Help 'Em Up Harness

When Heidi was going through IVDD recovery, there were weeks where she needed help with almost every transition — getting up, going outside, navigating the few steps off the porch. The Help ‘Em Up is what made that manageable without hurting her or straining my back. It has a rear handle and a chest handle, which lets you lift from both ends and keep the spine level. That matters a lot when you’re assisting a dog with a spinal injury — uneven lifting puts torque on exactly the wrong place.

What distinguishes this harness from simpler lift handles is that it’s a full-body design. It fits around the chest and the hind end, so when you use the rear handle you’re lifting the hips and thighs — not just catching a belly. For IVDD dogs, that’s the whole point. The chest piece also gives you a stable contact point at the front if you’re navigating stairs.

The harness is wearable for extended periods, which is practical. During Heidi’s recovery, she wore it for long stretches so I could grab a handle quickly without fumbling to get equipment on her. Dogs don’t seem to mind it much once they’re used to it.

Sizing is the most important thing to get right. The harness comes in multiple sizes and has some adjustability, but measuring your dog carefully matters — a too-loose harness shifts, which undermines both safety and comfort. The manufacturer’s sizing guide is your starting point.

One note: this is a harness for caregiving support, not for dogs who are fully ambulatory. If your dog is walking independently and you just want a handle for occasional stairs, a simpler design might suit you better and cost less. The Help ‘Em Up earns its price when you’re in daily active-assist mode and need a tool that distributes forces correctly over many uses.