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Have dogs become our babies, or are we just savvier about moving them around? Maybe both can be true? A dog stroller helps you quickly get your pooch from here to there, especially if your dog dawdles. It smooths the way to the vet or doggy daycare, helping you move faster than you can with a dog carrier. And if you want to maneuver through a crowd, like at a farmer’s market, a stroller keeps your pet from being underfoot and protects it from other dogs.
“Small dogs benefit since they sometimes don’t have the stamina for walking far, although my little dog begs to differ,” says Megan Conrad, B.V.M.S., a veterinarian with Wellhaven Pet Health who frequently advises on pet care for the Good Housekeeping Institute and who owns two pups.
“Dog strollers are also useful for dogs with neuropathies that cause difficulty walking,” Conrad says. “And for elderly dogs that can’t walk as far as they used to but still want to be out.” I reviewed more than a dozen top-selling dog strollers and tried several of them at home with a medium-sized dog to find a half-dozen of the best choices.
Promenade Pet Stroller
✔️ BEST FOR: Anyone with a small or medium dog, or two toy breeds, looking to regularly stroll.
✔️ WHAT TO KNOW: This smooth-roller can hold one dog up to 50 pounds, or two small dogs up to 50 pounds total since there are two tethers. Useful features include a zippered basket, storage console, and two cup holders.
✔️ TESTING NOTES: The bed, to my human hands, felt comfy and springy. I’ve pushed baby strollers and this was very comparable when used with my friend’s 19-pound Cavalier King Charles Spaniel inside. The dog loved it!
There’s a large and sturdy basket. You can’t just reach into it; you’ll need to bend down and unzip a zipper at the back to access the space. The nice part about that is nothing can fall out when you zip it back up. There’s also a useful pet parent console with two cup holders and a storage compartment that clicks shut.
A mesh window in the canopy makes it easy to check in on your dog as you roll. I found folding this lightweight stroller to be fairly easy, though it did take a minute to learn the process.
My only hiccup was the assembly; you must insert two pins into the back wheels, which takes good eyesight and dexterity. (You might need to phone a friend!) Even with that, it came together in less than 15 minutes.
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Collapsible Stroller
✔️ BEST FOR: Bargain hunters with a small or medium dog (or two tiny dogs) who want to spend less than $100 and don’t need extra features on their stroller.
✔️ WHAT TO KNOW: The bed itself is small (only 19 inches long), but it’s nearly 10 inches deep and can hold up to 30 pounds. Two tethers mean you can put two dogs in here. (They’d have to be pretty tiny though!)
✔️ TESTING NOTES: If you’re nervous about assembling a stroller, this one is no sweat. I was able to snap the wheels on and have it ready to go in about four minutes. For such a lightweight stroller (at 11 pounds), it rolled well and turned easily while I was walking with it, thanks to swiveling front wheels.
My friend’s dog enjoyed lying in this and peering out the front mesh panel. The Frisco brand is a Chewy exclusive, and Chewy customers reported that using this for French Bulldogs and similar-sized pets. One user wrote, “This has been great for our pug who gets worn out after 10 to 15 mins of walking. We have four dogs and the other dogs require a longer walk so this allows us to take all four…It is very lightweight so be careful with going over sticks.”
The detachable cup holder is fairly loose, so I used it for a water bottle only. (I would not trust it with a cup of take-out coffee.) The storage basket is shallow yet fits several dog toys. Folding the stroller is a bit awkward but once folded and locked, it’s slim and easy to store.
Frisco
Pet Rover
✔️ BEST FOR: Pet parents who want to exercise with their dog, ride over rough terrain, or those who need to push a doggo weighing up to 50 pounds.
✔️ WHAT TO KNOW: A dog stroller with large tires and a front wheel that can be locked is best for running or jogging with your pet—extra exercise for you, and a fun outing for them.
Because of the robust tires and frame, you can take a medium-sized or fairly heavy dog in this, as long as it’s less than 50 pounds. That means this is also a great choice even if you only intend to walk but you have a chonky dog who weighs more than the 30 pounds that most regular dog strollers can hold.
✔️ TESTING NOTES: The 15-inch rubber tires on the back provide a smooth ride over most terrain, making this good for hikes too. But beware, as with jogging strollers for kids, the bike-like wheels add weight and size. They’re also air-filled, so it comes with a tire pump.
