When the wheelchair is adjusted properly, the animal stands in a ‘natural’ position. Here’s what to check (refer to the figure below):
A: Knuckle at the hips. If you were to draw an imaginary line from one knuckle to the other, the line would pass right through the dog’s hips where the bone of the leg meets the bones of the body. If the knuckle is not aligned there, tighten harness and/or adjust length. Allow 1″ on each side between dog and black knuckle.
B: Front Support loop at the shoulder. The loop on the front harness that the extender bar goes through should be at the shoulder. Adjust the straps so that the loop is held firmly against the shoulder, then clip into wheelchair.
C: The dog’s back needs to be straight or arched up (slight hunch). In this photo, the dog’s back is arched down a little. This is NOT correct and this dog needs the Belly Strap.
D: The back legs need to be just touching, or just off the ground, depending on the health of the back legs. If the dog wants to use his back legs, then allow his feet to touch lightly. This is often adjusted by tightening the straps that hold the harness to the frame – this brings the dog’s seat up. (Take the dog out of the harness before adjusting.) If the height of the harness cannot be changed, then lengthen the leg struts. Consider boots if the feet drag. Use the stirrups if the dog cannot use his back legs or the feet are dragging on the ground.
E: The horizontal extender bar needs to be level.