiny when folded. It still does take up quite a bit of room and weighs over 8 kg.

When looking for a dog ramp for cars in Australia, this is one of the best options you can find. The Deluxe Telescoping Pet Ramp from Solvit is a sturdy, stable, and practical ramp that’s perfect for helping your dog into the back of your car or SUV. 

What sets this ramp apart from the others on this list is its stability and robustness. The ramp consists of two sections, connected by sturdy aluminium rails. The second section slides in and out (‘telescoping’) so you can adjust the length to any size you need. When you slide in the extension part, the ramp is 1 meter long, but it extends to 183 cm as needed.

Our panel of experts have found that this system works great for the times when you need to set up the ramp quickly to let your dog get in the car and go. I simply pulled up the ramp, chose the desired length, and placed it onto the back of my vehicle.

The slight downside of this system is that the ramp is still 1 meter long even when folded. However, if you have enough space in your car for that, it tends to work perfectly. There is a safety latch too that will keep the ramp from sliding out when in storage which is important as that could happen quite easily.

Additionally, there is a carrying handle on the side of the ramp which makes it easier to pull it out of the car. It’s a small detail, but very useful because the ramp does weigh 6 kg, which makes it only slightly less heavy than our number three choice. Overall, it’s a great product that can also work great as a dog ramp for stairs due to the adjustable length.

This ramp from Pet Gear is a nice and simple foldable ramp. It’s quite lightweight (but not so much that it’s flimsy) and it can be put in place in seconds. Perfect for letting your dog get in the car or taking it with you when you travel to make the life of your Dachshund just a bit easier.

What makes this ramp stand out is the simple folding mechanism. I simply folded the ramp in two and secured it with the safety latch when not in use. Being entirely made of plastic, the ramp weighs only about 3 kg, which is considerably less than most other models on our list, especially our third choice.

According to the manufacturer, the weight capacity of this lightweight ramp is 90 kg. While we wouldn’t feel safe letting a 90 kg dog (or human) walk up this ramp, our panel agrees it’s perfectly fine for a Dachshund and other small and medium dogs.

This ramp from Senneny is the most stylish ramp we have found. If you place it in your home to help your Dachshund get up to the bed or the couch, the ramp will fit in nicely and not look awkward like those plastic or metal ramps.

The ramp features a simple but functional design. The base and the frame are made from natural beech wood. The wood looks quite nice, but what everyone on our team of independent experts loved even more about the ramp is its adjustable height. Truth be told, if set to the highest setting, the ramp will most likely be too steep, but otherwise, it seems to work well.

The walking surface of this wooden ramp is covered with a carpet-like material. The carpet is textured to provide some traction, but it doesn’t work as amazingly well as others on this list, like our number five choice. Some dogs seem to walk up on it just fine, while others tend to slip.

Do Dachshunds Need Ramps?

Dachshunds have such short legs, and they seem to struggle to get up to high surfaces. Some Doxies don’t even try to do that, but others can be brave and enthusiastic and continue to jump on the couch or run up and down the stairs, no matter how difficult it might seem. But is that good for them?

Related: Best Dog Ramps Australia.

If you have a Dachshund, you’ve probably already heard that back problems are fairly common in this breed. This often manifests in the form of IVDD - Intervertebral Disc Disease.

When there is a genetic predisposition for this kind of disorder, it’s often impossible to prevent it no matter what you do. But that does not mean you should give up on trying to make life better for your dog. Forceful impacts, such as those caused by big jumps, like jumping off the couch, can trigger IVDD. [2]

This is the reason why ramps can be a great tool for Dachshunds. No matter if you are helping them get on the couch, into your car, or up the stairs, using a ramp can potentially save your canine companion from pain and injury.

What I Look When Choosing a Ramp For Dachshunds

So, we’ve concluded that ramps can be useful for small and short-legged breeds like Dachshunds. Whether you actually need one will depend on the layout of your home. But if you do, here is what our team of independent experts suggest you consider when choosing one: 

Incline

The incline of a ramp can be easily calculated if you know the length and height, but a number won’t help you determine whether a ramp is too steep for your Dachshund. However, you should know that yes, dog ramps can end up being too steep.

For Dachshunds, it’s always safer to have a longer ramp that gets them up gradually.

Stability

Of course, ramps are there primarily for your dog’s safety. Therefore, a ramp that does not stand firmly in place is no good. But how do you know if a ramp will be stable? First of all, look for ramps with strong frames, because they do a lot for the overall stability and durability of the ramp.

Second, pay attention to the base of the ramp where it stands on the ground. Are there anti-skid feet? Or something else that will prevent the ramp from moving around?

Adjustability

If you want a permanent ramp that you want to place near your couch, for example, then adjustability is not so important, as long as you get a ramp that’s the perfect size. However, it does help to have a ramp with adjustable height and/or length when you want to use the same ramp in different settings.

Traction

Traction is an important part of ramp safety. You don’t want the walking surface of the ramp to be slippery, as your dog could get up getting hurt that way. Most dog ramps have something added on the walking surface for traction. Sometimes it’s textured relief, sometimes it’s grip tape, and sometimes signature top layers some manufacturers use.

The truth is, not many of them work amazingly well. The most common complaint about dog ramps is that they are too slippery. Luckily, the problem can be easily fixed by adding a piece of a rubber mat or something similar to the walking surface of the ramp.

Weight Limit

When choosing a ramp for a Dachshund, you won’t need to worry about the weight limit too much. Almost every ramp can support the weight of little Doxies. However, looking at the weight limit can be a good indicator of the strength of the ramp. Ramps with high weight capacity will typically be more robust and hence more durable.

If you have other, heavier, dogs around the house, you might also want to consider the fact that they might end up using the ramp even if they don’t need to.

My Final Verdict

Our team of independent experts could all agree that our favourite dog ramp overall is the i.Pet Dog Pet Ramp. Sturdy, reliable, versatile, and easy to use - it’s hard to go wrong with it. But in the end, it all depends on what exactly you are looking for and how you plan to use the ramp.

For example, if you need something that folds down to a manageable size to be easily portable, we think the Rosewood dog ramp is also a good choice.

References

1. PetMD Editorial. August 30, 2017. “7 Ways to Treat and Prevent Back Problems in Dachshunds”. PetMD. Retrieved February 25, 2023. https://www.petmd.com/dog/slideshows/7-ways-treat-and-prevent-back-problems-dachshunds#slide-1
2. PetMD Editorial. July 15, 2009. “Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD) in Dogs – Slipped Disc”. PetMD. Retrieved February 25, 2023. https://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/neurological/c_dg_intervertebral_disc_disease