Dog strollers all the rage

[PoodleMommy]

Copper: I dont hang around this forum too much anymore for pretty obvious reasons and I dont think I have ever seen you post before... so I must say even though I am hijacking the thread that your dog is beautiful... I love his coloring... any chance we might get some photos?! Elissa

[PoodleMommy]

Originally Posted by RD

Oh puh-lease. Just because people use a stroller doesn't mean their dogs don't get exercise. Truth be told, I wish I had a stroller of some sort for Eve (who is a service dog and gets PLENTY of exercise, attention and stimulation tyvm) when she's working. I don't want her feet on some surfaces any more than I'd want my own bare feet on them. I live in Arizona and you have no idea how BLOODY HOT the pavement gets during the summer. If I don't want her to scorch her paws, I have to CARRY her to and from the car every time we go somewhere. When I go to a class or seminar, I think it'd be great to have a soft place for her to rest while I'm sitting in a chair. She's on the move constantly and sometimes I'd rather she not lay on the cold hard floor.

I think strollers do have their place, much like any other dog accessory - crates, carriers, ex pens, leashes, etc. I also think they can be overused or abused by people who don't know what they're doing, but what's new with that situation?

If I could afford a good one for Eve, you bet I'd get one! Would I use it for leisure walks? No, probably never. But it would certainly make life easier for her as my helper.

Oh, and I'll throw in my .02 about small dogs in public places. If the store owner says dogs are welcome as long as they're enclosed, then feel free to put your Rottweiler in a stroller too! But face it, a large dog on a leash in a store is usually more intrusive than a small dog in a purse or stroller, no matter how well behaved. Carrying a small dog in a purse is no different than carrying around a purse, to other patrons. But when the dog is on the ground and sniffing at everything, people are less accepting of them. I have people give me disgusted looks because of Eve, even though she's very well behaved, doesn't sniff anything and keeps to herself. Some people in society find dogs revolting.

RD.... how much does Eve weigh? they do have some strollers that accomadate medium size dogs... they have ones that are basically a crate on wheels and the "crate" portion comes off to double as a car seat. Prices I am not really to sure of though... the one we have was actually a gift.

[Herschel]

Originally Posted by RD

If I don't want her to scorch her paws, I have to CARRY her to and from the car every time we go somewhere.

Fair enough. In Arizona, that is definitely a legitimate problem. I think Muttluks makes all-weather booties, though.

Originally Posted by RD

She's on the move constantly and sometimes I'd rather she not lay on the cold hard floor.

I've seen a lot of service dogs just hanging out on "cold, hard floors." Just like any other dogs, their idea of comfort isn't the same as ours. Herschel has two beds and a blanket sitting right next to him. Where is he? Sleeping on the floor.

Originally Posted by RD

I think strollers do have their place, much like any other dog accessory - crates, carriers, ex pens, leashes, etc. I also think they can be overused or abused by people who don't know what they're doing, but what's new with that situation?

I think it's a lot easier (and a lot more common) to abuse a stroller than it is to abuse a leash. Encouraging them as pet vehicles is going to a lot more people taking their dogs to a lot more places where they don't belong. Herschel flies everywhere with us and he's a perfect gentleman about it--to the point where the security people let him walk through the scanner without a leash/collar/etc. On the other hand, I was on a plane (without Herschel) where some neurotic woman brought her neurotic dog on board and it terrorized a little girl. Screaming + dog + airplane = not good. It's not a coincidence that there are only a couple of airlines left that will readily accept Herschel at 17lbs.

Originally Posted by RD

If I could afford a good one for Eve, you bet I'd get one! Would I use it for leisure walks? No, probably never. But it would certainly make life easier for her as my helper.

In some ways, maybe. I saw a girl with her service dog (Lab) a few weeks ago that was pulling her wheelchair up an incline (she had functional arms). It looked like her dog was all right without a stroller. Why would it make Eve's life easier?

Originally Posted by RD

Part of having a medium-large (though I consider Eve smallish) dog is realizing that they're seen as DOGS by society and not as our "children" as the littler guys are.

Absolutely. Now that I am on both sides of the spectrum, I'm even more disturbed by that. Herschel is far less stable around children than Nala, but still, people think he is "cuter" and more friendly. As a result, scared parents let their scared kids run up to Herschel so they can meet a "nice dog" and he scares the sh*t out of them. If they would have asked politely, Nala would have layed down and let them pet her forever. People need to realize that small dogs aren't kids, and they aren't always nice. (Herschel is nice, but he really doesn't like being surprised. Such is life with a terrier)

[bubbatd]

The main thing is to love your dog and treat it like a dog . Daughter's MIL always has matching collar , bows and nail polish on her poodle ......is this for her or her dog ??? Ollie has a stroller ... my 4 Runner .... so I spoil him too .

[RD]

Hey, I'm not saying everyone should use a stroller for their dog! Just stating that they can be useful and do have their place.

