I never thought it would be me, but it is, my two salukis who are now 14 years still want to get out my boy is ok but my girl peggy suffering from long term arthritis and also tendons gone in back paws means walking on any hard or stony surface impossible but does really well on grass, so to make everyones life easier I made the decision to get a pushchair.
I looked at all the doggy ones ( costly, and in general not big enough) so as I was not sure if it would even work I got one from a boot fair and with a little tinkering, mainly taking the bottom clip on fabric holder off the bottom and clipping it to the front of the buggy for long front legs to slide into we were ready to go. At first she wasn't sure ,but relaxed after only 10 minutes, got to the sea front and I lifted her out onto the grass and when she had enough was more than happy to be put back in, on the second outing she didn't want to get out at all.
Since then she has gained more strength and now tells me when she wants out, i can't believe it.
So,if you don't mind the funny looks, double takes and lots of beaming smiles( only from women!) try the push chair thing,it worked for me although I will say my husband has point blank refused to push pegdog,( there's only so far you can push a husband, apparently)
Ash.

I think that's an excellent idea wish I could have done that with my lab she had arthritis and I had to leave her at home and I hated doing it. I got pugs now and wouldn't hesitate to put them in a pushchair if it ment they could still come out with me.

Have you considered these? Ive seen quite a few dogs using them, including on 'tufted' grass ares & they all seem to be good.

http://www.wheels4dogs.co.uk/products/
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I have one. I bought it to get my old dog out but have also used it for the little one to get her socialised before she was vaccinated. It's been a godsend.

The funniest is when people help you on and off transport as the think its a baby initially then the laughs when they realise!

thats great - i dont see many but from what i have seen they give the dogs their lives back, i once saw one long ago, a small breed of some kind running uninhibited on tufted grass area in Richmond park, it really impressed me as to just how much normality they gave dogs.
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The Great Dane on wheels

I tried one for my Basset when he went off his back legs (spondylitis) but he refused to have anything to do with it.  The Club had one they loaned to people, until some rotten person didn't return it!!!    Just to say that much as I sympathise, arthritic individuals should, if possible, keep having a little exercise as and when they can.   Some days will be worse than others for pain (cold damp = no go) so she should be able to cope with and benefit from some regular exercise within the confines of her abilities - just not hard ground!   And how about finding a hydrotherapy pool - this helps keep up the muscle tone without putting stress on poor joints etc.

Really thought about hydrotherapy and there is a place close to us as well, but trying to get peggy  in her younger days to even paddle in the sea resulted in tears, crying, jumping up with paws locked round my waist, so she would never forgive me!

I bought my jap spitz walking wheel when he lost use of his back legs, he@hates them no matter how carefully I have tried to introduce them,  so now I have bought him a 3 wheel pushchair and he loves it and finds the metal stimulus very satisfying.

> Really thought about hydrotherapy and there is a place close to us as well, but trying to get peggy in her younger days to even paddle in the sea resulted in tears, crying, jumping up with paws locked round my waist, so she would never forgive me!

Go along and watch to see how they handle difficult or frightened dogs. Many dogs that go for hydro have never swum in their lives and/or hate water, but it's not just about dumping them in a pool. They also wear floatation devices and the staff will (or should) be very well-trained in handling stressy dogs.


Go along and watch to see how they handle difficult or frightened dogs. Many dogs that go for hydro have never swum in their lives and/or hate water, but it's not just about dumping them in a pool. They also wear floatation devices and the staff will (or should) be very well-trained in handling stressy dogs.
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This is all true - and I suspect the water may well be warm as opposed to the sea etc.  

My last dog had Hydro after a crusciate repair. The water is indeed warm and she wore a flotation device. She was a dog that adored water and swimming, but became a nervous wreck in the strange circumstances and needed lots of tlc to encourage her into the water. Firstly the dog is gently immersed in a small warm bath and massaged to get the circulation going and the muscles warmed up. Then into a larger pool for the swimming. In this ones case it was only a small pool and the dog was encouraged to swim against a current which could be increased if they were able to cope. The dog was encouraged in with balls and squeaky toys and held by the helpers until they gained confidence and began to enjoy it. Then back into the warm bath to relax the muscles. Afterwards it was a brisk rub down with towels, then a blast from a dryer to get them fully dry. Even though this was GR with a full coat and during the warmer months, I was asked to bring a coat for her so that she didn't chill on the way home.

>Go along and watch to see how they handle difficult or frightened dogs. Many dogs that go for hydro have never swum in their lives and/or hate water, but it's not just about dumping them in a pool. They also wear floatation devices and the staff will (or should) be very well-trained in handling stressy dogs.

I took my dogs to hydrotherapy specifically to get them confident in the water as my older 2 hated water. The first sessions they thought they were going to drown (but they had flotation jackets and were also held by the hydrotherapist) but they gradually got more confident and now they love it.