Since pet strollers arrived on the scene a huge debate has raged about whether it is cruel for you to push your dog around in what is effectively a pushchair.
A common opinion is that dogs should be expected to walk everywhere. However, there are other reasons why strollers aren't best suited to all pets.
Nature never intend pets to be pushed around like infants in prams. Healthy dogs don’t need pet strollers. When your dog is perfectly healthy why not let them have the exercise they love. Pet strollers would restrict their ability to go walking, have a run and explore the world that surrounds them.
Getting them into a pushchair or pram would be pointless when they don’t need it. Our dogs like to get with us, their owners. They see us as members of their ‘pack’ and they enjoy having a good explore of the environment with us. They don’t enjoy being separated from us and most certainly prefer not being left at home.
Our dogs are not babies and we should never treat them as such. They are dogs. But all dogs are different. When it comes to strollers, some dogs do benefit from them, but some don’t. Many strollers are designed for smaller dogs and are particularly useful when these dogs are ill or otherwise in need of help with mobility.
Indeed, some smaller dogs get stressed when being walked on a leash, especially if the areas are crowded and busy. This is where strollers can protect little dogs from being trampled.
But there is a line between practically pampering a dog and going over the top. Acceptable practical pampering can mean providing our dogs with coats for when they are cold, boots to protect their paws, and life jackets if they come swimming with us but strollers really should only be used to protect our dogs and keep them free from harm and in good health.
A good weatherproof coat helps keep our dogs warm when the weather is cold. Dog shoes help keep our dogs’ feet protected from ice and heat. There are even life jackets to keep your dog safe if they are playing with your family in the water.
Strollers can be similarly useful when our dogs need them. But for a lot of dogs, particularly the larger breeds they are not necessary and can be folded away and stored it until they are required.
For example, strollers could be handy when you have a new puppy or are caring for a new litter. When dogs are very young they are vulnerable to many things including viruses that could make them ill. Keeping puppies safe in strollers when they are out and about is a good way of keeping them from catching any nasty illnesses.
Similarly, as dogs get older, and their joints start to stiffen, strollers are a way of assisting our dogs to get to places where they can go walking and spend time with their owners.
To help you choose the best pet stroller, have a look here.
