On the Road Again at Our Little House
I’ve known for sometime that I would most likely one day be known as the “Crazy Dog Lady” here on the mountain.
Last week, I think Dale thought that day had come to pass.
I wrote in July about our 9-10 year old Doxie, Molly, being diagnosed with a severe enlarged heart.
Unfortunately, Molly cannot take walks with us any longer and this was inhibiting my ability to take Dakota, the Dachshund/Beagle mix on walks. The larger dogs can go out by themselves to roam, but Dakota is too small and now too old and I fear some big bad wild animal will get her if she’s not on a leash.
This left us with only these choices, none of which were good:
- Leave Molly at home by herself while every other dog went on a walk. This makes her crazy and she would do nothing while we were gone but jump and bark at the door. Not good for her heart.
- Carry Molly in a pet sack that allows a dog to ride on someone’s chest. We have one we used for Hershey, our late miniature Dachshund, when she could no longer go on walks. Not an option for me and Molly as she weighs at least 10 lbs. more. I’m also several years older with more back problems than I had previously.
- Not go on walks at all, which isn’t good for Dakota or me.
The only good choice I felt I had is to find a way to take Molly with us. I ordered this all terrain pet stroller (which I like to call a pet cart).
It was pricey, but I saved my ‘mad money’ to buy it.
Molly didn’t care much for it at first, but she is getting the hang of it. When I stopped to allow her to get out and sniff around for a little while, Dakota even wanted in it when we loaded up again (she doesn’t get to ride, she needs the exercise!)
The stroller rides well even on our rocky dirt road and I’ve found the cart also gives me some exercise in my arms. I haven’t pushed a stroller in quite some time and it requires a little exercise in those arm muscles!
So, I might be known as “The Crazy Dog Lady” on my mountain, but at least we’re back on the road again, Living Large!
What is the craziest thing you’ve done for your pets?
Great idea for your cutie Molly! Our 2 14 yr old
Doxies say “Paw’s Up”! They are not used to going for a walk – but they lke to roam in the larger front yard (with our supervision). Karen, Max, and Schatzie
Oh, I love those names, Karen! My husband’s grandmother once had a Doberman named Schatzie!
Too cute! We have a neighbor who strolls her kitties in a zip-up stroller. When I go to a particular outdoor mall here in OC, I often see little dogs in strollers (and pink barrettes with rhinestones, no less), so your pup would be in good company (but she wouldn’t be required to accessorize!).
That’s good, Merr, we don’t do accessories around here. Molly won’t even keep a sweater on when it is cold! This one zips up too, but I haven’t used it yet as Miss Molly likes to see where she’s going!
That is cute! Sometimes my little dog gets tired on walks so I have to carry him home.
Molly has always been kind of that way too, but she’s too heavy to carry!
Love your solution! My dog Chloe also has an enlarged heart. She turns 14 today. She is still able to take walks, but they are getting progressively shorter. I would consider a pet stroller if I had to, whether or not I was known as the crazy dog lady. 🙂
Oh, Sheryl, I don’t know if you know it, but we have a Chloe too! 🙂 It’s great yours can still take walks. Let me know if you want more 4-1-1 on the dog stroller. We can be the crazy dog ladies together! 😉
Oh, this is so cute! I love that she can come with you now despite health problems. We put down a huge amount of cash to fence our yard so our dogs could run. It was worth it though.
Oh, I so wish we could fence a patch in our yard, but it is too mountainous and rocky. Good for you!
That is so cute. Mollys very lucky.
Thanks, Brandy. We were just talking this morning about how lucky WE are to have them. 🙂
Please! I would do the exact same thing in your situation. There are LOTS of us crazies out here.
Thanks, Casey, that’s good to know! 🙂
She looks adorable.
We had to resort to doggie diapers when our Oliver became incontinent in his final months.Other crazy things, I guess, included always getting him his own ice cream when we stopped at our favourite DQ when travelling. Well – it was more self defence than crazy – if he didn’t have his own we couldn’t enjoy ours in peace . . .
Oh, I so know that feeling, Olivia. We used to take Hershey fishing with us to our county lake in the city. She was known as the “Pink Life Jacket Dog” by the rangers and regulars at the lake. Anyway, we would always stop for BBQ (It was Kansas City, afterall) on the way home and would leave the truck running with the air on for Hershey. When we came out, she would always have her own little meal, a couple of fries and a little sandwich we saved for her. She too was in diapers at the end. Oh, the things we do for our 4-legged kids!
I love the dog stroller. I’ve seen something similar around here with a small dog in it lately, so you’re not the only one. Thanks for being a very responsible pet owner.
Thanks, Heather.
No not crazy you just love youre pets What a wonderfull mom you are to youre pets.:)
Thanks, Jackie. They do bring so much into our lives here at Our Little House. 🙂
Awww… Kerri! It is heart warming to see how you take care of your little furry buddies.
You know, a few days after you had posted about Molly, our vet who is also a friend came to our place for a visit. While he was there he noticed that Wengue our 12 year old fox terrier was panting much more than normal (we thought it was the heat) and he told us that it was probably heart disease and that she was panting because she had water in her lungs. We brought her in and now she is on medication and is so much better but like Molly we have to be careful not to tire her out too much.
I am sad, but like you I am determined to do my best for our little Wengue. I don’t think you’re crazy at all!
Oh, my Vida, I’m so sorry about little Wengue’s diagnosis. 🙁 I know we both will do the best for our furry ones as we can. Thanks for the post. This stroller is actually great fun!
I’m surprised we don’t see more of these strollers around. I think Molly is lucky to have you as an owner. I have seen the pet bag, though. A tourist had one this summer, so she could take her dog to the beach.
Yes, the pet bags are nice for really small dogs. Hershey really enjoyed riding with us when we went on walks.
Oh my! That is so cute! I had no idea there was such a device, but what a great idea. Do they make these for large dogs? I don’t need one, but when our previous dog got old and crippled up, I would love to have been able to take him out for a stroll. He was a black Lab about fifty five pounds in elder years, and I don’t think it would have been difficult to push him on paved sidewalks even at that weight.
So glad that Molly gets to come along on the family walks! What a lucky pooch!
I think they make things that are more wagon like for larger dogs. My yoga instructor tried to give me a human jogging stroller, but they don’t work the way they are. As well, these have a harness so Molly doesn’t jump out.
I don’t think thats crazy at all.. but non pet lovers might… I don’t think we can ever love our pets enough.. they give us sooooo much more love than we could ever give them.. I think it’s sweet and if I asked would I ever consider this for one of my pets.. heck ya!!!
Thanks, Becky, a fellow dog lover for sure. Now I don’t feel as kooky.