[pi1otguy]

I'm something of a believer that short of old age, injury, or exhaustion 4 legged dogs should also walk whenever their people are away traveling by foot. Basically, the whole dog-in-a-purse idea seems odd.

That aside, besides playing around or moving them around the house, what are some times that you carry your dog? So far I've only done it a few times when I spot broken glass or pieces of thorny brush in our path. I'd also carry if the ground became too hot during an outing.

Also, we'll assume we're referring to a dog under 50 lbs who doesn't object to being held.

 

[EdDTS]

My dog is about 90lbs and I've had to carry him on a few different occasions.
Once when he just decided to stop walking.
Again when he hurt his leg so he could go pee and poop.
I carried him again when we were on a trail and he got tired. I had to carry him UPhill, which was a huge pain.
And every once in awhile I'll just carry him just so he's okay with me carrying him. You never really know when you're gonna need to but you wanna make sure you can and they won't be fighting you the whole time.

 

[HollowHeaven]

I carry Troubles around from time to time just because, usually in the mornings when it's time to go potty. He fits in my hand, so I don't mind doing it.
I pack Aleu every now and again, but there generally has to be a reason, like if there's something on the ground, or there's some other danger, or I need her away from a situation NOW.
Diesel, on the other hand, I have only every truly carried him once, and that was because he was sick. Carrying him is no small feat. :X

 

[dagwall]

Jubel is not a fan of being picked up and if he can't see a reason for it he's growling and grumbling the entire time. I've picked him up to carry him over big muddy puddles a few times because I didn't want him getting nasty and he didn't complain about that. He's just under 50# so not really a dog you carry around just because.

 

[momtolabs]

Tank I have only had to pick up a few times. He is around 70-80lbs and that was not easy. It was because he has bad hips and I was helping either onto the vet table or into the truck. I have truly carried him once though. he fell and was hurt,bad. So he had to be carried. Bentley I have truly carried three times, he is only 60lbs so not to heavy. Once-He was stabbed in the foot by a nail so i carried him and held a towel to his paw to stop the bleeding(He even sat on my lap on the way to the vet). Second time- There was hot medal n our way so I carried him down. Third time was there is a beach by me that allows humans and their dogs. I didn't realize the sand was too hot but I saw him "dancing" and realized it was so picked him. I have only picked Mae up to put her on the vets table but never carried her. She is only 20lb's too,lol.

 

[Crantastic]

I carry Crystal over really muddy/dirty areas because she's got long white fur and I'd rather not have to bathe her every day... but that's mostly just a problem in winter/early spring. She doesn't mind being carried a bit, but would much rather walk.

I only pick Casper up if he's really worked up over a nearby fox and is too distracted to walk properly. If I carry him for half a block or so, he calms down.

 

[aiw]

Pete HAS to be carried in a busy subway, and yes I do have a bag he hops into. We take public transit and if its crowded its just too much of a risk for him and a discourtesy to the other subway riders. At 17 lbs I consider him right on the edge of a carry-able dog but he's small enough to be seriously injured by a misplaced foot. With all the stopping and starting its not really fair to make other passengers worry about squishing my dog if they have to brace themselves. We learned this lesson the hard way when he was stepped on (unintentionally, no injuries resulted).

Also he gets carried if we're out doing chores. I like to take him with me in public and the walk is good for him but I don't like the idea of leaving him tied up outside the drugstore. I could also see smaller dogs being carried when they are tired. A chi can't walk as far as a person but its nice to fold them right into your life by doing chores together. I used to be really against the handbag dog thing but now... as long as the dog is getting the right exercise and socialisation I have no problem with the idea.

 

[Laurelin]

Mia gets carried around all the time. If I'm taking them to the car, she's carried. I carry her around the house too. She loves being held like a baby sometimes. Summer is a lot less apt to be carried. She wiggles too much.

Out and about though, my guys walk. Mia would never let me carry her out on a walk, there's far too many interesting things going on.

