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Dog Wheelchairs – Custom or Adjustable K9 Mobility Aid?

2016/5/3 16:33:40

Is it better to select a custom made dog cart or an adjustable dog wheelchair? This is one of the most regularly asked questions. This article gives you the material you need.

K9 Wheel Chairs have existed for more than 15 years. In the beginning they were constructed for specific dogs by their caretakers or friends. Eventually they became more widespread and could be ordered by taking eight measurements, sending them to the producer, who would put together a K9 Carts for the canine in as little as eight days.

This is the way many inventions begin, but the ‘custom made’ aspects of new ideas don’t last long. Soon the dog wheelchair need became large enough to support some invention and innovation and the first adjustable dog wheelchair was built.

The main advantage of a custom made wheelchair is that, if made perfectly, will fit your dog right. This is good, but, as dog guardians soon found out, there were a number of downsides with custom made Pet Carts.

a. Thirteen or more measurements were demanded in order to build a dog wheelchair that fit.
b. If the measurements were in error, the wheelchair would be unusable, or would need a return to the fabricator.
c. If the dog’s physical condition changed for the better or the worse, the cart could not be adjusted to deal with this. This was an awful problem for puppies.
d. Often the carts were big. In order to get them in a bag or the trunk of a car they would need to be disassembled.
e. They took as long as eleven days to make when often they were essential promptly.
f. Because there was so much labor required, the wheelchair could not easily be sent back if the doggy was unable to use it for any reason.
g. When the dog it was created for no longer needed it, it could not easily be suitable for some other dog.

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

The features he tasked them with were:

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

– Folds Flat – So it can be toted easily.

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

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

18 months 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 sold in large pet stores and by veterinarians, ordered next day, re-sold to any other dog, given to animal shelters, and shipped worldwide. It was a great success.

Once the Walkin’ Wheels became the best selling dog wheelchair, Robinson was faced with the question of whether to fabricate the product in the US or overseas. This was a complex question which he answered by doing “what was best for the dogs.” In order for as many pets as possible to be saved 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 writer 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 K9 Carts to help your animal live a more comfortable life be sure to visit us today.