We are a world of dog lovers, that’s a fact! The dog has been domesticated for many thousands of years and, these days, is among the most popular of all family pets.
Whether you prefer small dogs or big dogs, or one of the most popular medium sized breeds such as the Labrador or retriever, there is something for everyone, and once you have had a family dog the world feels empty without one.
Dogs live for around 12 to 15 years on average, which is a long time to have one around in your life. They provide a wealth of entertainment, are comforting and fun, and also act as a deterrent to unscrupulous people who might want to get into your home.
No burglar will try a house with a dog when there is one without next door! Perhaps most of all, dogs give us great pleasure when we take them out to walk, and we get exercise while they also do.
It’s the walk that brings us to the subject of this article, which is all about dog strollers. Many people ask what the point of a dog stroller is. Surely a dog should walk all the time? Well, that’s true to a point, but there are reasons why you may want to invest in a stroller, so let’s check some of the most popular reasons.
Why You Might Need a Dog Stroller
Like people, dogs are individuals, and each has its own personality and preferences. They age just like us too, and as they become older, they may not be able to walk as far as when young. This is the first reason you might need a dog stroller – your dog is showing signs of age.
You may find that an older dog is eager to go out for a walk but tires after a certain distance.
Yet, they still want to go to their familiar haunts and sniff around the scents that pervade, and you still want to take them there. So, with a stroller, your dog can walk when it wants and then jump in for a ride when things get too much for it, and you can both still enjoy the walks you did when the dog was young.
Older dogs need this sort of help as their legs are often the body part under the most strain, and there’s every reason why you want your otherwise healthy pet to enjoy more years and long walks.
There’s a good reason for buying a dog stroller for pets at the other end of the age scale, too. When your dog is a very young puppy and before its immunization has been completed it is not safe for it to be exposed to the ground outdoors. However, it is important at this point that the dog begins to be introduced to the world, and to be socialized.
It may not be safe to allow a puppy to directly associate with other dogs in these early stages, so the dog stroller is the perfect method of getting your puppy out and about safely and allowing it to get used to the world.
Another use for dog strollers is when a dog is recuperating from an illness or has undergone an operation. The dog may still want to get out in the fresh air but may take some time to recover mobility, so once again the stroller is the answer.
These are just a few of the many reasons you may choose to buy a dog stroller, and others include keeping dogs that are not good in the company of others safe, and for dogs that don’t like the rain, giving them protection when the downpour comes!
So, whatever your reason, you’ve decided you want a dog stroller, and you don’t know where to start looking! We recommend you check out the excellent reviews of strollers at Canine finds and then have a look at the handy tips and advice below about choosing a stroller for your dog.
Choosing the Stroller for Your Dog
The market for dog accessories and products is a massive one, and strollers are fast becoming a must-have accessory for dog owners.
One use we didn’t mention above is that for city-dwellers a dog stroller is by far the safest way of getting the pet to the open space, as it does not have to walk on busy pavements and risk the heavy traffic.
So, where do you start when choosing a stroller, and what do you look for? Here’s a few tips from us.
Size – what size dog are you buying your stroller for? If it’s for a toy breed you only need a very small stroller to do the job, but for bigger animals you want one it will be comfortable in and not have to be crushed!
There are plenty of sizes of dog strollers and you should check the recommended breed size and weight with each one you consider.
Weight – how heavy is the dog stroller, and how heavy is your dog! These two combined will determine how easy or not it is to push your dog when in the stroller and need to be considered carefully.
Waterproof – not all dog strollers come with a full waterproof cover to protect your beloved pet from rain, wind and snow, and we strongly advise that you look for one that does. These are a great buy for animals that don’t like the rain.
Price – budget will always play a part in decisions such as this and you need to think carefully about what you need to spend. Do you really need that expensive designer doing stroller when all you’re doing is pushing pooch to the park? A cheaper model will do the same job!
The above are just a few of the factors we think it best to consider when choosing the right stroller for your dog, and believe us when we say that you will find it a useful item on many occasions, so get searching now and give your pet a comfortable ride!
