The 10 Best Pet Strollers

The Best pet strollers are like baby strollers; these come with a variety of features and capabilities, suited for urban or more rugged terrain. Like us, even pets love to go and explore the outdoors. But many pets are unable to walk for long periods due to factors such as old age, size, illness, or injury. However, with a stroller, there is no need for your pet to be confined indoors. When buying a pet stroller, look for factors such as the size of stroller, weight limit, kind of wheels it has, and whether it has a private area where the pet can retreat to if required. The best pet stroller features large tires that makes off-roading a breeze.

Introduction

Having a pet stroller for your dog or cat is a great idea, especially if you have an aging pet that gets tired easily. You can take it around in the stroller while you walk or jog, or you could take them in a bike trailer.

Your pet might be young and small or might be sick and may not be able to keep up with your pace, in which case a stroller is a great travel system for them and you.

These are perfect for all kinds of pets – cats who can’t be relied upon to stay nearby. You get bigger-sized dog strollers for dogs who have grown older and can no longer walk too well, or for smaller dogs who simply can’t keep up with you.

These pet strollers allow your four-legged family members to come along with you for a ride, to enjoy nature.

Related: Teach your dog to sit and ride in a stroller and train your dog to walk next to your stroller.

If you have not yet trained your pet to deal with crowded public places or taught it to deal with other people, getting the pet stroller would be a great idea. There are strict legal regulations for pet owners with regards to pet behavior and they are expected to keep the pet under control at all times without endangering the safety of other people around.

A stroller is a useful product if you want to take your pet outdoors for long walks, it is also a great way to safely contain and protect your pet, whenever you go outdoors, be it to the the park, or for a walk around the block, or maybe even shopping at the mall. These come with comfortable padded, roomy cabins with protections to contain your pet.

Pet strollers help avoid stress on your pet’s body if they are having trouble walking due to joint pain, arthritis, or recent surgery. Wherever you go, your pet, whether it be a dog, cat, furry (or not so furry) friend, will be able to keep you company while remaining safely contained inside the stroller.

Top Reasons to Use a Stroller

There are many reasons why you may need a stroller for your pet.

1. Injured or Old Pets
   Even injured or old pets need sunlight and fresh air, just like humans do. Dog strollers are great for getting your sick or old pet the outdoor diversion that it needs and deserves.
2. Easier to Carry & Use than Pet Carriers
   Many people prefer pet strollers over pet carriers since you don’t have to lift and carry a pet stroller to transport your pet.
3. Veterinary Visits
   Pets have to be taken to vets regularly. A Pet stroller makes it easy for you to transport your dog or cat to the vet, without having to worry about coaxing your pet into the vet’s office. This way your pet also stays away from the other sick and potentially aggressive animals.
4. Prevents Paw Problems
   Concrete can harm your pet’s paws especially when it is hot. Trash on the sidewalk or road can also injure your pet’s feet. A dog stroller keeps your pet’s feet clean and protected from any roadside debris.
5. Attending Events
   When attending an event where a crowd has gathered, its better to have your pet in a stroller, than to control your pet with a leash.You don’t have to worry about someone stepping on your pet, or your pet eating the trash or food that it finds on the ground. With your pet in the stroller, you can conveniently take your pet to various places, even those places where pets are usually restricted.
6. Easy Travel
   It is much easier to travel with your pet when you have a stroller. You can easily transport your pet from place to place without having to worry about it getting loose in a strange and potentially dangerous area.
7. Avoid Urban Traffic
   Owners that live in big cities use strollers to keep their dogs or cats from running into traffic or getting wrapped around other people’s legs.
8. Protection from Aggressive Dogs
   A pet stroller will protect your pet from other aggressive animals that are not on a leash.
9. Quality Time with Your Cat
   Most cats don’t like walking on a leash unless they are trained to use them as kittens. Cat strollers are a great way to spend time with your cat while you both get some fresh air outside.
10. Small Dogs
    Very small dogs can’t walk the same distances as larger dogs without becoming exhausted. Many owners find that they can walk with their small dog for longer distances if they use a pet stroller. This doesn’t mean that the dog has to be in the stroller the whole time. You can walk your dog until it becomes tired and then stroll it for awhile until it is rested again.