 

[xxxxdogdragoness]

given mine are mostly (with the exception of Josefina, who weighs about 35 lbs or so) are too heavy to carry, so yes unless they are injured (I carried Izze into the vet's when she was injured ) & unable to walk, they can walk. I always 'hurry' them on a hot surface, like if we are crosssing a hot street (the road around where we used to work was paved & you had to walk across it to get to the barn from where we lived) but other thet, they can walk, if they get a sticker & cant get it out themselves (most of the time they can) then i will pick it out for them.

 

[Roloni]

Basically, the whole dog-in-a-purse idea seems odd.

QUOTE]

I agree ...
My dog is a Rottie and weighs about 100 lbs and doesnt fit in a Louis Vuitton hand bag.
Perhaps ..John Deer or some other agricultural manufacturer of heavy duty farm equiptment will create a stylish way for us to carry our Plus sized pets.

 

[jenneses]

I have to carry Chase because it's wrong to drag a dog by his leash and collar. Sometimes he just plants his butt right on the ground and refuses to move. Not even treats will work. So I have to pick him up and carry him. Also, when there are loose dogs, I've picked Chase up and carried him when they came shooting out of nowhere.

 

[ChaosIsAWeim]

My bigger dogs I never carry (outside of playing). But the younger and smaller dogs I will if I am trying to get through a crowd fast, or I think carrying them will get me to point B from point A faster.

I carry my friend's engie at shows through a crowded area because it is easier.

 

[zhaor]

My dog's 35lb so he's not a big dog but also not really pocket sized. Other than moving him around the house, I really have only carried him when we go hiking, as counter intuitive as that may seem.

When we run into a particularly steep rock that he can't get up by himself, I give him a little boost. There are a few instances of those on the hiking trails that I take him on regularly.

Being a guy, I don't really own purses or bags for him to sit in. I have put him in my backpack on occasion when I hike off trail down somewhat steeper rock slide type terrain where he tends to have trouble with.

 

[Max and Me]

I have only carried my dogs if they were tired, ill or injured and couldn't walk on their own. Of course most of my dogs have been in the 90-135lb. range. I am not a fan of dogs being carried in purses.

 

[LuvMyAngels]

I havent carried Buster since he was a very young puppy. And then it would have been because he refused to walk or before he learned to navigate the stairs to go outside. I cant imagine carrying him now...but I do allow him to pretend to be a lap dog

 

[Abbylynn]

My dogs are 65lbs ... 12ish lbs ... and 20 lbs. I never carry them. I only ever carried Leeo when he was ill and couldn't even walk to go potty.

 

[Nuclear_Glitter]

I carried Killian a lot when he was a puppy. I babied him, tons. He got bold one day though and started going up and down the stairs on his own, and jumping off the bed (but was too small to jump up lol). He is over 50 pounds now and he is very muscular and awkward to carry. I didn't carry Perkins quite as much, and haven't tried a lot recently.

However, I think it's a good idea to carry them occasionally so they're used to it.

 

[Loki Love]

It would never occur to me to carry my dog.. but they are 130 lbs and 85 lbs respectively..

 

[mcdavis]

I carry Hamish down the stairs because they are wood / slippery and he's not used to them - he was 13 when he first lived in a house where he had to use the stairs (living area upstairs) and he had a few slips so we decided it was safer to carry him. I've had to carry him up a few times when he hurt his leg, but he prefers to make his own way up.
This summer we've sometimes carried him during a walk when he got hot / tired, and we had to carry him once in the winter because it was too cold and he was holding his paws up (so we bought him some pawz and he was fine).
Oh, and I've carried him a few times in hotels - e.g. in busy elevators

 

[Spirit_of_Cotons]

I agree with you about the purse issue. It's too weird, what I also think is weird is when dogs are in strollers! Now that's just too odd, I understand having those bike strollers for a dog, but a baby stroller? Ah....no.

If Luke is tired from walking (whether he's just tired or if it's really hot out), he'll stop and I have no choice BUT to pick him up. But he normally lets me know when he wants to get down, he'll squirm for me to put him down. Sometimes I don't mind doing this, but then it's "Please get down, you're getting heavy!" He's only 18lbs, but still!

Besides I now have a motto whenever I have to carry Luke: "The Katie Express is always here for her little dude. The only payments she asks are kisses." Which he does turn his head and kisses me.