7 Best Dog Strollers of 2023

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Take your dog further and faster with these top picks from pet experts.

I've recently spotted dogs in strollers in Atlanta, Boston and in my city, Brooklyn. In Indianapolis, I watched a dog being happily strolled down a parade route. At first it all seemed a bit silly, but now I better understand why people are pushing their pets.

A dog stroller allows you to quickly get your pooch from here to there, especially if your dog tends to dawdle. For instance, you can visit a new dog park even if it's on the other side of town (and get your steps in for the day). A set of wheels also smooths the way to the vet or doggy daycare, and you can move faster than you would when toting a dog carrier.

Our pet pros at the Good Housekeeping Institute looked at a dozen top-selling dog strollers and tested them with three medium-sized dogs and one Chihuahua.

While owning a good dog leash is still the gold standard for taking your dog out for exercise, a dog stroller allows you to get an older dog or an injured pup some fresh air. Also, if you want to move your dog through a crowd, like at the farmer's market, enclosing it in a doggie stroller keeps your pet from being underfoot and keeps curious kid hands away from your dog's mouth.

Dog strollers might be most popular with small dog breeds, but we found models for almost every size pet. (Giant breeds, like Akitas, might be out of luck.) At the end of this article, we go over why a dog stroller is superior to a baby stroller for a pet and provide more information on how we test.

This smooth-rolling set of wheels can hold one or two dogs, up to 50 pounds in total, thanks to two separate tethers. The bed is wide and, to our human hands, felt comfy and springy. "I've pushed baby strollers and this is totally comparable," said a tester, who used it with a 19-pound Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. "The dog loved it."

This dog stroller has the largest and most sturdy basket of all the ones we tested. But note that 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 handy pet-parent console with two cupholders and a storage compartment that clicks shut.

During testing, we found folding the stroller to be fairly easy, though it did take a minute to learn the process. Our only beef was the assembly; you must insert two pins into the back wheels, which takes some good eyesight and dexterity. But even with that, it came together in less than 15 minutes.

You can find even less expensive strollers out there, but our experts felt they were just too rickety to recommend. We prefer this value choice, which comes in under $100, but has relatively substantial 6-inch wheels in front, 7-inch wheels in back and an overall sturdy feel. This one's also easy to fold and the lower storage basket, though only 10" x 10", is deep enough at 7 inches so that contents don't roll out. Plus, there are two cupholders.

The top dome stays shut with a latch, not a zipper, which allows you to quickly secure your dog and let it back out. It's a nice feature for owners and also for nervous pets who don't like the sound of a zipper. The Happy Trails Lite comes in several other colors (some for a bit more money) and has over 4K five-star reviews on Amazon.

Keep in mind that this is best suited for small dogs as it only holds up to 25 pounds and the bed is 22 inches long. Though the seat is compact, the handle is still 40 inches tall, a suitable height for tall pet parents. It's fairly lightweight at 13 pounds, though that means it bounces a bit over the sidewalk so it's not as smooth-rolling as our top choice.

A dog stroller with large tires and a fixed front wheel will allow you to run or jog while pushing your pet — extra exercise for you, and a fun outing for them. The 12-inch tires on this model are gel-filled, not air tires, so they provide a smooth ride over most terrain and can't go flat.

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 75 pounds and 28 inches long. That means this is also a great choice even if you only intend to walk but you have a dog that weighs more than the 25-to-50 pounds that most dog strollers can hold.

Like other Pet Gear strollers, this is zipperless; the mesh latches shut for easier entry and exit. There's plenty of mesh ventilation along all sides for breathability and a panoramic view out the front. It comes with a console that has two cupholders. The basket on this is shallow and both the assembly and the fold are a little more difficult than with other models.

This lightweight choice also comes in under $100. If you're nervous about assembling a dog stroller, know that we were 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, thanks to its swiveling front wheels. The bed itself is small (only 19 inches long), but it's nearly 10 inches deep and our 20-pound tester dog enjoyed lying in this one and peering out the front mesh panel.

The Frisco brand is a Chewy exclusive. Customers there report using this for French Bulldog-sized dogs and also for cats. A cat, like a dog, should be attached to the tether inside by having it hooked to their collar, so the pet can't jump out.

The detachable cupholder doesn't feel particularly sturdy, though our tester said it worked fine to carry a water bottle ("but I would not trust it with a cup of take-out coffee," she said). The storage basket is shallow yet fits several dog toys. Folding it is a bit awkward but, once folded and locked, the stroller is slim and easy to store.

With its removable pet bed, the P2 can function as both a dog stroller and a carrier—plus as a pet's car seat in your vehicle. You can fold the frame out of your way and cart the bed as a carrier using the shoulder strap, making this a nice choice if you want to transition your pet into a car. Your vehicle's seat belt can attach to straps on the side of the carrier and hold it in place in your backseat. (Read the manual carefully for the full instructions.)

"Folding and unfolding is really simple and works well," said a tester who used this with a 10-pound miniature poodle. "The only thing is that it's not great for going over big cracks on a walkway or sidewalk. We hit hard a few times and stopped instantly." Some of the three-wheelers on our list rolled better over bumps, but the P2 does fine if your sidewalks are relatively smooth or you push your dog around a simple park path. This could also be a perfect choice for getting your dog through a crowded station or airport (though if you need the carrier itself to fit under an airplane seat, we have smaller choices in our dog carrier story).

