Little Dogs in Prams

[WatchThisGladys]

Is this a new trend? I saw several of these this summer. They weren't fancy prams for show, just dark, practical looking ones.

I find it a bit odd as surely even small dogs need exercise. Although, I once knew a chihuahua who had to be carried for the first half of his daily walk, or he would run back home!

Agree.

Mine have a pram. I rarely use it but it's really useful if we're going to a market or coffee shop where they can get overwhelmed. Plus one has a heart condition and one has a dodgy hip so if we are going to put for a long time it's very useful. Mine weigh 3kg and 4kg so they aren't hard to carry. Also only one will walk in the rain and only 1 in the wind. Neither can walk on cold ground or hot ground. So the pram is occasionally useful.

We used a dog pram for our dog when she got older. She could no longer manage long walks, but was fine to walk around for a short time. Our vet assured us she was still enjoying life and recommended we got her a dog pushchair. She loved it, she got to have a walk and got lots of fuss from people when in her pushchair.

I have one of these for dcat 🙈

Does everyone think they're bonkers when i'm out and about 🙈😭

We use one for our dog if we need to walk really far, it’s too warm for him or we are going somewhere busy. I have also used it when he had to go out and the rain was awful.

I have a buggy for my elderly arthritic dog. She does walk and enjoys her walks but she is v-e-r-y slow. Using the buggy means we can go further, walk for longer and visit different places.

In some ways, it's more for my convenience than hers. She would be happy walking anywhere, but I sometimes want to go somewhere different than the nearby park.

I'm disabled and 'walk' my dog using a mobility scooter. She walks beside me but when she's had enough she hops on. She's now 15 years 7 months and I'm glad she has that option as her arthritis is becoming an issue.

I have a back pack for one of my little ones, who is elderly with bad knees. She doesn’t like to be left out of walks, so she does what she can manage then she goes in her back pack.
I also have a pram for two of my other little ones. Ex breeders, kept crated and in the dark for 7 years whilst they made money for their “owner” and supplied cute puppies for people who don’t ask the right questions.
They arrived with me terrified of everything, quite understandably. They are now 100% better and confident in the house and garden but they will not walk on a lead or harness. I bought the pram on the advice of my vet, they feel safe in there and they get to experience the outside world. I’m hoping in time we can walk them normally, but they are very damaged and it’s a long road. I don’t take them on the bus, or to towns or cities. I take them into the country side, where it is quiet, in the hopes that one day, they will be able to have a “normal” dogs life. That ok with you op?

I've had two. One for my then puppy, so she could join us on walks but not over do things. And I now have one for my older dog. She has arthritis, so can't keep up with the youngsters, but still enjoys a trip out to the woods for a little potter.

My concern with that would be that your cat could overheat on a sunny day.

I'd switch to a pram if I was you.

They’ve been around for years. I used to work for a small dog breed charity and we used them when a dog became disabled or was very old, as they often still enjoy the fresh air and all the smells it brings. Smells to a dog are like reading a child a story. I once read that only letting your dog into the garden is like reading a child the same story every day-it’s a great analogy.
Sure, there will also be people who’ve them on Instagram ans thought the pram was a fashion accessory-they are the same types who will likely ‘baby’ their dogs and hence have not one clue about the dog’s actual needs. People who buy a dog and only think it needs affection, drive me insane, even if it is a Chihuaha.

Always been interested @Idontknowhatnametochoose - what do you do when your dog has to poo?

What do you mean? I pick it up using a poo bag like everyone else. Im not confined to the scooter, I can get on and off of it, even walk around my flat. Just can't do much walking. Picking up dog poo isn't a problem.

I just wondered @Idontknowhatnametochoose - my assumption would have been that someone using a mobility scooter would be able to get on and off, like you have said. There used to be a woman near me who walked her dog that way, but she would just sail on ahead and leave the dog to it. I never challenged her because I did not want to shame her if she could not get on and off, but it really pissed me off to see her dog crapping everywhere while she motored off into the distance.

Have you considered that some of them cannot walk? Old, or that they are ill, have bad legs?

I'd be very concerned about the cats welfare sitting in a clear, plastic box on your back- yes!

It would be like a sauna in there. Not only the heat from your own back but even on an overcast day it can be warm out- and sitting in a plastic box would be absolutely awful IMO!

I was at a garden show today. The entry rules were quite strict and only service dogs were allowed apart from on Sunday when you could by entrance tickets for dogs. There were a lot of dogs in prams, the owners were keeping them close so when looking at the stalls the prams were in the way of other customers. Also it puts the dog at the same level as your hands and young children’s faces. Not ideal in crowded noisy marquees. A lot of the attendees were elderly so the added obstacles were not very convenient.

The owners were oblivious and often rude.
why buy a dog that needs a pram? I’m a longterm dog owner and there’s no way I’d have dragged her around all day. She’s a lovely labrador who’d have been in her element but would have definitely been in the way. A pram doesn’t make a dog less of an inconvenience to other members of the public in crowded areas.

@Angrymum22 I don't know if people buy a dog that needs a pram. However, lots of wonderful people care enough about their dog to use a pram later in it's life, or when it has been ill or injured, so that it can still enjoy the outdoors, smells, company and where possible exercise somewhere enriching for the dog.

Also, lots of people rescue elderly or injured dogs and give them the happy life they deserve.

If dogs are only allowed on a Sunday why did the organisers all in so many clearly non-service dogs today being Friday?

Not bonkers but ignorant concerning the wellbeing of your cat maybe

I’ve used a dog pram twice. My puppy broke her leg so needed to still socialise as she was very young. Then a year later she needed a hip replacement so we used the pram again. Maybe that’s why the dogs you see are in prams.

I have a big (32kg) lurcher who is very elderly and can’t walk for more than a few minutes. He has a festival trolley that I push him into town in so he can see things and go to the cafe. It’s hard work to push, but worth it for his quality of life. Wish we’d got one earlier as he could have been going on days out for much longer

I've learned a lot from this thread and I do think the level of care that those of you with sick, disabled and elderly pets are providing sounds wonderful.

I used to think it was bonkers and feel sorry for the dogs, now my old boy is almost 16 and struggles to walk to the park and back but loves being in the park, so I brought a secondhand dog buggy and push him to the park, he has his run and fun, then back in his buggy to be wheeled home.

I did have someone shout at me once, saying I was selfish by not letting my dog walk and wanting an accessory, I wanted to run them over with my doggy buggy 🤣

Do you really think your cat likes to be shoved in a small plastic box and carried around? Probably not.

Cats have the freedom to go outside if they want to, it’s different to dogs.

Don’t force your cat to do this. It’s really cruel.

Yes, bonkers, and cruel.