5 Reasons For a Pet Stroller

​If you haven’t seen a pet stroller, then you haven’t been to many pet friendly places! Many people have pet strollers for a variety of reasons but I have seen people get scoffed or made fun of for pushing fido. Including Gul’Dan! Often times people assume that you are merely trying to make a statement or are looking for special privileges when pet strollers are actually very practical. Don’t think pet strollers are just for small dogs, they make them for dogs of all sizes. So before you judge, read these top reasons why a pet might be in a stroller! 

​1. For Senior Pets, Disabilities, or Low Energy
A dog that is a senior or has disabilities may not be able to walk long distances but that doesn’t mean they don’t want to go outside! If you live in the city and do not have a car, your only choice for taking your dog pet friendly places is walking and if your pet can’t make it far, it can be difficult. A pet stroller gives a senior dog or a dog with walking problems the ability to visit their favorite store or attend pet friendly events in comfort.

This is especially helpful if only one of your dogs has issues walking long distances. Rather than leave one at home, you can take both with the help of the pet stroller by using it for the dog that is not high energy or cannot walk far. 

​2. Cat Scenic Stroll
While cats may not enjoy a car ride, many are comfortable going for a scenic stroll in a pet stroller. It's a safe way to introduce your cat to the outdoors and if you start at a young age, it's good socialization. Not every cat will have the temperament for it, your cat should be comfortable being handled in general or young and learning.

Moto will be using a pet stroller for when he does therapy cat visits. Since he is heavy, it is impractical to carry him through a large hospital or to keep taking him out of a carrier for people to pet him. The pet stroller allows him to relax in the stroller and for people to come pet him. 

​3. Shy Dogs 
Many dogs who are shy may not be comfortable walking around a lot of people. The fear of distracting things around them doesn’t necessarily mean they do not want to go places, but that they do not feel safe in those situations. Carrying your pet through trouble area will make them feel secure but will put a strain on you, which is where a pet stroller is handy. 

Gul’Dan was a very shy dog and still is, in many situation. When we first got him he didn’t walk well on a leash and was fearful of many things. Not wanting to exclude him, we bought a pet stroller. We first worked on getting him used to a leash, then used the stroller for walking in areas with a lot of people or distractions. This worked perfectly, he felt secure in the stroller. He was comfortable with people petting him in the stroller, when before on the ground, people trying to pet him made him nervous so we had to keep picking him up. If he seemed comfortable or wanted to walk, we would let him out. Over the course of this year, he has become progressively more comfortable walking places but still likes strolling.

​4. For An Elderly Person
A senior or elderly person may have difficulty carrying their pet in a carrier. For both cat and dog owners, a pet stroller is a way to increase their stability while walking and to ease the burden of carrying their pet. If the senior is strolling a senior pet, well then that’s a double win! If they need to take kitty or puppy to the vet, they can use the stroller for transport, put in a carrier for car ride, and put stroller in trunk for when they arrive.

When I worked in center city, we had the most adorable little old lady with a small hairless dog. She used a pet stroller to be able to come walk him to the store for grooming and the stroller doubled to carry food. The best stroller for someone who can't carry their pet is a lightweight one.

​5. General Pet Safety
A pet stroller can provide overall pet safety. From keeping a dog off of hot side walk to safety during pet traveling. This is especially true for small dogs, who are low to the ground and are at risk for either getting stepped on or eating something questionable before you even see it. If you have a small dog that is aggressive, the use of the pet stroller can help keep your dog away from other dogs or keeps your friendly small dog away from aggressive dogs.

BOTTOM LINE
I get a lot of use out of the stroller we bought from petsmart. From strolling Gul'Dan at events, eating outside at pet friendly restaurants or taking Moto on a therapy visit - it is beyond helpful. You will find they tend to be very useful for little dogs, but don't forget about large dogs. A large dog that can't walk well, can't be easily carried like a little dog. When I worked in Philadelphia, one of our good clients was a senior bull dog that was pushed in a large stroller every month to have her nails cut. It may seem silly, but that made a difference in that dog's quality of life, which is always what is most important - not what people think when you push your pooch.

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Do you have a pet stroller? How has a pet stroller helped you or your pet?