Things to look for before buying a pet/dog stroller

Size
The first thing to keep in mind before buying a jogging stroller is the size of your pet. Every pet jogging stroller has its own weight capacity but it need not necessarily have enough space for your pet. Ideally, your pet should be able to sit or stand in the carriage without feeling squeezed i.e. the cabin space should be roomy enough. If you have multiple pets, do check the size of the pet compartment. If you are not sure of how to measure your pet, you can mark out the area your pet takes when curled on the floor and take that measurement as the rough estimate when comparing the space inside the stroller.

Is an all-terrain pet stroller really required?
If you are jogging with the pet stroller on a smooth surface, the ride is smooth for both your pet and you but if the road is uneven, an all-terrain pet stroller will really help. Some other features include:

• They have bigger air filled tires that make it easier to push the stroller on uneven rough surfaces.
• For your pet, it will definitely be a smooth ride especially since the stroller tires have shock absorbers that will cushion your ride over bumps.
• The tires are also much more ruggedly built.
• Comes with versatile swivel front tires. You can easily lock it as well as navigate it through the crowd

Pet stroller safety features
The most important safety feature of the pet stroller is the tether to hold your pet securely inside the stroller. If your pet is active, there are chances that it may just jump out of the stroller at any time or go out of control and run around causing a lot of trouble to you and the people around. So, a tether in a stroller is a very good idea to secure your pet in it.

The other feature that is impressive is the parking brakes that can bring the stroller to a stop when you want it to and hold it in place.

Bike Trailer for Pets / Dogs

Have you ever tried taking your dog out in a car for a drive? Noticed how they always love sticking their head out the window to take it all in. Dogs love the fresh open air and the safest way to help them enjoy it is in a dog trailer.

If you love to ride a bike and enjoy it as a regular exercise, get a dog trailer for your dog and you both can enjoy the ride together. It is a win-win for all. You get to exercise and ride the bike whereas your dog is safe and secure in the dog trailer, enjoying the open air and the surroundings along with you.

So you can dump your car, take the bike out and thanks to the bike trailer for dogs, you can take your pet dog along with you.

So What Exactly is a Bike Dog Trailer?

In simple terms, a Bike Dog Trailer is a basket with 2 to 3 wheels that can be attached to your bicycle at the back, in such a way that when you ride your cycle, you pull the basket along with you. It comes in different sizes, so you can carry 2-3 or more dogs, depending on the size of the carrier.

Some brands such as Solvit Houndabout even have an option of converting the trailer into a stroller by adding wheels to the front. So, on days you don’t feel like riding the bicycle, you can always convert the bike trailer into a stroller for your pet and enjoy a stroll instead.

Best bike trailers for your dog:

• #1 – Solvit HoundAbout Pet Bicycle Trailer
• #2 – DoggyRide Mini Dog Bike Trailer
• #3 – Solvit HoundAbout II Pet Bicycle Trailer – Large

With a bike trailer for dogs, you can easily enjoy and continue your healthy lifestyle at the same time, you can take your dog with you. The bike trailer ensures that your pet is safe and secure and gets to enjoy the outdoors just as much as you do.

Accessories, Conversion Kits, Spare Parts for Pet Strollers

You will find several useful accessories for pet strollers that will enhance your as well as your pets’ experience with the stroller. Also, check out other useful travel products & accessories for your pet.

Strollers undergo wear and tear over time because of which certain parts need to be replaced. You can go through common pet stroller replacement parts here.

You also get useful conversion kits that enable a trailer to be converted into a stroller and vice-versa.

Pet Strollers Buying Guide

Pet strollers buying guide: Families that have pets are too attached to them; its like their own kids and they love to take care of their Pets. Here are some the top reasons why you need a pet stroller.