An Amazon reviewer wrote, “This pet stroller is very well made. It is sturdy, well built, and the wheels are the best! I was very surprised at the quality and feel of this product. The wheels allow stroller to be pushed over any terrain, including grass, dirt, and gravel.”
This is zipperless; the top latches for entry and exit. There’s plenty of mesh ventilation along all sides for breathability and a panoramic view out the front, even as your dog is secured inside. It comes with a safety strap to use around your wrist and the handlebar height adjusts.
The wheels pop in for fairly easy assembly, and there are storage pockets on the back. There’s also a long, low storage basket underneath.
HPZ Pet Rover
Tinker Detachable Pet Stroller
✔️ BEST FOR: Pushing a small-size dog (or two). If you’ll also be driving your dog around frequently, the bed becomes a car bed.
✔️ WHAT TO KNOW: Little dogs can ride up high in the Tinker. The bed detaches to double as a car seat or carrier. It’s not small enough to, say, fit on a plane, but it works great for rides in the car or keeping your dog contained at an outside restaurant. It snaps on and off the stroller frame, like a car seat does for babies.
✔️ TESTING NOTES: I was not able to test this new model, but I’ve road-tested previous Ibiyaya strollers and have liked how they perform. I especially like that this one has privacy shades so you can really shield a scared pet, like at the vet, but you can also open them up to mesh sides that pets can see through, if that makes them happier.
The actual bed is on the smaller side, which is why I like this for small dogs. It can hold up to 33 pounds, you could also fit a medium-weight dog if it’s legs aren’t long.
An Amazon reviewer writes, “Absolutely love the ease of this stroller. It took me about three minutes to put together and the quality is seamless. I love how I am able to take out the carrier and use it on its own for car rides or transportation. My dog cannot walk so this makes moving from one place to another so much easier.”
Bike Trailer, Dog Stroller, & Jogger
✔️ BEST FOR: Strolling large breeds, or hitching a stroller to your bike and pedaling your big dog around.
✔️ WHAT TO KNOW: Are you looking to stroll a big and heavy dog? This is made to take a large dog on outdoor adventures and can be hitched to a bike or pushed like a doggie jogging stroller while you walk or run. This stroller only has one tether, so it’s meant for a single rider.
✔️ TESTING NOTES: My friend in Cape Cod takes both her dogs to the beach, but one trots happily and the other (Teddy, shown) is a grump, so Teddy rides in this stroller. Thanks to the air-filled tires, the Booyah can do well on rough terrain.
Another advantage of this kind of stroller is it’s low to the ground, so if your dog is too big to lift, you can help them step in—the dog bed is about a foot off the ground. The brand’s extra large dog stroller can fit up to 110 pounds or, if you’ve got a smaller dog you want to take on bike rides, Booyah also makes a mdium dog bike trailer.
A sun-roof panel zips open so your dog can stick his head out of the top (truly adorable). The wheels can pop off so you can load it in your vehicle to get where you’re going. Ideally you can store this large dog stroller in a garage or shed, or on a covered patio.
Courtesy of Tester
Maeve + Roscoe Car Seat & Stroller System
✔️ BEST FOR: People who drive often with their dog in the backseat.
✔️ WHAT TO KNOW: Tavo’s high-end modular system functions as a stroller, car seat, and carrier, and is comparable in quality to a premium baby stroller. It was designed with Nuna, a popular baby stroller brand.
✔️ TESTING NOTES: The Roscoe pet stroller has the smooth wheels and easy steering you’d want from gear with this price tag. The “pod” that your dog rides in, the Maeve, clicks on and off the stroller frame. In car-seat mode, there’s a stability leg you can use and clip-on side impact protection. The brand says its dog car seat benchmarks against United Nations ECE child-restraint standards and is even crash-tested (for dogs, not children), labeling the whole thing a “pet protection system.”
My cousin in California, however, only used this as a stroller. “We are training a puppy and this is helpful when she gets tired,” she said. ” There’s a plush mattress and also two machine-washable mattress covers, plus nice details like leatherette trim, a pet-parent organizer on the handle, and both a short and long tether for the carrier.
