Murphy is 10 years old, a yellow Lab mix who weighs about 72 pounds. Last spring I noticed him hesitate at the bottom of the three back porch steps, then brace himself before going up. Getting up after a nap took two tries. My vet said his hips are showing their age, and she suggested I think about ways to take some weight off his back end while he still has good days. I tried a folded bath towel under his belly first, and it worked for about a week until it slipped on the porch steps. That is when I started looking at lift harnesses, and the LOOBANI Dog Lift Harness is the one that actually stayed in our daily routine.
Give your senior dog a steadying hand on every step
The LOOBANI Dog Lift Harness supports the hind end so your dog can use the strength they still have. See today's price and current reviews on Amazon.
Amazon Check Today's Price on Amazon →It takes weight off weak back legs without doing the work for them
A lift harness does not carry your dog. It lets you take just enough weight off the hind end so their own legs can keep moving. For Murphy, that meant he could still walk the full loop around the block, just with less wobble. The LOOBANI harness has two padded handles positioned over the hind end, so I can lift only as much as he needs on any given day. One Tuesday morning he did the whole 0.8 mile loop in about 22 minutes, which is the fastest he has walked it in a year.
It makes stairs and steps feel less scary
The three steps off our porch used to be the hardest part of Murphy's day. With the harness, I stand behind him, hold the handles, and take a little weight as he goes down. He stops bracing. He moves at his own pace. The harness does not pull him, it just tells him someone is there. Last Thursday it was raining and the steps were slick, and I took a little more weight than usual while he picked his way down. He did not hesitate once.
It helps with getting up from the floor after naps
The hardest moment for a stiff senior dog is the first step after lying down. Murphy would rock forward, rock back, and sometimes just sit there. With the LOOBANI harness, I can give a small lift at the hind end while he pushes with his front legs. He gets up in one try now, and that matters more than I can say. His favorite nap spot is the braided rug in the living room, and after a 40 minute nap on a cool morning, he needs the most help. I kneel beside him, count to three, and lift just enough for him to get his front feet under him.
It keeps you from hurting your own back
I am 57 and not as strong as I used to be. Before the harness, I would try to help Murphy by scooping under his belly, which meant bending low and lifting with my back. I threw my back out carrying a box of files at the school office in 2019, so I pay attention to how I lift. The LOOBANI harness puts the handles at a height where I can stand more upright and use my legs. That is easier on me, which means I can help him more often.
It gives your dog confidence on walks
Murphy used to slow down at the end of our walk and turn for home early. Part of that was his hips, but part of it was worry. When he knows the harness is on, he walks taller. He still sets the pace, but he does not quit early. Last month he walked the whole 20 minutes to the end of our road and back without stopping once, which he had not done since before his hips started bothering him. The support at his hind end seems to remind him that he can keep going.
It helps with getting in and out of the car
Murphy has always loved car rides, but jumping into the back seat got harder this year. At 72 pounds, he can hurt himself landing wrong. The LOOBANI harness gives me something to hold while he hops up, and it gives me a safe way to ease him down without him landing hard. He still does the work, I just make sure the landing is soft. The first time I used it at the gravel driveway, he looked back at me as if to say thanks.
It is easy to put on and take off
Some mobility aids take two people and a lot of patience. The LOOBANI harness has a simple design that goes around the belly and clips over the back. I can put it on Murphy by myself in under a minute, even when he is lying down. The first morning it took me closer to two minutes while I figured out which side the clips faced. Now I can do it in about 45 seconds, and that matters when your dog needs help at 6 in the morning.
It works with the strength your dog still has
A good lift harness is not about replacing your dog's legs, it is about supporting them. Murphy still has good days and bad days. On good days I barely need to lift. On bad days I take more weight. After a long nap on a cool morning, he needs more help than he does after a short nap in the afternoon. The LOOBANI harness lets me adjust in the moment, which is exactly what a dog with changing needs requires.
It gives you a way to help without hovering
Senior dogs still want their dignity. Murphy does not want me standing over him waiting for him to fall. The harness lets me walk beside him with a hand on the handle, ready but not hovering. I keep the handle slack unless he needs me, so he does not feel steered. He gets to be a dog, and I get to be ready.
It helps you notice problems before they get worse
Using the harness every day means I feel small changes in Murphy's movement. When he needs more lift on a Tuesday than he did on Monday, I notice. Last September I felt he needed extra support after a rainy Monday, and that got us to the vet before he started limping. The early warning has helped me adjust his routine and talk to my vet sooner instead of waiting until something was clearly wrong.
What I'd Skip
I would skip a lift harness if your dog cannot bear any weight at all on their back legs. If your vet says your dog needs full support, a lift harness is not the right tool, you need something like a rear support sling or a wheelchair, and you should ask your vet what they recommend. I would also skip it if your dog is extremely anxious about being touched around the belly. Murphy tolerated the harness quickly, but every dog is different. Start slow, use treats, and if your dog is truly distressed, stop and talk to your vet.
Murphy gets up in one try now, and that matters more than I can say.
Help your senior dog keep moving
The LOOBANI Dog Lift Harness is the tool I reach for every day with Murphy. Check today's price and see what other owners say on Amazon.
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