Mr. N has never met a place he couldn’t traverse on his own four paws but sometimes being on the ground isn’t the safest place for him. Occasionally, we will go to crowded places like street fairs and pet expos where there is a danger of him being stepped on. Usually I either carry him or bring a bag to tote him around in but even his seven-pound self starts getting heavy after a while and my arms and shoulders ache. Enter the dog stroller. Mr. N likes having his little bubble from rude dogs and he is more apt to curl up and fall asleep in a stroller than being carried. It was tremendously useful having one at BlogPaws for the added storage space and so Mr. N could sleep it in during workshops.
Pupsaver, the company that makes our favorite car seat for dogs, has ventured into making dog strollers as well. The PupStroller has all-terrain swivel-oriented wheels, front-end suspension, rear-brakes, an internal tether to keep the pup secured and a fully enclosed mesh retractable sun shade. Storage is provided in the form of a storage basket below and a console on top with a cup holder. The 18-pound stroller currently comes in a black-and-white Houndstooth pattern. Assembly is easy as I managed to do it without calling for assistance. When Ikea furniture has to be assembled, I just excuse myself for a couple of hours until we magically have furniture.
Dog strollers are a great mode of transportation for senior dogs or disabled dogs or dogs who are temporarily injured. They also serve as protection from aggressive dogs or wildlife like hawks or coyotes that want to eat your small dog. We firmly believe that dogs need regular exercise but if it is not a safe walking situation whether due to health or surroundings, strollers are an excellent way to ensure your dog still gets fresh air and stimulation and exposure to new sights and smells.
Mr. N’s former foster assisted with a test drive of the stroller as she uses a stroller on a daily basis. Gem, her puppy mill rescue is disabled and can’t walk comfortably for more than a few feet. The stroller accompanied her across the country on a trip to Florida with her two small dogs. The dogs enjoyed a comfortable ride while seeing the sights and doing therapy visits although the puppy was very tempted to chew on the mesh.
She praised how easy it was to set up the stroller and break down, saying that it was the easiest in that regard out of all the strollers she’s tried. However, she thought the stroller was a little heavy to be loading it in and out of the car multiple times a day and she suggested having the storage basket opening a little deeper to make it easier to put bigger items in.
I didn’t find loading it in the car to be a problem but it’s definitely not something I would want to be carrying around. I think it’s the trade-off between durability and weight. We tried out the PupStroller on various terrain including cobblestones, the street, the pavement, unpaved roads and over potholes. The stroller had no issue with any of those and could handle going for light hikes. The PupStroller is the dog equivalent of an all-terrain or jogging stroller. If you’re looking for a lightweight umbrella stroller for dogs, this might not be the best fit. But if you’re looking for something sturdy that can handle any terrain you throw at it, the PupStroller is your friend.
Mr. N’s foster has told me that he would repeatedly try to jump out of the stroller at her house. He was content to sit in the PupStroller and wait until the fifth time I stopped to take photos at which point he politely informed me that he was done and he needed his walk now. I took him with me to the food cart pod and to the Nob Hill Shopping district and he stayed in the stroller while I ordered lunch and went shopping.
You also might attract added attention if you have your dog out in the stroller. He got awwed and cooed over by various people. No one gave me any grief about having him out in the stroller but I hear that happens to people from time to time. A man also barked at him but people (always men) do that periodically so I’m not certain if that was due to the stroller.
I have a couple of accessory suggestions for a warmer riding experience. I would like a water-proof cover. I’ve seen them on baby strollers where they attach on top. Living in the PNW, getting rained on is always a distinct possibility. Mr. N got wet and was shivering a little bit. He would greatly appreciate a heated stroller pad because he has no insulation whatsoever.
What do you look for in a stroller for your dog?
March 3, 2017 8:13 pm
Thanks for sharing! I’m in the market for a stroller for my two adventure cats. I’m bringing them to BlogPaws and want a way to easily carry them both around the conference. This could be a possibility for us!
March 5, 2017 1:20 am
Yes, depending on how much your cats weigh!
