Dog Wheelchairs - Custom or Adjustable K9 Wheelchair?

Should I but a custom made dog cart or an adjustable dog wheelchair? This is one of the most regularly asked questions. This blurb gives you the facts you need.

Canine Wheel Chairs have been available for almost 20 years. In the beginning they were fabricated for specific animals by their guardians or friends. Eventually they became more widespread and could be ordered by taking ten measurements, sending them to the constructor, who would construct a set of wheels for the doggie in as little as a week and a half.

This is the way many industries begin, but the ‘custom made’ aspects of new innovations don’t last long. Soon the dog wheelchair industry became broad enough to support some invention and innovation and the first adjustable dog wheelchair was manufactured.

The primary advantage of a custom made wheelchair is that, if made precisely, will fit your dog squarely. This is good, but, as dog guardians soon realized, there were a number of problems with custom made K9 Mobility Aids.

a. A dozen or more measurements were demanded in order to build a dog wheelchair that fit.
b. If the measurements were incorrect, the wheelchair would be unfit, or would need a return to the producer.
c. If the dog’s physical condition changed for the better or the worse, the cart could not be adjusted to accommodate this. This was a significant problem for puppies.
d. Often the carts were quite cumbersome. In order to get them in a suitcase or the trunk of a car they would need to be taken apart.
e. They took as long as twelve days to create when usually they were needed straight away.
f. Because there was so much customization called for, the dog wheelchair could not easily be brought back if the pup was unable to use it for any reason.
g. When the dog it was finished for no longer needed it, it could not easily be rebuilt for for another dog.

In 2006, Mark C. Robinson, creator of of handicappedpets.com, mortgaged his house, borrowed all the cash he could, and signed up a team of engineers to design the ‘perfect’ dog wheelchair.

The features he needed were:

– Adjustable – The dog wheelchair needs to adjust, without tools, to fit any size animal.

– Folds Flat – So it can be carried easily.

– Looks good – So many of the custom wheel chairs were made of tubing and clamps – this one needed to be stylish and good looking.

– Modular – All components had to be interchangeable so the dog wheelchair would last a lifetime.

Over a year and a half later the Walkin’ Wheels for Handicapped Pets was introduced and immediately became the most popular dog wheelchair available. Because it was so adjustable, it could be stocked in small stores and by veterinarians, ordered next day, re-sold to any other dog, given to animal hospitals, and shipped globally. It was a resounding success.

Once the Walkin’ Wheels became a market leader, Mark was faced with the question of whether to put together the product in The UNited States or overseas. This was a troublesome question which he answered by doing “what was best for the dogs.” In order for as many dogs as possible to be supported by this product, it needed to be mass-produced and sold retail. That wouldn’t work if the product cost twice as much as the old-style custom cart. Finally, it was decided to make 80% of the Walkin’ Wheels overseas and 20% in a factory in Cleveland Ohio.

Since then, the Walkin Wheels has been talked about on Animal Planet, has won the “Best Product” award from Pet Age magazine, has been on CNN, NECN, and ABC news and featured in the best pet magazines. It is sold globallyaround the world.

Samuel Iams is a freelance author for pet magazines and websites like Dog Wheelchair. In addition, he is a poet, a noted breakfast chef, and a writer of children’s books. If you’re looking for reviews or information on a Canine Mobility Aids to help your animal live a more comfortable life be sure to visit us today.