Sit Down Dog Wheelchairs
Walkin Wheels is Adjustable for a Perfect Fit
Walkin' Pets is here to help you with any questions regarding how to adjust the Walkin’ Wheels adjustable wheelchair for your dog. Below is an outline and video demonstrating how to fit your dog's wheelchair:
Quickstart Guide to Set Up a Wheelchair
1. Start with the harness
Once your wheelchair is set up, it’s time to adjust it to fit your dog. Start with the front harness – the harness features three points of adjustment across the chest, under the body, and over the back. The wheelchair harness should fit snugly, without being too tight, with the wheelchair clips sitting behind the dog’s arms.
2. Make a few adjustments to start
Before you put your dog into the cart, you may need to adjust the width and widen the frame for your dog’s comfort. Don’t worry. It doesn’t need to be perfect at this point. You can make more adjustments later. To eyeball your dog’s width, hold the wheelchair up behind them and widen the frame as needed so that your dog can sit comfortably in the cart. When it’s adjusted correctly, there should be about an inch on either side between your dog’s body and the side of the cart.
The leg rings should already be attached to the wheelchair frame, but make sure they are hanging a few inches below the frame. This allows your dog to be fully supported in the wheelchair, too high, and your dog is resting on top of the frame.
3. Finetuning the adjustments
Back the wheelchair up to your dog, and gently lift its hind legs through the leg rings (one on either side), and gently lift the frame until it’s parallel to the ground. The wheelchair’s length is determined by the side extenders, and they should end just behind the dog’s front leg and clip into the front harness. Using the push buttons on the leg, adjust the height until the black plastic knuckle sits at the center of your dog’s hip. The wheelchair should now sit through the midline of your dog’s body, parallel to the ground. After these initial adjustments, you shouldn’t need to adjust the cart again unless your dog’s weight or size fluctuates.
Read on for more detailed and in depth instructions on how to get the perfect fit for your dog's new Walkin' Wheels.
How to Adjust Your Dog's Wheelchair
When the Walkin’ Wheels dog wheelchair is adjusted properly, your pet stands in a natural position. Here is what to check:
- Knuckles (A) should be in line with the hips. When adjusted correctly, the knuckle of the wheelchair should sit in the very center of your dog's hip.
- Front harness D-Ring clips (B) clip into extenders behind the shoulder blade. Your pet's back should be straight. If the back is arched upwards the extender likely needs to be lengthened.
- Extenders (C) side bars should run parallel to the ground and through the center of the body. The side bars should end at the shoulder blade. If the side extenders dip down or point upwards, see the instructions below on how to adjust correctly.
- Rear leg rings cradle hind quarters to form a saddle and are 3” below frame. As dog puts weight on them, they will drop another inch or two
Toe pads should just be touching the ground (D) or put into stirrups above the hock if the dog is paralyzed in the rear (E).
The width of the wheelchair frame should be set for the widest part of the body, which is usually the chest.
How to Adjust the Side Extenders
Pro tip: How the front harness is adjusted, can make a big difference to the overall fit of the wheelchair.
What to do when the frame is angled upwards
If your wheelchair frame is angling upwards: loosen the blue strap (across the top of the back) on the front harness & tighten the red strap (under the belly) until the sidebar runs parallel to the ground.
What to do when the frame is angling down
If your wheelchair frame is angling down in the front: loosen the red strap (under the belly) on the front harness & tighten the blue strap (across the top of the back) until the sidebar runs parallel to the ground.
How to Put Your Dog into their Walkin' Wheels Dog Wheelchair
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Put on the front harness
There are three straps on your dog's wheelchair harness. The blue strap should run over the shoulders, black strap in front of the chest, and red strap runs behind the front legs. The neoprene panels should be positioned over the shoulder blades. Adjust harness for snug fit.
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Put dog's legs through the rear leg rings
With the wheelchair positions with extenders on the ground. Get behind the wheelchair, lift back legs up, and place dog's legs through the leg rings.
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Lift extenders and attach to front harness
When the legs are through the leg rings, gently lift up on extenders (the side bars) and slide the wheelchair extender through the D-Ring on the front harness and clip into place.
How to Fit a Walkin' Wheels Wheelchair
Our wheelchair experts are always happy to help evaluate the fit of your dog's cart and make sure that it's properly fitted for them.If you are unsure whether the wheelchair is fitted properly, please email rear view and side view photographs of your dog in the Walkin’ Wheels dog wheelchair to helpme@walkinpets.com, and we will review the fitting. Be sure to include the name the wheelchair was ordered under and your phone number in the message. 1-on-1 fitting appointment through Zoom, FaceTime, or in person are available by appointment.