March 4, 2017 7:28 am
That sure looks like a solid good stroller – very useful as I imagine crowds could be dangerous for little Mr N. I am with you on Ikea assembly so that is a plus. Kilo has tried to jump out when I put him in anything so I carry him in certain situations – 16lbs and that gets heavy fast.
March 5, 2017 1:21 am
Well this has a tether and is fully enclosed so he wouldn’t be able to jump out… it matters if he’s the chewing type lol.
March 4, 2017 11:48 am
I love pet strollers. You can get your pet around in an urban setting, and creates a safe refuge from loose dogs and bad weather.This is my fun way to take my Emma out on the town, to the dog park, or just window shopping and having fun.
March 5, 2017 1:24 am
Yes, they’re handy in a lot of situations!
March 5, 2017 11:10 am
That looks like a great pet stroller. I think that it would be especially useful in an urban area.
March 5, 2017 11:09 pm
Yes. Mr. N has had a couple of close calls. He almost got run over by a cyclist once on the sidewalk. I yanked him up in time.
February 28, 2018 4:07 am
That’s cool that it works on all terrain. Ruby doesn’t do well in crowded situations and we have thought about a stroller so she could come with us to streets fairs.
February 28, 2018 11:58 pm
Yeah, they’re handy for that kind of situation.
February 28, 2018 10:09 am
Wow. That is one SWEET RIDE! I have a couple kitty pals who have strollers and seein’ yours, there, is makin’ me EVEN MORE jealous. Hmmm… I wonder if I could just order one for myself without tellin’ the peep. HMMM… MOUSES!
February 28, 2018 11:58 pm
Maybe you can use her Amazon account!
February 28, 2018 12:23 pm
That looks like a really awesome stroller! I generally don’t take the pups places where they would need a stroller, but if I do, I’ll definitely keep this in mind. I can see how useful it would be at an event like BlogPaws for sure!
February 28, 2018 11:59 pm
It’s nice to have extra space for BlogPaws swag, extra layers and papers!
February 28, 2018 1:10 pm
Mr.N looks adorable in his stroller! With two small dogs, I’ve thought about getting one on and off for a few years now. So far every time I start looking into them I talk myself out of actually buying one. My dogs are small but they are both high energy, so I feel like walking in most situations is better for them then riding in a stroller. I think I might consider one more seriously when/if my older dog starts slowing down. He’s 9 now and still a little energizer bunny, but if he ever does slow down I’d want a way to continue to include him in family outings which I think a stroller would be awesome for.
March 1, 2018 12:00 am
Mr. N is high energy too and he prefers to walk but he knows he will get trampled in some situations and wants up.
February 28, 2018 2:41 pm
The life of a tiny dog is hard, isn’t it? About everything is bigger and one can get stepped on so easily.
March 1, 2018 12:01 am
Yes. And Mr. N has already suffered one leg fracture from being stepped on.
February 28, 2018 4:34 pm
I can’t quite bring myself to do the stroller thing. We have a sling bag, a “shhhhh… I am not here” bag… and even a back pack system. I just … can’t bring myself to doing it. Not saying it doesn’t have it’s perks but … I just … nope. Mr. N looks adorable in his though.
March 1, 2018 12:02 am
Monte is smaller too! About an hour max is about how long I want to tote Mr. N around.
February 28, 2018 7:38 pm
Pet strollers are awesome in so many situations! That one looks great!
March 1, 2018 12:02 am
They can be quite useful!
February 28, 2018 9:22 pm
This is a strolled I need for Lyla! I like how it is heavier and more durable and can handle all terrain. I want to take her on the hiking trails this spring and summer so I really need one of these! She has mobility issues so it’s a must if I want her to get fresh air and have fun with mama which of course I do want! Since I have a van loading it would not be an issue at all. Thanks for the info on The PupStroller!!
March 1, 2018 12:03 am
Thanks! I hope it works out for you. Pups with mobility issues need fresh air and outings too!
March 2, 2018 11:48 am
They sure do! Lyla LOVES being outside but her poor little legs can only hold her steady for so long. This is perfect for an outdoor dog like herself that has mobility problems!
March 1, 2018 4:39 am
Awww look at him go in his doggy stroller, so cute! Dog strollers haven’t yet became “popular” in Europe. i don’t think there is even a place to buy one unfortunately.