Choosing the right dog stroller or pet carrier and even choosing to use one at all is a decision that your senior dog will appreciate for the rest of their life. It is perhaps the most important and quality-changing decision you can make in your pet’s later life; using a stroller is one decision you’ll certainly not regret – please read on!
Why a dog stroller?
Using dog strollers or dog buggies may seem alien to start with, but with a stroller you can travel anywhere in the company of your dog. Why leave your dog at home when you are out on a day-trip? Even if they can’t walk more than a few steps, with a stroller your dog can still be by your side (or in front of you!) throughout the day and not even slow you down!
A bored dog is a depressed dog, and being forever stranded at home is unfair to such faithful friends. In a stroller, your dog is going to be stimulated with lots of interactions en route. It may be friendly people or familiar dogs, woodland smells or the tangs of a coffee-shop, your dog can still experience them all.
I have written an article on Arthritis in Dogs – click here to read it!
How to pick great dog buggies…
Choosing a dog buggy can be overwhelming, since there are so many around – and in all different shapes and options. Here at cooldog.uk we have a distinctive selection of the best strollers available, which means simple and good choices!
The rated weight-carrying capacity of the dog strollers should be comfortably above the weight of your dog. A vet’s waiting-room usually has a good set of pet weighing-scales if you don’t use bathroom scales. A stroller that is too light-weight may soon buckle under the stresses of too large a dog.
Also check the interior dimensions of the stroller – as although within the rated weight-capacity, a stroller may still be too small if you have a larger but lightly-built pet. Check if they can stand or sit up in the space, and that the floor area is similar in shape and size to the space your dog would normally use to sleep in.
Choices, buggy choices
A good-quality, well-built dog stroller is a must – there’s no upside to losing a wheel when you are miles from home with a large dog that’s difficult to carry. Innopet make some of the World’s best-regarded strollers – and a range that is not too baffling! All strollers must be easy to fold for storage – both in the car and at home.
Some dog strollers can be used as a car-carrier, backpack, hand-carrier and a normal stroller – such as the 5-in-1 from Innopet. This could mean train-travel, taking a coffee and shopping are all a breeze without the wheels – should you wish.
A canopy to protect your dog from the sun and rain (or an extra waterproof cover) is pretty much essential. Separate rain covers are easily carried in the under-compartment that most strollers have. Mesh side/back openings on the dog buggy mean that you can still see and talk to your pet from all angles; they allow good ventilation – and your dog can see you too! Complete enclosures are handy if you feel your dog may try and jump or simply fall out.
An invaluable source of inspiration and great ideas is here: caring for a senior dog.
Here is a super example of an Innopet Hercules dog stroller in use, by a contributor to Instagram:
Dog Carriers
The choice to use a dog carrier is determined a lot by the size of your pet! A dog weighing more than about 5Kg will be tough to carry for too long and they may get a little cramped too. The available variants of dog carriers are massive, with all qualities and colours imaginable. A dog carrier can be part of a multi-purpose dog transport system – such as the Innopet 5-in-1; this includes a pod suitable for securing in a car too.
Dedicated shoulder-carriers are a fashion accessory as well, and the sky is the limit in terms of price. All should be well-ventilated even when zipped up, and have a firm but padded base so that your dog can be comfortable on a level platform. A D-ring attached to the carrier is also a good idea – at least if they are tethered to the bag, they won’t so easily leave you behind in search of a nearby smell.
Conclusion
Our dogs love their fresh-air smells, and when they run out of puff or are stiff and pained when moving around, we can help. A dog carrier or a dog stroller is a simple solution to their problem; they can be with you and their friends in the park or the shops without undue suffering. We owe it to them to love them back!
Painful joints can be a debilitating and tortuous experience for your dog; apart from strollers and carriers, natural food supplements/tablets are also available to relieve mobility pain. These can be fantastically successful in prolonging the active period of your dog’s life; they can make a grumpy dog cheerful too! Click here to see one proven joint-repairing supplement for dogs.
