 and, in many cases, complete immobility (learned helplessness) or jumping off the elevation to avoid using the ramp. These anxiety responses present challenges to the pet handler and real dangers to the pet, especially when managing the elderly, disabled and mobility-challenged. By simply incorporating vision blocking sides into our ramp, we eliminate these dangers, as well as what we consider to be the primary reason dogs won’t use ramps. There’s nothing like it on the market today, and it’s the only ramp in existence that reduces apprehension in dogs while simultaneously encouraging them to use it.
To protect and make proprietary this concept, our utility patent is written to capture such use on any and all lightweight portable applications for domestic pets, including ramps, stairs, grooming and examination tables and lifts. It is in non-provisional pending status, with the benefit of an initial provisional application filing date of September 7, 2011.
Arnold, N.A., et al. Responses of dairy heifers to the visual cliff formed by a herringbone milking pit: Evidence of fear of heights in cows (Bos Taurus). Journal of Comparative Psychology, Vol 121(4), Nov. 2007.
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Grandin, Temple. Transferring results of behavioral research to industry to improve animal welfare on the farm, ranch and the slaughter plant. D.G.M. Wood-Gush Memorial Lecture. 35th International Congress of the International Society of Applied Ethology. Davis, California. 2001.