Aka: Joys New Wheels!
You may remember that Joy turned 13 in September. In dog years….at least the way we used to figure dog years…she turned 91 years old.
Ok, she’s a young 91, and in many ways she’s still 3. She’s still the most joyful person I know, and her joy has been contagious over the years. It’s hard for me to be depressed with her around. She constantly pulls me out of myself. She makes me smile and laugh and be ‘in the moment’.
Pretty in Pink.
(Nothing against Shiloh here, he has his own personality which is very different than hers but very wonderful in other ways. He is much more serious and protecting and cuddley)
Through Joys eyes, everything is fun, everyone is wonderful, and life was made for playing. She is sweetness and love and acceptance, personified.
Up until a year or two ago, she just never slowed down. Now there is a noticeable difference, as age catches up with her….as it does with us all. Maybe somehow though, I thought perhaps “The Joy Buzzer” (Laura and Joel’s name for her since she was a pup) would go on full speed ahead, forever.
These days however, she’s developing problems, and a major one is that her legs are weak and she often stumbles and sometimes outright collapses. My heart breaks every time it happens, usually on walks. She just looks at me and gets up the best she can and continues on. I can just hear her saying, ‘mommy, what is going on with my legs? This isn’t supposed to happen!’
She weighs 75 pounds and I can’t lift her. I carry a sling type thing to put under her belly, with handles at each end to wrap around her to help her walk if necessary. I’ve only had to use it once so far. Our walks have gotten shorter and slower as time has passed.
Leaving her behind when Shiloh and I walk is NOT an option. It’s not something she could tolerate. But the thing is, Shiloh and I need to get more exercise than we are getting. Sooo…after quite a bit of research I ordered a giant dog stroller from Amazon. It’s called the Expedition Pet Stroller by Pet Gear, Inc. I have never talked to anyone or even seen anyone pushing a large dog in a stroller, but Amazon reviews for various ones helped me decide which one to buy. Supposedly it holds a dog that weighs up to 150 pounds, but in reality, that seems pretty unlikely to me, when I see how Joy fits into it.
It arrived in parts and I had to put it together, but really it was not hard to do. It folds up so I’ll be able to store it either in the truck bed or in WS when we travel. (That’s one reason it was important for me to lighten my load and get the big bin with the sewer hose in it, out of the truck bed. See last post.)
I used treats to encourage Joy to get inside of it, and at first just left it still and continued to feed treats while sitting on the floor beside her making happy sounding conversation. After a few days of doing that a couple of times a day and having her stay inside a little longer each time, I began to move the stroller back and forth in the room, just a few feet.
Shiloh has to have treats too. 🙂
By now we are outside with it, going on walks that get a little longer each day. She starts out walking with Shiloh, both of them on extendable leashes and me pushing the stroller. This way she gets to sniff and do her business until she starts getting tired and begins to stumble. Then I encourage her into the stroller with treats.
We continue our walk, while I also get a workout pushing her, especially if we go uphill!
I’m also holding Shiloh’s leash. This setup is not easy, but it’s doable, and nobody gets left behind.
Here in Marys neighborhood it’s relatively easy with paved sidewalks and roads. In the future, depending on where we are, there will be times and places that we won’t be able to use the stroller so our walks will have to be shorter then. We’ll just take one day at a time.
Now, for the dogs, seeing the stroller means walks and treats so when I bring it out there is lots of excitement, and yes, Joyfulness. 🙂
I sure love my fur babies! 🙂
Wandering Spirit 
What a wonderful story! I know how hard it is to deal with geriatric companionship, I lost my dearest Camping Buddy in September when she was 12 years old. My German Shorthaired Pointer. My heart was broken. However, I have rescued a new baby who is one year old and has more energy than the law allows. I will be going full time in June of 2017 and of course she will be my constant companion. God bless you all 3,safe travels.
Cheryl
Hi Cheryl,
I’m so sorry to hear of your loss….and it is such a hard and painful loss when we lose those sweet souls.
Great that you have another fur kid now though. They do keep us going don’t they?
AND they make the best traveling companions ever!
What a great solution! I have seen strollers for cats, but not for dogs. Joy to you all!
Hi Maureen. I’ve seen them for small dogs, but big dogs…not so much. So glad to have found one that is working out well!
I had tears reading the beginning and cheers reading your solution! You have very lucky fur babies!
Hi Marie, and I am a lucky fur baby mommy. Such a privdledge and blessing it is to have these beings as companions!
You do have beautiful babies. I also use a stroller, double since I have two dogs. They love it. Good for you !!
Wow Alice, I don’t think I ever saw a double dog stroller! But it’s the right time of year for a double dog dare ya! 🐶🐶 😃
Awesome! Let me know how it does on gravel roads/trails
Will do!
I love that stroller. I have a 13 year old dog that could really use one of those. I love the neiborhood you are visiting. It is very pretty.
Hi Jean, I told Mary your compliment about the neighborhood!
I’m loving the stroller too…really glad I was able to get one.
Wow! That’s a great solution! I’ve seen smaller dogs in strollers and am considering a stroller in the future for my Katie-girl who is 10 now. Great job figuring out a way to include Joy in all your activities!
Dawn, I think your little princess would love it…in the future. Shiloh is 10 also. He’s still walking well.
She looks very comfortable in her stroller. I sure she appreciates her sweet mommy for coming up with a great solution even though learning our limitations with ageing is hard for us all…..2 and 4 legged alike. Hugs and kisses!
Hi Sharron, yes, sometimes I wouldn’t mind a stroller! Actually, the tendency is to fight that kind of thing, which is good in a use it or lose it kind of way. 🙂
Hugs and kisses back atcha!
Success!!! You are a good mommy to those doggies!! They are lucky to have you!
Sent from my iPhone
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Love my little furry ones Sharon! Well….not so little, but very furry!
WOW! Love the stroller, so happy for Joy and Shiloh – and you!!
hugs love
Laura
Hi Laura, it really does look pretty cozy in there! I put a nice foam pad inside so it’s comfy. Seems as though she likes it. 🐶🙂🐶
Good job and great solution Micky!!
Thanks Patty!
What a great idea!!! I don’t think I’ve ever heard of this.