If you’re a dog parent and you don’t have a dog stroller yet, you need to get one ASAP! A dog stroller is an amazing piece of equipment that allows you to carry your beloved pets around easily and every dog owner should definitely have one.
Now, you might be thinking “Well, they can just walk” but not every dog can walk on every kind of terrain. Furthermore, bad weather conditions or illness can also call for the need for a dog stroller. For dogs that are handicapped or suffer from physical constraints, strollers allow them to view the outside world and experience the outdoors.
However, before you go about purchasing a dog stroller, here are some factors that you should always consider. If you keep these in mind, you’ll be able to buy a well-made, specially designed dog stroller that suits your dog’s requirements and yours.
1. Protection
One of the primary reasons behind purchasing a dog stroller is to protect your beloved pet from bad weather, including rain, strong winds, snow, and more. Now, that wouldn’t be possible if the stroller wasn’t made with protective material. It should have adequately sized roof panels made of durable material that can keep your furry friend safe.
At the same time, it should have the right kind of ventilation to allow the passage of air and keep your doggie cool and calm. It should also be shock-resistant, and the wheels should be able to withstand rough roads, without causing duress.
2. Size
Another important factor that should be kept in mind is size. Like everything else, dog strollers also come in various shapes and sizes, each of which is suitable for different kinds of dogs. Before you buy a stroller, measure the height and weight of your dog and speak to the store consultant about which stroller would be most suitable and comfortable for your dog.
If your dog is still in the growing stage, buy a stroller that is large enough to accommodate them as they grow. Otherwise, you’ll have to keep on spending. It’s important to remember here that buying a larger model is better because while you can fix a large stroller with a blanket or pillow, you can’t change a small stroller.
3. Portability
Strollers are super useful when you go traveling to places where your dog can’t go walking, but to carry the stroller to such places, you have to make sure that it’s portable and easy to carry. Firstly, the stroller should be foldable and it should be compact enough to carry in your backseat or trunk easily.
On top of that, it should be lightweight and easy to carry. Regardless of whether it’s a big stroller or a small one, you should be able to carry it easily from place to place. Even at home, storing the stroller shouldn’t be a problem, and it should be able to fit into compact nooks and shelves without getting damaged or ruined.
4. Maintenance
Dog strollers are bound to get dirty, which is why you need to buy ones that are easy to clean and maintain. Cleaning even the nooks and corners should be easy, and having the option to disassemble and reassemble for cleaning should be simple as well. The materials that the stroller is made of should dry easily and it should be easy to wipe off and clean.
The wheels should preferably be detachable as well. However, at the same time, the stroller should also be able to withstand rough usage and should not require too much maintenance, and shouldn’t be too finicky.
5. Price
Last but not least comes a price. At the end of the day, along with all the features, the stroller should also be budget-friendly and at a price that suits your pocket. Here’s an important thing to keep in mind: while price does denote quality and you shouldn’t buy the cheapest option possible (it will get damaged too soon, due to the use of cheap materials), you should also stray away from hyper-expensive models that cost too much but have limited features.
The best thing to do here is to stick to a comfortable price range and buy a stroller that suits that. Don’t go out of your way to buy something that’s out of budget.