We occasionally receive comments like this.
They’re rarely aggressive.
They’re usually said with conviction — and often with genuine concern for dogs.
And at face value, they’re not wrong.
Dogs do need exercise.
Dogs are not babies.
Movement is essential for health and wellbeing.
So let’s talk about what the science actually says.
Because the full picture is more nuanced.
Exercise Is Essential — But It Must Be Appropriate
Physical activity is vital for canine health. It supports:
- Musculoskeletal integrity
- Cardiovascular health
- Weight management
- Behavioural regulation
- Cognitive function
(Hand et al., 2010; Millis & Levine, 2014)
However, veterinary rehabilitation science is clear on one critical point:
Exercise must be appropriate to the individual dog’s age, condition, and pathology.
For example:
- Canine osteoarthritis affects approximately 20% of adult dogs and up to 80% of dogs over eight years old (Johnston, 1997; O’Neill et al., 2014).
- Following orthopaedic surgery (e.g., cruciate repair, elbow surgery), controlled and graduated exercise is required to prevent re-injury (Millis & Levine, 2014).
- Over-exercise in puppies can negatively affect developing joints, particularly in large breeds (Smith et al., 2013).
In all of these scenarios, “just let them run” is not evidence-based advice.
Adapted activity is.
Welfare Is More Than Physical Exercise
Modern animal welfare science has moved beyond simply preventing suffering.
The Five Domains Model (Mellor, 2017) recognises that positive welfare includes:
- Comfort
- Engagement
- Environmental stimulation
- Social interaction
- Positive mental state
A dog confined at home because they can’t manage a long walk may have reduced access to:
- Novel smells
- Social exposure
- Outdoor environments
- Family inclusion
From a welfare perspective, controlled environmental access — even without continuous walking — may improve overall quality of life.
In other words:
A dog who cannot walk far may still benefit enormously from being outdoors.
Pain Changes Behaviour — And Forcing Movement Can Be Harmful
Chronic pain in dogs is widely under-recognised (Epstein et al., 2015).
Signs may include:
- Slowing mid-walk
- Reluctance to jump
- Sitting or lying down unexpectedly
- Irritability
- Reduced enthusiasm
Pain science — in both human and veterinary medicine — shows that repeated forced activity beyond tolerance can exacerbate inflammatory cycles and reduce long-term function (Millis & Levine, 2014).
In rehabilitation, we use:
- Graded activity
- Energy conservation strategies
- Mobility aids
Not because movement is bad —
But because overloading compromised joints or tissues is.
Adaptive Aids Are Not “Babying”
Mobility aids in veterinary medicine include:
- Orthotic braces
- Ramps
- Slings
- Hydrotherapy
A wagon or stroller functions similarly for certain dogs:
- It reduces joint load.
- It prevents fatigue-related injury.
- It allows participation without overexertion.
This aligns with load management principles widely accepted in musculoskeletal rehabilitation (Millis & Levine, 2014).
It does not replace appropriate exercise.
Many dogs:
- Walk part of the route
- Sniff and explore
- Get out regularly
- Run short, safe distances
Then ride when needed.
This is pacing.
Not indulgence.
Ageing Is Not a Moral Failing
Age-related decline is a biological process.
Osteoarthritis is one of the most common chronic conditions in ageing dogs.
Preventing inclusion because mobility has changed does not enhance welfare.
Supporting safe participation does.
So Is It Cruel?
Cruelty implies harm.
Evidence suggests that:
- Unmanaged pain is harmful.
- Overexertion is harmful.
- Social isolation can negatively affect welfare.
- Inappropriate exercise can worsen orthopaedic conditions.
By contrast, adaptive strategies that allow safe participation align with:
- Veterinary rehabilitation principles
- Welfare science
- Pain management guidelines
A wagon is not a replacement for exercise.
It is a tool for inclusion when exercise must be modified.
Final Thought
If a dog is healthy, young, and capable of running freely — wonderful.
They should.
But if a dog:
- Is recovering
- Is ageing
- Has arthritis
- Has neurological compromise
- Is not yet fully vaccinated
- Has limited stamina
Then adaptation is not cruelty.
It is informed care.
And most comments questioning wagons don’t come from unkindness —
They come from not yet seeing the full picture.
Epstein, M.E., Rodan, I., Griffenhagen, G., Kadrlik, J., Petty, M.C., Robertson, S.A. and Simpson, W. (2015) ‘AAHA/AAFP pain management guidelines for dogs and cats’, Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association, 51(2), pp. 67–84.
Hand, M.S., Thatcher, C.D., Remillard, R.L., Roudebush, P. and Novotny, B.J. (2010) Small Animal Clinical Nutrition. 5th edn. Topeka, KS: Mark Morris Institute.
Johnston, S.A. (1997) ‘Osteoarthritis. Joint anatomy, physiology, and pathobiology’, Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice, 27(4), pp. 699–723.
Millis, D.L. and Levine, D. (2014) Canine Rehabilitation and Physical Therapy. 2nd edn. St. Louis: Elsevier Saunders.
Mellor, D.J. (2017) ‘Operational details of the Five Domains Model and its key applications to the assessment and management of animal welfare’, Animals, 7(8), 60.
O’Neill, D.G., Church, D.B., McGreevy, P.D., Thomson, P.C. and Brodbelt, D.C. (2014) ‘Prevalence of disorders recorded in dogs attending primary-care veterinary practices in England’, PLoS ONE, 9(3), e90501.
Smith, G.K., Paster, E.R., Powers, M.Y., Lawler, D.F., Biery, D.N., Shofer, F.S., McKelvie, P.J., Kealy, R.D. (2013) ‘Lifelong diet restriction and radiographic evidence of osteoarthritis of the hip joint in dogs’, Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 229(5), pp. 690–693.
Note - I am a Chartered Physiotherapist, not a veterinary surgeon. This article draws on published veterinary research and rehabilitation principles. For individual medical advice about your dog, please consult your vet.