Dog wheelchairs have been around for 20 years. At first they were built for specific dogs by their owners or friends. Eventually they became more widespread and could be ordered by taking dozens of measurements, and sending them to the builder, who would create a set of wheels for the dog in as little as a few weeks.
This is the way many industries begin, but the 'custom made' aspects of new products don't last long. Soon the dog wheelchair industry became large enough to support some invention and innovation and the adjustable dog wheelchair was introduced.
The main advantage of a custom made wheelchair is that, if made correctly, it will fit your dog precisely. This is good, but, as dog owners soon found out, there were a number of problems with custom made dog wheelchairs.
1. A dozen or more measurements were required in order to build a dog wheelchair that fit.
2. If the measurements were not correct, the wheelchair would be useless, or it would need to be returned to the manufacturer.
3. If the dog’s health changed for the better or the worse, the cart could not be adjusted to accommodate this. This was a terrible problem for growing dogs.
4. Often the carts were quite cumbersome. In order to get them in a suitcase or the trunk of a car they would need complex disassembly.
5. They took as long as two weeks to build when often they were needed immediately.
6. Because there was so much labor involved, the cart could not easily be returned if the dog was unable to use it for any reason.
7. When the dog it was made for no longer needed it, it could not easily be adapted for another dog.
The features he asked for included:
· Adjustable – The wheelchair needs to adjust, without tools, to fit any size dog.
· Folds Flat – So it can be carried easily.
· Looks Great – So many of the custom wheelchairs were made of tubing and clamps – this one needed to be stylish and good looking.
· Easy to Service – All parts had to be easily replaceable so the dog wheelchair would last a lifetime.
Two years 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 carried in retail stores and by veterinarians, ordered overnight, resold, donated to shelters, and shipped internationally. It was a resounding success.
Once the Walkin’ Wheels became a market leader, Robinson was faced with the question of whether to manufacture the product in the US or overseas. This was a difficult question which he answered by doing “what was best for the dogs.” In order for as many animals as possible to be helped 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, he decided to make 80% of the Walkin’ Wheels overseas and 20% in a factory in Cleveland Ohio.
Since then, the Walkin Wheels has been featured on Animal Planet, has won the “Best Product” award from Pet Age magazine, has been on CNN, NECN, and ABC news and featured in dozens of pet magazines. It is also sold internationally.
Here's a quick comparison between the Walkin' Wheels and Custom Carts.
Walkin Wheels
Adjustable Cart | Competitor 1 | Competitor 2 | Competitor 3 | |
Adjustable
|
Height, Width, and Length Adjust without Tools.
|
Some Height Adjustment Possible - Tools required
|
No
|
N.
|
Measurements Required to Order
|
1 Approximate Height Measurement Needed
|
8 Measurements Required
|
7 Measurements Required
|
10 Measurements Required
|
Time Required to Build
|
Shipped Same Day
|
3 - 4 Working days
|
2 Weeks
|
3 Days
|
Non-refundable Deposit
|
None
|
?
|
30% - 50%
|
?
|
Refund Policy
|
Up to 95%
|
85% Less Shipping
|
None - All Sales Final
|
70% Less Shipping
|
If Cart Does Not Fit
|
Completely Adjustable without Tools. Adjust it Yourself, Call if You Need Help.
|
Call for Support.
|
"...we reserve the right to charge time and materials..."
|
Call for Support
|
Patented
|
Yes - US and International Patents
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
Harness Type
|
Flexible
|
Flexible
|
Welded Saddle
|
Flexible
|
Lifting Required
|
No Lifting Required
|
"...lift the rear of your pet and slip its legs down through the leg ring supports..."
|
Yes
|
Some Lifting
|
Folds Flat for Storage
|
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
Price (Medium Cart + Shipping)
|
$399 - $459
|
$390-$590
|
$395 - $550 + Shipping
|
$365 - $535
|
Assembly Required?
|
None Needed
|
Some Assembly Required
|
Shipped Assembled
|
Shipped Assembled
|
Indoor Use
|
Yes
|
Not Recommended
|
?
|
?
|
Can be Resold to Any Size Animal
|
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
Belly Support Strap
|
Included - No Extra Charge
|
?
|
Add $25
|
Extra Charge
|
Stirrups
|
Included - No Extra Charge
|
?
|
Add $45
|
Add $12 to $20
|
Available in Stores
|
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
For Sale by Veterinarians
|
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
Watch the following video to see how the Walkin' Wheels dog wheelchair is making a difference in the lives of handicapped pets!
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