A pet stroller is perfect for taking your cat or dog on long walks, or even jogs. You can use these for Dogs, Cats, and Small Animals like Rabbits Guinea Pigs, Ferrets and more.

While you can definitely use a pet stroller for cats, the reality is that most felines despise sitting in a stroller. You will have to give them sufficient time to get used to the stroller at home first, before taking them out.

Factors to consider (considerations)

• Carriage size – Measure and Weigh Your Pet
  Before buying any pet stroller you should ideally measure and weigh your pet, as most strollers are of different sizes, dimensions and have different max weight limit.Buying a stroller after measuring your pet, means you can buy something that is comfortable for your pet.

If you want to take more than one pet in your stroller, you need to factor that when considering size.

• Weight limit
  This is related to the above. A bigger sized pet will require a stroller that can handle higher weight.
• Handle height
  Again, this factor applies to baby stroller as well as pet stroller. The handle height shouldn’t be too low so that you have to stoop. Ideally, choose a model with an adjustable handle height.
• Wheels
  Things to keep in mind:

• In general, large wheels are better (than small wheels) for bumpy surfaces and for going off road.
• Air-filled tires absorb shock better than solid tires.
• A three-wheeled design is better suited for going off-road
• Privacy area
  A stroller that offers a covered privacy area is great for long days out or for anxious pets.
• Sun shade
  A sun shade is great for protecting the pet from the sun on hot sunny days, it can also act as a shelter from rain (most shades are made of waterproof material nowadays). Ideally, go in for a stroller that has a retractable sun shade.
• Color / design
  You can from a wide range of colors and designs/patterns such as polka dots or leopard print.

Teach your dog to sit and ride in a Stroller

It can be a challenge to make some dogs sit in the stroller (at least initially). However, once your dog gets used to it, they will enjoy the outdoor ride.

Here are some useful tips on how to make your dog sit and ride in a stroller.

• Keep the stroller inside the house for a couple of days so that your dog gets the time to check it out (investigate).
• Keep your dog’s favorite toys or favorite food near the stroller (or in the stroller) so that your dog feels comfortable with the stroller.
• Once your dog is comfortable being around the stroller, pick up your dog and put them in the stroller; make sure you give him a treat.
• Take the stroller out into the garden. If your dog feels uncomfortable or nervous, repeat the first few steps.
• Finally, you can hit the streets!

Use the harness
Put a harness on your dog, and attach a leash that you hold, to prevent him jumping out in a stressful or uncomfortable situation. In crowded areas, its better to zip and enclose the stroller to help your dog relax better.

Train your dog to walk next to the stroller

With some effort, you can teach your dog to walk next to the stroller and have pleasant walks with your family.

Here are some useful tips to keep in mind when going out with your dog and the stroller.

1. When you are walking with your dog, your dog should be heeling beside you, at your hip, and not up next to the stroller. If your dog spots something exciting, squirrel or another dog, your dog could pull you over (and even the stroller). So this is for your own safety.
2. Keeping your dog next to you is for safety as well as for preventing problem behaviors while guarding the stroller or child

Steps to Walking Your Dog With the Stroller

Each step should be practiced in a small area close to your home without the baby in the stroller at first. As you practice more and gain more success, you can then add more distance.

Practice Holding the Leash

• First practice holding the leash on the handle of the stroller. Use a six foot leash, with your dog on your preferred side of the stroller. Hold the leash with both hands on the handle and walk slowly with your dog just a few steps. If your dog pulls, stop walking and gently move him back into position and give a treat.
• Add more steps and use encouragement to keep your dog in position. If he pulls, gently move him back into position and give a treat.
• Every time you go to a new location, you should lower your expectations, and give more encouragement and treats until your dog is used to the new environment.

As with all training, practice makes perfect. The more you practice the more you will have nice, long pleasant walks with your whole family — including your dog!