Dog Strollers- Experiences?

[MLMhun]

My much loved pup (small breed) is getting to the point where anything over a 30 minute walk tires her and she needs to be carried. While I will keep giving her short local walks, we do like to take her off for the day with us so I’m considering a stroller for her. Can I ask of any experience of this?

My friend uses one for her small breed, and until his recent death SIL used one for her spaniel. Both have very positive experiences, and they enabled SILs dog to enjoy going out in the country when he could only walk a minute at a time, so he'd go in and out of the stroller as needed

Sorry, this isn't very helpful as I have no advice, but I'm in a similar position with my small breed dog. So interested to see the replies on here.

I have in the past looked at different types but like you OP, I'm a bit unsure about the whole idea. I'm also finding we tend to be sticking to the same local places, which is getting a bit boring tbh. I'd love to go for long walks.

May I ask how old your dog is OP?

Thanks for the replies, my dog is 12 now @pigsdofly. She’s perfectly happy and healthy just finds being out for the day a bit of a stretch and while she is small it does get a bit hard carrying her about.

There’s so many types and a vast range in prices! I’m still sifting through reviews.

I found a prev thread on here about them from seven years ago where a lot of people were ridiculing the whole idea but I’ve seen them more and more lately while out and about.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/1416471-To-be-shocked-at-seeing-a-dog-in-a-pram-on-the-bus

A more recent and less Judgy thread

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/2745078-How-do-you-feel-about-dogs-in-buggies

I have seen a few around and just think the dog is old or cannot exercise. If people think they are ridiculous then more fool them as I think it's lovely that they still get to sniff the air out and about.

@MLMhun Yes, your dog is older than mine so makes more sense.

I don't want to rush my dog into using one, she doesn't have any problems with walking; happy to do half an hour walk or even longer in the park running. I'd just like to be able to go for longer walks without having to carry her. Like you, I find she gets heavy after a while.

Also she does have pancreatitis flare ups from time to time and can be left quite tired after she's been ill, which is really the main reason I'd like to have one as she can't walk far at all at those times but still wants to get out and about, so I end up carrying her.

I don't know about people judging at seeing dogs in prams but I've had loads of judgy remarks from people when I've been carrying her, so I imagine a dog in a pram would elicit quite a bit of nastiness from a certain type of person; they're best ignored.

i was also quite surprised at the variation in price. Not sure I'd want to pay over £200 for a dog pram tbh.

I found lots of advice on one website on how to get your dog used to using one, bit like crate training.

I know someone who bought one second hand on ebay and his old dog loves her pram. She can't walk far but will get out and have a little wander and bark when she wants to go back in.

I will probably hold off for a bit for my dog, unless the pancreatitis flare ups get more frequent, but at your dog's age I'd definitely get one.

@pigsdofly

Awww poor doggie with pancreatis :(

This looks reasonable

rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F123760517685

@MLMhun That one on ebay looks very good value. That's the sort of thing I'd be looking to buy; might actually order one just to have it for the future and then I'd have time to get her used to using it.

My dog only weighs 6.6 kilo so it would be ideal for her.

Yes, the pancreatitis flare ups aren't pleasant. She had one about three months ago which wasn't as bad as some she's had. There was a six month gap before that, she was pretty ill with that one.

She copes so well, when she's ill bless her, and she's never had an accident in the house, but she looks, and obviously feels, so ill while she's going through it and it leave her completely drained. Hence the idea of the pram.

Hope you find something that suits you and your dog.

I’ve bit the bullet and ordered one! 😎

I will let you know @pigsdofly how I get on and re any Judgy comments !

Oh that's great. Hope it works out for you.

Yes, I'd love to know how you get on, and if your dog likes it too.

I'm still trying to decide whether to order one. Not sure if we really need one yet. Would be very interested to know how you find it.

I'm really interested to know how well this worked. I have a 15 year old dog who gets all excited about going out but then hardly moves when he is out, so I have stopped taking him. He is small, about 7 kg. I also have a 5 month old puppy! He must get bored in the house all the time. Although we do have a garden which he only uses as a toilet.

Obviously I do take the puppy out

@lazymum99. In your place I'd really get a stroller for my dog.

He needs to get out and see the world. Even if he's not on the ground he can still sniff the air and see the sights. And you never know, he might want to get out of the stroller and have a little walk once he gets outside.

He clearly wants to go out if he gets excited at the idea of going out but just can't manage to actually walk.

When my dog has been ill and can't walk far I just carry her, even if it's just round the block. She loves to go out and I think she'd get very depressed otherwise.

Something similar to this might be better for not getting people laughing (I hate people) - www.amazon.co.uk/Foldable-Outdoor-Trailer-Transport-Trolley/dp/B07BSBRKYW/ref=asc_df_B07BSBRKYW/?hvlocphy=9045577&linkCode=df0&hvptwo&psc=1&hvnetw=g&hvadid=310847903484&hvpone&hvlocint&hvpos=1o2&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl&hvqmt&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&hvtargid=pla-789574045571&hvrand=3623449336070263757

Sorry just seen you've ordered one, who cares what people think you're doing whats best for your dog. They can always ask you why if they care so much!

Remembered I didn’t update the thread. She loves it 😍 it works well and nobody has been judgy.

Did have her picture taken a few times!

My blind and diabetic dog is getting to the point where he needs one for somewhere he doesn't know. I'm glad it's going well!

@MLMhun Thanks for the update. I'm so pleased it's worked out so well.

I did wonder how you got on.

I haven't needed to order one yet, but I did make a note of the name of the stroller when you first posted this so when the time comes I'll be putting my order in.