Has anyone used one of these, or something similar? As alot of you probably know by now Talli is almost a year on since being diagnosed with prostate cancer and about 6 months on since being diagnosed with anal gland cancer. He is still doing really well. He enjoys his walk once we get to the offlead area, but isn't keen on the pavement walking bit at all and will intermittently come to a grinding halt and just stand there looking really fed up, sometimes refusing to go any further. Unfortunately I can't drive and can only rarely get a lift. He perks up if someone else comes along on the lead walk bit but this isn't possible all the time. He still has so much life in him in other ways - playful with his toys, fab appetite etc. I just feel like his quality of life is lacking if I can't get him out on walks.

I am considering buying one of these so I can push him to the fields and back. I would have to go for the Novel Jogger/Stroller (I would be pushing it rather than using it as a bike trailer). My dilemma is not only the price (it would be almost £400 with the extra bits, but I will just whack it on the credit card if I have to!) but whether I am even going to be able to push the thing. Talli's weight (big male Dobermann) plus the weight of the stroller is not going to be far off my weight, but it has been designed to carry a 50kg dog so is possible in theory (but perhaps you have to be muscle-man to do so!). I am also not sure what would happen if he were to spot a cat - there are 4 attachment points inside to use the equivalent of 2 couplers on and a window on the top so I could have his lead attached to his harness. I would be limited as to where we could go because of the size of the thing but I just feel like it could make such a difference. I have visions of being able to get back to some of his favourite walks that we have not been able to get to for many months. Just don't sure if the whole thing would work logistically.

I know some people might say that if it has got to the point where I am considering using a stroller than perhaps it is time to PTS, but I'm sure nobody would think much of it if I was driving him in a car to the offlead area. I wouldn't even be considering the quality of life issue at this point if I could physically get him out and about, as he is doing really well in other respects.

Any thoughts?

My friend got one similar for her dog and has only used it once, the dog hated it and wouldn't stay in, it was also hard to push.

Looking at the design I can't see how it could go off road with that daft wee wheel on the front, I think you'd have real problems even getting it up and down the kerb.

I can understand why your thinking about one, and personally, I don't have a problem with them if they are for the right reason, but I just can't see it working out with such a big dog.

Thanks for the reply Celli.

This is the one I would get (it has the bigger jogger wheel on the front, not the smaller stroller wheel). But yes, I have visions of getting stuck somewhere and having to phone for help!

I can't see any other solution, but it's a lot of money if it didn't work out. I know some people who have dogs who never go out for a walk and they seem perfectly happy with that, but my boy was always so active and enjoys the walk once we're at the fields...always out in front, never lagging behind, he just hates the walk there for some reason.

Would appreciate any other ideas if anyone has any!

In my experience of having had a double pushchair (one in front of the other) with that type of front wheel is that they are a complete nightmare on anything other than completely flat pavements as if you are on a bumpy footpath the front wheel spins, gets stuck and you have to be able to lift the back wheels and stabilise the front wheel (imagine a very heavy wheelbarrow but with a swivelly front wheel) . But the single wheel at the front can also cause issues on pavements too. When you go down a pavement kerb that hasnt been dropped you have to put that single wheel down first and it can almost unbalance. The same with going up a kerb, That single wheel goes up first then you have to push it forward and lift up the back wheels.  It was almost impossible with the weight of two toddlers in it, let alone a big dog. 

They get VERY hot when zipped, even with vents and flies can tend to want to congregate, wouldnt want a dog to try catching that when zipped in.

TBH I really wouldnt spend the money, I honestly dont think that dogs probably dont wistfully wish to go to further walks, they just like to be out.  Its us that get bored.

Ah, fully sympathise with you having lost my soul dog 9 months ago to prostate cancer (gone within 3 days of diagnosis). To be honest, it doesn't sound easy to use and you would probably have problems selling it after you no wanted it. Perhaps look into a pet taxi who can drop you off/collect you from the fields he likes? Might be worth advertising in your vets as there might even be local dog walkers who would give you a lift.

Thanks for the reply Alfieshmalfie. The front wheel can be locked in position, but I can see your point(s). Just the sheer weight of him is going to be an issue I think.

> I honestly dont think that dogs probably dont wistfully wish to go to further walks, they just like to be out.  Its us that get bored.

This is the problem though. Often I can't get him further than the end of the driveway or a couple of minutes up the road, yet if my mum is to then offer us a lift he is raring to go and thoroughly enjoys himself when we get to the fields. A friend has just taken us out for 1hr 30 mins - half an hour total in the car and 1hr walking and he had a great time.

He would still be enjoying 2 walks a day if I could drive. I wouldn't even be considering having him put to sleep if it wasn't for the fact I can't get him out, but I don't think his quality of life is great being stuck inside all day.

Sorry to hear that marisa x It's a horrible disease, usually very aggressive in dogs as you have experienced. It was detected very early in my dog, although still untreatable.

The only problem with the pet taxi idea is that I have to use a heavy duty ramp to get him in and out the car! He slipped some discs in his neck several years back and I was advised to not let him jump.

