Here’s how to train your dog to walk next to your stroller

It can be a challenge to take your dog, along with baby in the stroller, outdoors for a walk. Walking a dog while trying to navigate a stroller is easier said than done.

Besides the normal frustrations with a pulling dog, there is also the danger and concern of a baby in the stroller.

Why You Need to Train Your Dog?

Its quite possible that the dog may topple the stroller over, something that every parent wants to avoid at all cost.

And when anything like this happens, the dog often gets punished and receives less walks because he is not able to walk nicely next to the stroller. But that is not good for your dog as he will get very little exercise than what he actually needs.

So what’s the solution?

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

Follow these steps and you will succeed. You need a basic understanding of leash walking before you start working with your dog.

How to Walk Your Dog With the Stroller

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.

Practice Turns

Turning with a stroller has its own set of challenges. For instance, if your dog is on the left side, turning left is challenging because you can run over your dog if you are not careful.

• Before you turn, say the direction of the turn.
• Move REALLY slowly at first so your dog understands that he needs to be careful of the wheels. Gently guide him into position, if necessary.
• Use lots of treats when he is in the correct position.

Practice With the Baby

Once you have practiced without the baby in the stroller and your dog is walking nicely, practice with the baby but use a helper to handle the leash if there is a “hot moment” such as your dog seeing a squirrel or another dog. Your helper can grab the leash and handle your dog, if necessary.

Practice Makes Perfect

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!

Best stroller for walking with dogs

Even if you dogs are leash-trained, you need a stroller that is sturdy in case you plan to take your baby in stroller, along with the dogs.

No matter how much obedience training your dogs may have had, at times, they do get excited, so you need a stroller that’s sturdy, well-balanced and something that will not tip over easily.

Some owners like to take two dogs around, and the grownup dogs easily weigh around 60-80 lbs, so you need to take that into account.

So which are the best strollers for walking with a dog?

The best option is to consider buying a jogging stroller.

Its slightly heavier, so will not trip easily, and a swiveling front wheel makes it easier to maneuver. Most of these strollers fold up nicely and can be stored at home/car without taking too much space.

Even if your dogs are leash trained, its recommended that you get a stroller before the baby is born so that you can do some additional leash training for the dogs, with them walking near the stroller.

Stroller has to be a bit heavy (can’t be very lightweight if you have fully grown-up dogs)

How to ensure the dogs don’t come very near the wheels (especially for the smaller dogs)?

One way to do that is to wrap the leash around your wrist and hold your arm om the outside of the handle so that you keep the leash from rolling under the wheels. It works fine in most cases.

External Links on this Topic

• babycenter
• thebump
• babyandbump

strollerboards

StrollerBoards is a family managed website with me (Ben) and my wife doing most of the work. We are proud parents of two wonderful kids and love reviewing baby travel gear. We have a firm but friendly “democratic parenting” style and offer several practical solutions backed by extensive research. Our own experience with raising two children prompted us to share our knowledge. Read more.