I've seen a lot of service dogs just hanging out on "cold, hard floors." Just like any other dogs, their idea of comfort isn't the same as ours. Herschel has two beds and a blanket sitting right next to him. Where is he? Sleeping on the floor. This is true. Dakota does the same. Eve prefers a soft surface to lie on, but will lie on a hard floor if she's told to. She doesn't complain, it's my issue really. I've had people get up and step on her if she isn't directly under my feet (and quite literally sometimes I have to tuck her away under my chair to keep her out of harm's way), sometimes there is stuff on the floor that I don't want on her fur, etc but I don't want her jumping up and sitting in a chair next to me, and I usually can't hold her in my lap. Times like those are when I think a stroller (or should I call it a rolling crate to remove the "dogs as babies" stigma?) would be useful.

There are some things that I have to do that are very stressful, distracting situations for Eve as she's only 1 year old and is still in training, but I still need her to assist me and can't make her the center of my attention. When she's 2-3 years old and fully trained, it won't be an issue, but for the time being wouldn't it be nice if I didn't have to stay home from those events or overwhelm her (pressure to ignore the stressful, busy environment AND the pressure to do her job)? I think that's definitely where a stroller could be useful and more than just a toy. JMO!

I think it's a lot easier (and a lot more common) to abuse a stroller than it is to abuse a leash. Encouraging them as pet vehicles is going to a lot more people taking their dogs to a lot more places where they don't belong. . Fair enough, the leash point was an exaggeration. But to play devil's advocate (I crate my dogs, for the record), it could be said that crates encourage pet owners to be lazy and lock their dogs in a box rather than train them to stay out of trouble. Not everyone who uses a crate abuses it, not everyone who uses a stroller abuses it.

[StillandSilent]

I've only known one family who used one. They had a 15 year old beagle and a young one. The young one walked by the river and the old one walked until he was tired and then rolled along. Worked well for that family, no one was left at home, bored and unhappy and the young dog didn't miss his exercise.
I personally could see Miss Lazy Lilly riding in one just because she doesn't want to move herself from place to place. Honestly, if I let her have her way, she would weigh 50lbs and never walk anywhere. Unless she smelled a bunny of course, then she turns into a lightning bolt.

[copperdogsmom]

Poodlemommy I just posted some pics on the genaral board

[misticaleclipse]

Originally Posted by PoodleMommy

Im removing myself from this thread and all the condescending, sarcastic people who felt the need to post in it...

to the OP... I feel there is a time and place for these... we get much use out of the one we own... as I said at the beginning as with any item you need to use it responsibly meaning the dog still needs to be exercised... we mostly use ours to take the dogs with us when they would otherwise be left home and therefore not receiving any exercise anyway. When we go out for walks or with the sole purpose of exercising the dogs we do not use the stroller obviously. Hopefully that gives one side of the issue for you to explore.

Now I am going to bed where my "underexercised, very neglected dog who I will be listing on Petfinder tommorrow as I have no right to own him" is already asleep and waiting for me.

Feel free to take up your bashing of people who use dog strollers again..... NOW.

Elissa

I am sorry I did not mean for this to turn into a bashing thread at all,
did not realize it was such a hot topic.

My main concern like everyones are the people who will buy these and
not exercise there dog. I doubt anyone going out of their way to post on
a dog message board regularly would fit that description.

I also have a small dog myself and do find it rude that other owners
try to bring their dogs in strollers and purse dogs into the stores.
The advertising for this product seems to direct pet owners to do just
that.

Sorry again for the approach

[PoodleMommy]

Originally Posted by misticaleclipse

I am sorry I did not mean for this to turn into a bashing thread at all,
did not realize it was such a hot topic.

My main concern like everyones are the people who will buy these and
not exercise there dog. I doubt anyone going out of their way to post on
a dog message board regularly would fit that description.

I also have a small dog myself and do find it rude that other owners
try to bring their dogs in strollers and purse dogs into the stores.
The advertising for this product seems to direct pet owners to do just
that.

Sorry again for the approach

Oh I dont blame you at all... the point of this forum is to discuss these things and you had every right to post this thread... like I said before I wouldnt have cared if everyone said they didnt like them and would never use them...I only take offense to those people who insisted that anyone who uses one should not own a dog or that they feel bad for those peoples dogs...

To address your point.. .I really dont think they encourage people to take their dogs places they dont belong... I mean I think its pretty obvious that there is not a baby in them... they dont look that much like a stroller to me... most of them just look like crates on wheels.

When we have ours covered with something some people think that it is a real stroller... but when it is uncovered it is pretty obvious that there are dogs in there, lol... and if you get your face to close your gonna KNOW there are dogs in there.

[krisykris]

I have a stroller...

I've used it maybe 3-4 times but it definitely comes in handy.

Times it comes in handy :
-outdoor festivals where I don't want my under 12 lb dogs to get stepped on when they aren't as highly visable as larger dogs.
-crowded areas for the above reason
-freezing weather when the dogs still want to get out in the fresh air
-shopping (where my dogs are allowed) because it allows them to be enclosed but for me to not have to carry them in a bag on my shoulder.

I frequently put a blanket down in the carts at petco and petsmart when my dogs get tired and see a stroller for mostly that use. When my dogs get tired, they get a "lift" -- I can't carry 4 dogs at once when they are pooped out.

They are most always exercised before we use the stroller so that they are calm because they *do* prefer to walk, but sometimes safety prohibits that because of their size.

No I don't think they are babies, and yes people think I look silly w/a dog stroller. But guess what? I just love my dogs too much to care what they think and if they are tired, they get a ride no matter how silly I look