Thanks for the idea though :-)

So he wants to walk on grass but not on pavement?  Is it the surface that's causing him trouble? Is there anything else you could try, like boots, to see if it helps him feel more comfortable?

As long as he is enjoying his off-lead, on-the-grass walks I'd be inclined to persist.  Even if it means you need to hook up with another dog walker once or twice a week to motivate him along the pavement.  If no one is free on a regular basis can you borrow a dog?  Incidentally how well does he walk on the pavement if he is heading home after an off lead session?

oh,i do sympathise!I looked for something suitable for my old girl,flyss,in her last couple of years,like you,i just needed to get her to a grassy area.There are plenty of stroller types for small dogs,but i found anything for a larger dog way out of my pocket.She might not even have liked it,but i loved the idea,as i dont drive,either.In the end we stuck with the local rec,I put little pawz direct boots on her feet, as she dragged the back ones.Maybe if you carry on looking you might find something better?I suppose itd only be as heavy as pushing an adult in a wheelchair,? Once I was lucky enough to find a set of wheels for my gsd when she lost the use of her back legs,in the local ads in the paper,might be worth a try.Good luck,anyway!

>So he wants to walk on grass but not on pavement?  Is it the surface that's causing him trouble? Is there anything else you could try, like boots, to see if it helps him feel more comfortable?

>If no one is free on a regular basis can you borrow a dog?  Incidentally how well does he walk on the pavement if he is heading home after an off lead session?

I'm pretty sure it's not the surface. He is ok on hard surfaces in general. Some of the areas we get lifts to start off with concrete paths, or we get dropped off in the car park, or have to do a short pavement jaunt etc. Some days he is fine leaving the driveway with just me, and if we leave the house with someone else he has never refused a walk (so far!), so I don't think it is the surface causing an issue. He is fine walking back home on the pavement. He does have some boots that he has worn from time to time due to injury etc, but he is even less likely to want to go out when wearing them.

I'm sure he would walk with another dog - can't think of one I could borrow off-hand though.

It is all rather odd and doesn't really make sense.

Thanks for the ideas x

Oh thanks colliepam! I really regret not being able to drive as this exercise aspect would just be a complete non-issue. Makes me so sad knowing that he would still be enjoying his walks if I had transport. My friend, who is sometimes able to give me a lift, has two elderly Greyhounds and she has said to me that she wouldn't be able to keep them going without the car - one of them has something wrong with his larynx and would just exhaust himself with panting if she had to road walk him for any length of time. It has never bothered me not being able to drive. I have always walked or cycled everywhere but could really do with it now!

You are right, there are plenty of stroller options for smaller dogs but hardly anything for the bigger ones. I have been on the verge of ordering the Doggyride several times just so that I know I have tried. It is so much money though, but I just feel helpless not trying. I will keep looking for other options in the meantime!

Hi

I have a DoggyRide - the larger one that you are considering.  It's a really beautifully made & stable thing.  It doesn't get too hot as the sides are mesh & the dog sticks its head out the top!  If the dog is very relaxed there is even a way for the dog to lie down & still have its head out.  Now whether your dog likes it or note depends on the temperament/likes of the dog, how you introduce it and how often you use it.  I tried my dog in it fully enclosed to start with as I was afraid she would try to get out. But she hated being closed in and went very shaky and frothy if you know what I mean!! So I opened the top & she was much better.  There are 2 tie down points which stop even quite a large dog getting out (as long as you have them tight enough.  There is also a tie at the top - but it doesn't stop the dog getting out. 

The rest at the bottom makes it pretty stable for getting in - which is via the back.  I tow mine with a mountain bike.  It's still a bit of a workout, but because it has decent wheels & tyres you can pump them up pretty firm.  I would recommend the bike route - but if you are only pushing on tarmac or pavement then I am pretty sure you will be able to manage it.  I know Inner Wolf sell them - I wonder if they have a trial period?

I would recommend that you do buy the tie down they supply & also the mattress - they both contribute to the setup working well.  Then I take a good lock out with me & when I get to the park I lock up the trailer & ride around the park with my dog.

I really can't overstate how well made the trailer is - I nearly bought a cheap copy off ebay but I'm really glad I didn't - they are really heavy.  I also looked at all the other options (including the pet one made by Burley) - I am pretty convinced that the DoggyRide is by far the best.

You mention that you cycle everywhere - I would certainly recommend towing it by bike.  I have taken her through central London and over Kew Bridge on my bike - with her head sticking out & her ears flying - it certainly attracted attention!!  To start with the whole setup seems very awkward - but once you & your dog get used to the whole thing I am sure it could give him a new lease of life.  And if not - they fetch good money second hand.

Good luck

Thanks so much ginjaninja! Sounds like it works great for you :-) I think you have Vizslas going by some of your other posts..? Abit of a size difference but, like you say, the Doggyride seems to be the best going. I think I am going to go ahead and order one! I had planned to introduce it very slowly by setting it up inside and just encouraging him in and out with treats, and then just pushing him round the room initially.

