The Help ’Em Up Harness: When Your Dog Needs a Helping Hand

A lifting harness designed to make everyday life a little easier for dogs who need assistance — and the people who care for them.

One of the most consistent questions I am asked by owners of dogs with mobility difficulties is:

“Is there a harness I can leave on my dog, so I can help them up quickly when they need to get up?”

It is a very understandable question.

If your dog is struggling to rise because of weakness, arthritis, neurological disease, muscle loss, injury, surgery or simply advancing age, you quickly discover that their need for assistance doesn’t always happen at a convenient time.

And very often, you already know what is coming…

Your dog needs to go outside to toilet — and they need to get up NOW.

Having to find a harness, position it correctly, assist your dog and then remove it again every time they want to stand can become frustrating for both the dog and their caregiver.

This is where the design of the Help ’Em Up Harness can be particularly useful.

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Help ’Em Up Harness — At a Glance

• Full-body support

Front and rear support work together to provide more comprehensive assistance.

• Designed for daytime wear

The complete harness can remain fitted during the day, making assistance readily available when your dog needs it.

• Quick lifting assistance

Particularly useful for dogs who need help getting up frequently throughout the day.

•  Front + rear support

The complete harness provides support around both the front and rear of the body.

• Toilet friendly

The design allows dogs to toilet while wearing the harness.

• Multiple configurations

The Help ’Em Up is available as a complete full-support harness, with front-only and rear-only options also available.

•  Optional accessories

Additional handles and accessories can be added according to your dog’s individual needs.

• Remove at night

The harness should be removed for overnight sleeping, with your dog’s skin and comfort checked regularly during use.

• Every dog is different. The Help ’Em Up isn’t necessarily the right solution for every mobility situation. Correct sizing, fitting and choosing the appropriate configuration are important.

Why can’t I just leave a rear lifting harness on my dog?

There are many excellent rear-support harnesses and lifting slings available, and they have an important place in assisting dogs with mobility problems.

However, most rear-only lifting harnesses aren’t designed to remain securely in place while a dog is resting or moving around normally.

The reason is largely anatomical.

A rear lifting device needs to sit around the dog’s pelvis and hindquarters. Without a secure connection to the front of the body, there is nothing to reliably prevent a rear-only support from shifting or slipping out of position — particularly when a dog lies down, changes position or gets up again.

This means that most rear-only lifting aids need to be put on when assistance is required and removed afterwards.

That isn’t necessarily a problem if your dog only needs occasional assistance.

But it can become frustrating when your dog needs help several times throughout the day.

Especially when you hear those familiar little noises that tell you your dog is about to get up — and you know they probably need to go outside!

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This is where the Help ’Em Up is different

The Help ’Em Up Harness is a full-body lifting and support harness consisting of a front section and a rear Hip Lift.

The two sections connect together to create a complete support system around the dog’s body.

The rear section supports the pelvis while the front section provides support around the chest and sternum. Together, they allow the dog to be assisted from both ends rather than relying on a single rear lifting point.

This is particularly useful for dogs who have weakness affecting more than just their hind legs, or who need assistance to rise and maintain their balance.

And importantly — it can be left on during the day.

This is one of the questions I hear most often, and one of the features that makes the Help ’Em Up different from many conventional rear lifting harnesses.

When correctly fitted, the complete Help ’Em Up harness is designed to remain on the dog during the day, so it is already there when assistance is needed.

Instead of:

“Oh no… they’re trying to get up. Where did I put the sling?”

you have:

“They’re ready to get up — I can help them.”

For some dogs and their families, that simple difference can make everyday life considerably easier.

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It’s not just about lifting

Although lifting is one of the main reasons owners choose the Help ’Em Up, it can be much more versatile than a simple lifting sling.

The harness can assist dogs with:

* Getting up from a lying position

* Standing and maintaining their balance

* Going outside to toilet

* Walking with additional support

* Getting in and out of the car

* Managing steps and stairs

* Recovering from surgery or injury

* Managing age-related mobility decline

* Coping with weakness or muscle loss

* Participating in rehabilitation

* Moving around safely when they need a little extra support

The handles allow you to provide assistance from different positions, depending on what your dog needs at the time.

For a dog who is still mobile but occasionally needs help, this can mean providing just enough assistance without having to completely lift or carry them.

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But the Help ’Em Up isn’t for every dog

This is important.

There isn’t one mobility harness that is right for every dog.