Wrote a customer on Nordstrom, “Car safety is very important to me for all members of my family including our 9-pound MaltiPoo. It is an investment piece no doubt about it but I see us using this for many many years to come. Easy to install, remove and mount on the stroller, is functional and looks amazing!”
This model is for medium dogs; Tavo also makes a set for small dogs.
How I chose the best dog strollers
This guide to dog strollers is based on expert reporting and real-world feedback from dog owners, rather than a single Lab test. I considered best sellers and new dog strollers from reputable brands. I built and tested several at home, primarily with my friend’s medium-sized Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
I interviewed pet-owning friends, relatives, and colleagues who use dog strollers, and used their feedback for some picks such as the Booyah and Tavo. Finally, I read through user reviews on Amazon, Chewy, and Nordstrom to understand how each stroller performs for users.
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What to look for when shopping for the best dog stroller
When picking out a dog stroller for your best friend, consider:
✔️ Weight limit: It’s important for your pet’s safety that you find a model that can hold your dog’s weight. If you want to use a dog stroller to carry two pups, add their weight together and make sure you buy a stroller that can accommodate that total.
✔️ One tether or more: A must-have safety feature is a tether inside the dog stroller that attaches to your pet’s collar, so it can’t leap out. If you want to stroll with two dogs, look for a model that includes two tethers.
✔️ Bed length and width: Measure the length of your dog and be sure the it is a little shorter than the length of the dog bed on the stroller. When in doubt, go larger—it’s best that your dog has some room to turn around and get comfortable.
One dog-stroller brand recommends buying a stroller with a bed at least 2 inches longer than your dog. Look at the width too, and measure how wide your dog is while sitting or lying down to be sure they won’t be cramped.
✔️ Type of tires: Most dog strollers are meant for walking, in which case small plastic wheels will do. If you intend to run with the stroller or tackle rough terrain, like grass, look for a model with larger wheels, which provide more stability and a smoother ride.
If you’ll be jogging, the front wheel should lock so you can go straight without the stroller veering to the side, which can happen if you try to move fast with a stroller that has a swiveling front wheel.
While large tires roll better, they’ll add weight to the stroller and prevent it from folding as compactly as a stroller with small wheels. Pick which you want more: A heavy stroller that rolls smoothly but is still somewhat large when folded, or a lightweight and compact stroller that bounces a bit over cracks and bumps.
✔️ Number of tires: Eight weak tires are worse than three high-quality ones, so quality counts more than quantity. In general, a stroller with three wheel positions is made to take on rougher terrain (but not always; again, check how big and robust those tires are first). Strollers with wheels at all four corners generally provide a stable ride on a smooth path.
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Can a dog ride in a baby stroller?
No, pets should ride in a pet-specific stroller because:
✔️ Dog strollers have a tether to clip to the collar so your pet doesn’t leap out. If your dog sees a squirrel and wants to give chase, you won’t have a runaway as long as your dog is clipped in.
✔️ The seat is a flat bed in a pet stroller, so that your dog can lie down. A baby stroller is usually angled, and it’s not comfortable for an animal who wants to lay down or stand up.
✔️ Most pet strollers can be completely enclosed with mesh that zips or latches shut. This is another way to prevent a dog or cat from escaping, and it lets you provide a bit of privacy so your pet isn’t bothered by curious kids or nosy canines.
On the flip side, you should never put a baby in a pet stroller. Pet strollers have none of the safety features required for a baby or a toddler. We also noticed in testing that there are plenty of pinch points when you fold most dog strollers. If you’re opening or closing a dog stroller and have a child, be sure they stand off to the side.
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How to clean a dog stroller
Pet strollers are made with water-resistant fabric to repel rain and to prevent the bed from getting ruined if your dog has an accident. All parts can be wiped down with a disinfectant wipe for cleaning. If the wheels get muddy, you can rinse them with a hose.
The interior pads can be removed and washed with soap and water in a sink, then air-dried. Most have a stiff plastic or a wooden board inside to provide stability, so they can’t go in the washing machine.
Online, many users reported that they line a stroller with a dog blanket, beach towel, or crate bed to make it more plush, and those can be thrown in the wash.
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This article was written by Contributing Writer Jessica Hartshorn who covers pet and parenting gear for Good Housekeeping. She shares a house with her dog-owning cousin and enjoys being an aunt to the many dogs of her extended family, friends, and neighbors.
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