Did you get yours from Inner Wolf? They are the cheapest I can find. I was going to get the Novel Jogger/Stroller, plus the mat, the leash set (do I need two of these as when I looked at the manual on the Doggyride website it looks like there are 4 connection points inside?), and perhaps the raincover (although I could get that later once I know the stroller is working for us).

I am abit worried about using it with a bike: 1) I have visions of it getting stolen when I leave it locked up and 2) He is a nightmare for lunging at cats and squirrels and sometimes he spots them before I do!

Did you buy the jogger/stroller version and then buy the bike trailer set separately, or do you just have the bike trailer version? I have contacted Doggyride and they have said to me that the jogger/stroller combo is ok for pavements/dirt tracks/fields etc. My dog will be offlead once we are at the fields so I will only have the weight of the Doggyride to contend with at that point (it would be much easier to lock it but I am so worried it will get pinched!).

>The rest at the bottom makes it pretty stable for getting in - which is via the back

Do you mean the kickstand/parking stand? I'm abit confused about all the different combinations and am unsure whether this comes as standard or do you have to buy it as a extra regardless of which model you buy..?

Considering that he is perfectly happy when at the fields, and managing the walk home when he is tired without discomfort, is there any possibility that he is just trying it on with you?

I don't think so shivj - other than times when he has been out of action due to injury or illness he has always been raring to go for at least two walks a day without fail. He's never been the kind of dog to refuse a walk or to dig his heels in and try to get his own way. He would have followed me over hot coals. He was severly ill with a prostate infection last year and then diagnosed with cancer shortly after and the issue with walks started around that time. Vet is stumped too. Obviously he first thought it was physical and that he may take several months to recover after the infection as it had gone into his spine, but it doesn't really make sense, so then we thought it must be psycholgical so tried DAP/Zylkene etc to no effect. I'm not sure what I think anymore! I do think there must be a psycholgical aspect to it but wonder if it has been caused by a physical aspect. There can't be a physical aspect there all the time otherwise he just wouldn't want to go at all would he.

Yes indeed - a Vizsla - she weighs about 23kg, so yes, a bit of a difference.  But in your position I would at least give it a go.  Although I think introducing slowly and rewarding is a must - there comes a time when you do have to tell them to suck it up and just get out there.  At first Fettle would sometimes shake & go a bit drooly.  Although sympathetic inside I showed a lot of leadership & jollied her along when she was having a bit of a panic.  And she does try to get out a fair bit - I think it's more of a reaction to the motion as she is usually pretty keen to get in the trailer.  But as long as you tie them down fairly tight they really can't get out. 

No, you only need 1 of the their leashes - then you choose whether to anchor to the bottom 2 rings (do this, it holds them down) or the top rings (I tried this on my first outing & she just jumped out (but she did stay attached, but could have panicked).  Yes to the mattress.  The rain cover is useful when the trailer is parked (you wouldn't want to get back from a walk to where you had left the trailer and find it all wet inside).  But it's of no use when going along as it doesn't have a head hole (for obvious reasons!!).  The trailer also takes a roof rack, so I bought a waterproof bag to go on the roof rack & then I can put any training items or walking boots in there if we are going for a tracking session for example.

My husband & I run a bike business & feel that capital punishment is probably too good for bike thieves.  So, yes, it's an issue - but we live in London & just use a good lock.  I've never had a problem locking the trailer in terms of it being stolen.  The frame of the trailer is such that you can fairly easily put a U-lock through it.

I wouldn't worry about the squirrel thing - he really won't be able to get out of the trailer even if he wants to (otherwise it would be a terrible danger on the road). 

Re. biking - you can of course decide later exactly how to use the trailer as the bike hitch is a cheap part.  I don't have the stroller part. 
Another thing is that the wheels of the trailer pop off (very easily - but they are secure) so you can use the trailer in the car as a crate - or for camping or something similar.  I know this won't necessarily be useful for you at present - but you might find that useful in the future, and it certainly helps the trailer have very high re-sale value.

Yes - I did mean the kickstand/parking stand - it comes included as standard with the Novel Doggyride (but not with the other trailer I think). 

We live pretty close to our vet & I also felt that the trailer could be really useful to take her there if for any reason she was too unwell to walk - I don't know if this might be useful for you too?

Anyway - I really think that it's got a chance of improving your dog's quality of life & I honestly think it's low risk as I am sure the trailer would have a very high resale value (I was thinking of bidding on a second hand Burley one which is actually not as good and it sold for somewhere between 70 & 80% of the new price).  You can always have a look on eBay - either for one to buy or to reassure yourself about the re-sale value.

If you haven't got one already (and as you have a bike you may well have) - get a floor pump to pump the tyres.  They aren't very expensive and will really make a difference to how easily the whole thing rolls.  Pay some attention to the max. pressure rating on the tyres - but not too much - they are very conservative and you need to keep them as hard as possible to minimise rolling resistance.

Let me know how you get on!

Thanks so much for all the advice ginjaninja :-) I really appreciate the time you must have spent typing all that! I feel it is definitely worth a go and am certainly going to order one. Will let you know our progress!

No advice regarding the Doggyride, but just wanted to wish you well and I'm glad Talli is still with us and doing well! x

Thanks Pedlee :-)

xx