Some dogs only need occasional assistance from the rear. For those dogs, a simple rear lifting harness or sling may be all that is required.

Others may primarily need front support.

Some dogs may need a wheelchair rather than a lifting harness.

And some dogs may benefit from a combination of mobility aids depending on what they are doing and how their mobility changes throughout the day.

The Help ’Em Up is particularly useful for dogs who need more comprehensive support, or for families who want the convenience of having a lifting harness already fitted and available throughout the day.

It can also be particularly helpful when a dog needs assistance frequently enough that repeatedly putting a harness on and taking it off becomes impractical.

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A proper fit really matters

Like any lifting or mobility equipment, the fit is important.

The Help ’Em Up has multiple adjustment points to allow the harness to be fitted to the individual dog’s shape.

It is available in different sizes and configurations, and front and rear sections can be selected to accommodate different body shapes where appropriate.

This can be particularly helpful for dogs who have experienced muscle wastage, changes in body condition or unusual proportions.

Choosing the correct configuration isn’t simply a matter of looking at your dog’s weight.

Their measurements, body shape, muscle condition and the type of support they require all need to be considered.

If you’re unsure about sizing or configuration, please get in touch before ordering.

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 What about toileting?

One of the practical advantages of the Help ’Em Up design is that dogs can toilet while wearing the harness.

This is another very important consideration for owners.

The Hip Lift is designed with clearance for toileting, although the appropriate configuration can depend on your dog’s anatomy.

This is particularly important for a dog who needs assistance getting outside several times a day.

You don’t want to have to completely fit and remove a lifting device every time your dog needs to go to the toilet.

Having the harness already fitted means you can simply attach the handles and provide the assistance your dog needs.

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 What about leaving the harness on?

Although the Help ’Em Up is designed to be suitable for extended daytime wear, “can be left on” does not mean “should never be removed.”

Your dog should be regularly checked for:

* Rubbing or chafing

* Redness

* Pressure areas

* Hot spots

* Overheating

* Signs of discomfort

* Changes in the fit

When your dog is lying down or resting, adjustments may be needed to maximise comfort.

And at night, the harness should be removed so your dog can have a proper break and sleep comfortably without it.

As with any mobility equipment, if your dog is uncomfortable or you notice any skin irritation, remove the harness and reassess the fit.

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Full support, front support or rear support?

One of the useful things about the Help ’Em Up range is that it isn’t simply a “one harness fits all situations” product.

Depending on your dog’s needs, there are options for:

Full Support

The complete Help ’Em Up system provides both front and rear support.

This is the option most relevant to dogs who need assistance getting up and who benefit from having the harness already fitted during the day.

Rear Support

A rear Hip Lift can provide assistance to dogs who primarily need help from the hindquarters.

This can be useful for dogs who still have good front-end strength but struggle to rise or walk because of hind-end weakness.

Because a rear-only support does not provide the same connection around the front of the body, it isn’t intended to provide the same “leave it on and ready to go” function as the complete system.

Front Support

The front section can also be used where a dog primarily requires assistance around the chest and front end.

The most appropriate configuration will depend on your dog’s individual mobility needs.

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Is the Help ’Em Up right for your dog?

That really depends on what your dog needs help with.

If your dog only occasionally needs assistance from the rear, another type of lifting aid may be more appropriate.

If your dog primarily needs front support, the front section may be all that is required.

If your dog needs assistance from both ends, or you want a support harness that can remain fitted during the day and be ready when your dog needs help getting up, the complete Help ’Em Up may be worth considering.

And if your biggest frustration is:

“I need something I can have on my dog during the day so I can help them up when they need me…”

then this is one of the situations where the Help ’Em Up really comes into its own.

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Now available through HandicappedPets Australia / Pets Need A Life Too!

I am very pleased to be adding the Help ’Em Up Harness to my range of mobility products at HandicappedPets Australia / Pets Need A Life Too!

With my background as a veterinary nurse and my experience working with dogs with mobility challenges, my aim is not to sell every dog the same product.

It’s about helping you find the mobility solution that is appropriate for your individual dog and their particular needs.

If you’re unsure whether the Help ’Em Up, a rear lifting harness, front support, wheelchair or another mobility aid would be the most appropriate option for your dog, please get in touch.

I’m always happy to talk through your dog’s individual situation and help you work through the options.

Because sometimes the right mobility aid isn’t about making your dog do more.

It’s about making the things they still want to do a little easier.