I'm still reeling from the thought of a Golden in a pushchair. Now reading this debate, I can actually see how it would be easier for me when my 13 1/2 is on our walks to be able to get her to and from the park quicker as the others are always in a hurry and we have to walk at a very sedentary pace to stop her being dragged along. However, I cannot understand the use of one at shows. After all, shouldn't show dogs at shows be in the peak of condition and therefore be able to walk into a show. After all they are being taken in a car to the shows, surely they can then walk the distance to the show ring. But for a large breed like a Golden to be transported in one at a show, I just cannot comprehend.

Ktee said about my old Rufus:
But why? Wouldn't he be happier than having to sit at home while the others get to go for walks? Or are you saying he wouldn't sit in the chair and want to run around and do more damage to himself?

He'd absolutely hate it. 99% of the time he doesn't even get up when the leads are brought out for the other dogs, because he knows he isn't able to manage walks, he's quite happy with our large front garde where he can walk around at his own speed for as little or short time as he wants. He'd hate sitting in a pushchair. He's almost blind, deaf, and hates being picked up (as a cavalier he's too big for it anyway), doesn't sit on furniture etc, so to suddenly be elevated -it would freak him out. And just to clarify, if he DID want frequent walks, he'd have them, because I have never believed in keeping him still and quiet to prolong his life, I'd much rather he enjoyed himself. hence aged 9 he took his Gold Good Citizen even though we all knew he might drop dead during the test from his heart as it is so bad, but back then he still DID enjoy doing things a lo more. These days he prefers the house and the garden (and happily our front garden is as big as most people's back gardens) so again I let him decide what he wants to do. :)

hello...I have seen a 19 year old dog being taken out for fresh air and a change of scenery in one....I can live with that if it improves the dogs life BUT I have a friend who has one for a 2 tiny chiuahuas (spelt wrong I know). This is becasue there tiny legs mean they cannot walk far.....lets not get onto teacup size dogs !

Surely even the most elderly of dogs are much better using their legs & retaining some muscletone to help support their bodyweight than being wheeled around.  I'm sure this is why my old girl is still able to walk, it's the walking that is keeping her muscles toned, joints more supple and able to support herself.

One point I've not seen mentioned yet, that I have heard from people in toybreeds who have seen a lot of these, is that they are NOT really secure. I.e. we are not talking a proper cage here, and so dogs at shows that have been left in these pushchairs have been able to get out of them when the owner's back was turned.

This is true, that they arent totally secure.  But in reality neither are crates.  I can send you all my pins with their crates, and you will be amazed at how fast they can get out of them.  My springer was the same way, would unlatch crates from the inside or outside. 

Walking a healthy, fit, able dog is what you are supposed to do.  Even an elderly dog needs a walk.  But when circumstances arise that this is just not possible for a dog to do the walk that the breed is meant to do, then you need to accomidate that situation.  If its using a pushchair, so be it.  Joy was worked every day until she was around 13 years of age.  She popped her shoulder out, and so walking became very difficult.  Like, to go round my complex takes maybe 5 minutes.  She couldnt do that.  She could barely get to the bus stop (which at the time, was only 9 townhouse units) before she had to rest.  It was sad to see her like that, but if I had a stroller, she could have gone out more, and at least smelt the air, gotten out. 

After thinking on this thread to, I can see the use of them at shows.  I really can.  You bring in your large trollies, filled high with things, and they take more room going up the aisles than a stroller.  It also has its safety reasons too.  I dont know what shows are like in the UK, but here they are a mad house.  Handlers and dogs rushing to ringside, not looking where they are going.  Im sorry, but if a 150 lb person, and then their dog that weighs that as well, is running down the aisles paying no regard to whats around them, it could be hazardous to other dogs.  I got a dog that is 11 inches.  The other people arent paying attention to the floor, they are making a mad dash to the rings.  She could get hurt.  Is that fair to her?  I mean it can get so mad in the grooming area and at ringside, that you need to actually carry your toy dog to and from. 

There are benefits to the strollers, but when people use them for cutesy reasons, then thats a little much. 

A dog in a buggy would be unable to defend itself from a curious dog, other than barking (like they do from their cages on trollies) which can then incite an attack.

