Hey everyone! I'm looking to hire someone to build an outdoor dog elevator for my 100lb Dutch Shepherd who has arthritis. Ramps won't work due to steep stairs and limited space, so I'm curious if anyone knows where I might find a builder for this kind of project. Also, any ballpark figures on what it might cost? I'd appreciate any advice or guidance!
3 Answers
You might want to look into hydraulic dock lifts. They typically start around $10,000, but I'm not sure if that price includes the foundation and installation, so definitely ask when getting quotes!
This might be a tough message, but if your dog's mobility has declined significantly, have you thought about whether it's time to consider the hard decision of putting her down?
That’s a pretty insensitive take—lifting a dog is a lot, especially a bigger one!
If budget is tight, consider a DIY option like a dumbwaiter system with pulleys or a set of rails for a 'car' to go up and down the stairs. I made something similar for my mother-in-law using simple materials, and it worked great!
She's actually doing okay otherwise, just struggling with stairs. We want to help her maintain her quality of life!