Leatherette details give this a high-end look and a durable feel, especially at the handlebar. The sling basket is the most open and shallow on our list and not able to hold much, but it's a convenient spot to stash a leash. There's also a basic, detachable cup holder that hangs off the side.

If you've got two small dogs, you'll want a double dog stroller. Actually this double-decker model has two tethers in each of the two compartments, so you could safely transport up to four small pets if you've got a brood of miniature dogs or small cats. The brand touts this as a way, for instance, of taking multiple pets to a dog or cat show.

That top compartment is small — less than 16 inches long — but if you aren't using it for a second pet, it also makes a nice basket for your own storage. So, say, you're visiting an outdoor market, you can fill that up while your dog sits below. There's no underseat basket storage on this one, but there are pockets on the back of each compartment as well as two cupholders. Assembling and folding are both on the easy side.

Though we didn't have a retriever-size dog to test with, we wanted to find an option for a big and heavy dog, and this dog stroller can hold a pet up to 150 pounds and nearly 32 inches long. It has large 11-inch wheels in back and smaller 6.5-inch wheels up front that can swivel 360 degrees, which makes this better on rough, gravely terrain than many other dog strollers. You also don't have to do as much heavy lifting with this low-to-the ground dog stroller — you can coax your dog to step up onto the dog bed from the side, or from the back. This also makes it a great choice for dogs with an injured leg or a similar health complication.

We like the adjustable handle for the pet parent who is doing the pushing; most other dog strollers have only one set handle height. Note though that there's no cupholder or storage basket on this one.

You latch your dog inside, no zipping required. It only has one tether, so it's meant for a single rider. A sun-roof panel zips open so your dog can stick his head out of the top (truly adorable). You do need a wide door to accommodate this going in and out; it might be best if you can store it in a garage.

At the Good Housekeeping Institute, we evaluate pet gear (and kid gear) regularly. For this list of the best dog strollers, we first considered bestsellers and new dog strollers from reputable brands. In home tests conducted by both our experts and consumer testers, we assessed a dozen models, timing how long it took to assemble each stroller out of the box. Then we pushed the dog strollers along bumpy sidewalks with a dog inside and rated the ease of folding after our walks. We also ranked the strollers for their extras like cupholders and storage.

When picking out a dog stroller for your best friend, consider:

✔️ Weight limit: Compact, less expensive dog strollers naturally can't carry as much weight as the larger, more expensive strollers, but 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 the 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 it is a little shorter than the length of the dog bed on the stroller. When in doubt, always 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 whose bed is at least 2 inches longer than your dog. Look at the width too, and measure how wide your dog is when it's sitting or laying down to be sure it won't be so cramped that it can't shift positions.

✔️ Strolling or jogging tires: Most dog strollers are just meant for walking, in which case small plastic wheels will do. If you intend to run with the stroller or tackle rough terrain like a hiking path, look for a model with larger wheels, which provide slightly more stability. If you'll be jogging, the front wheel should lock so you can go straight without the stroller tending to veer to the side, which can happen if you try to move fast with a stroller that has a swiveling front wheel.

While larger tires generally roll better and will give you a smoother ride, they'll also 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 far 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.

Dogs (and cats) should ride in a pet-specific stroller:

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 to the tether, as shown in this picture of Mickey.

The seat is a flat bed in a pet stroller, so that your dog can lie down. A baby stroller is usually angled, not flat, and it's not comfortable for an animal who either wants to rest or stand up and watch the sights.

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. Cats, especially, like to feel as if they are hiding out and might not appreciate passers-by gawking or cooing at them. A pet stroller lets you provide a bit of privacy.

Never use a dog stroller for a baby. These pet-stroller options 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 these dog strollers. If you're opening or closing a dog stroller and have a young child, be sure they stand off to the side.

The pet strollers we tested are made with water-resistant fabric to repel rain and also to prevent anything from getting soaked if your dog has an accident. All parts can be wiped down with a disinfectant wipe for cleaning. If the wheels get especially muddy, you can rinse them with a hose and then let them dry.

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.

Many users report lining a stroller with a dog blanket or pet bed to make it more plush. Some brands sell bolsters especially for their popular strollers; for instance there's a fuzzy stroller pad that matches with our value pick, Happy Trails stroller from Pet Gear (and it can be machine-washed).

The Good Housekeeping Institute has been testing consumer products for more than 100 years. Scientists, engineers and experts of every sort test appliances, cleaning products, home goods, beauty products and yes, items for pets such as dog beds and cat toys.

This article was written by contributing writer Jessica Hartshorn, who previously covered pet gear and baby gear for Parents magazine. She leaned on dog-owning friends and relatives to provide real-life feedback on dog strollers but also personally assembled and pushed the top choices. You can also read her picks for the best dog jackets and the best cat carriers.

Jessica (she/her) is a freelance writer with several decades of experience writing lifestyle content and evaluating home and parenting products. A mom of two teens and two cats, her previous work can be seen in American Baby and Parents.

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