I have a stroller, the reason that i brought one is that is far lighter than a cage and trolley to push around and than dragging a heavy trolley around.
The only time i use it is when i come into a show with one or two dogs to keep them clean but once they have been shown, they walk around the show ground and then can get as dirty as they like then.
So they do have there uses as they double up as a safe place for them to rest and be groomed.
I wouldn't use them for taking them for walks but i do agree for elderly dogs there use can benifit them as they are still with the gang on there walk.
But to put a large breed in them is wrong as they are not designed for them.
They are not the most secure, that is why it is easier to push around with you so you can keep an eye on them in it. Plus with amount of room that you have in grooming areas you have at some shows, they take up less room than a trolley and cage.

My OH used to put our old JR in his motorbike topbox and whizz her around the farm in it!

I bet your JR loved that... When we were on holiday in Cornwall we saw a woman pushing her two toy pooches in a kids push chair with outfits to match!!! i think for mobility purposes they are a good idea, mind you i couldn't quite see my two labs getting one!!

There's an old picture that I've seen (wish I could find it) - maybe from the 50s or 60s? that shows exhibitors queueing up to go into Crufts.  One woman in it has all her dogs and gear in an old style pram so maybe things haven't changed that much after all LOL

Debs

I have certainly seen pushchairs with the seat taken out and a cage put in on the base at shows in the past.

When I have Young pups it would be nice to be able to get toy the country park for off lead exercise and training earlier (it is a 20 min walk each way) as I don't drive.  With my breed it would be beneficial to be able to let them off lead earlier, before they are old enough to walk there and back.

Mind you I think I'd be a laughing stock.

As it is I put pups in a back pack worn on my front, or a holdall to take them to the Vets for their jabs, by 10 - 12 weeks they way a ton on the 20 minute walk each way.

> I have a stroller, the reason that i brought one is that is far lighter than a cage and trolley to push around and than dragging a heavy trolley around.

Thaks for putting your point, that is what I was wondering, if they do have any use at a show.  For my dogs, I know they would not be helpful at all, which is why I need to sue a cage/cages and trolley.

Do you feel they are as secure as a cage, and as stable?

Do you feel they are as secure as a cage, and as stable?

I think it depends on what type you get, i have the new type from American pet and that seems to better design one that they are selling as it it in two parts with you being able to cage the cage bit off and then you can fold the stroller down.

But if you want to have a more secure cage there is scope for you with it as there is going be at some point with me showing more than two dogs so i can put two cages on top of each other and secure it with bungies.  

I do not have a dog pushchair, but having in the past wheeled my toy breed dog into a show with a crate on a trolley, I can imagine it might make life easier. And the point is, I would expect these dogs in buggies at shows are in them simply to keep the coat clean before going in the ring on show day, and at other times they would walk like any other dog. I doubt they are wheeled around in them all the time instead of walking, but if you have a small dog with a coat that has taken hours of preraration you are hardly going to walk it in through the mud! Maybe buggies are much easier to push than dragging a trolley with a cage on top?

i have read this post and a time have been very amused my bully has a problem with his leg and is on rest at the moment he will be back to the vet next week and will probably be going the the veterinary collage for x-rays i would just like to know do they do large pushchairs for up to 60kg my poor boy is missing out when the other go for walks LOL

> Turns out the Griffons leg had been broken by 40kg of goldie and pushchair going over it!
>

oh my god thats awful! poor poor thing!

I think they are a bit silly but to be honest if I had a small fluffy dog that I was trying to keep clean I can see no difference really between that and a cage on wheels.  My guess is they are probably more manouverable.  I know some of my friends with these breeds spend hours grooming so can well imagine that especially at Newark this weekend where the conditions were far from ideal that I would be gutted to have to take a messy dog in the ring!

I'll have to disagree on this one - my friend has one that she uses (a) at a show in the same way as other people use a crate, only this is about a tenth of the weight and hassle. And (b) when she walks her oldie that can't walk very far but HATES being left at home. No way could she walk the other dogs separately from this girl except if she only gave them a 2 minute walk, if this old girl was left at home, even with some of the others, she would scream and upset herself so much she would probably have a heart attack. This way, my friend can set out with all her dogs, and when her oldie starts puffing and panting she can sit in the pushchair happily looking around at the fields and beaches while she rests, then do a bit more later on.