The Walkin' Wheels Dog Wheelchair Manual - Table of Contents

WHAT’S IN THE BOX?
QUICK START GUIDE
GETTING STARTED – IMPORTANT TIPS
ADJUSTING THE CART
WIDTH & LENGTH EXTENDERS
SIZING THE CART
FRONT HARNESS ATTACHMENT
REAR SUPPORT: LEG RINGS OR REAR HARNESS
CLIP-ON LEG RING SUPPORT SYSTEM
REAR WALKIN’ LIFT HARNESS (OPTIONAL, PURCHASED SEPARATELY)
ATTACH FRONT HARNESS TO CART
ATTACH THE REAR HARNESS TO THE CART
CUSTOMIZING THE OPTIONAL (PURCHASED SEPARATELY) WALKIN‟ LIFT HARNESS FOR COMFORT AND ELIMINATION
CUTTING EXCESS STRAP
ATTACHING FOOT STRAPS (STIRRUPS)
BELLY BELT, IF NEEDED (INCLUDED)
HOW TO TELL IF THE CART IS ADJUSTED PROPERLY

What's in the Box?

A – The Frame Kit
B – Rear connector for wider dogs
C – Tool kit & Cup screws stop rattling
D – Length Extenders for longer dogs
E – Tote bag, Manual, Magnet
F – Front Harness & comfort sleeves
G – Rear Leg Rings
H – Wheels attached to struts
J – Stirrups
K – Convenience Handles
L – Belly Band

You may have received two boxes - one with the frame and several of the accessories and a second one with the wheels and other size-specific accessories.

Quick Start Guide

A - The notches are on top	Use Snap Buttons to Adjust
B - Larger Extenders	Use a Pen for Snap Buttons behind the knuckle

STEP 1 – Unpack and Setup the dog wheelchair

A - Turn dial to release the knuckle with notches on top.
Unfold the vertical support and turn dial to lock into place.
Insert the wheels and snap in place.

B - Larger dogs may need larger extenders (3 & 4).
If so, snap them in.

See section on "Adjusting the Cart" for more details

STEP 2 – Put on Front Harness

Base of the Neoprene "T" faces forward.

Red Strap goes under the dog and clips to harness. Green or Blue (Top) strap over the dog.

Side clips face to the back. Top strap tight – others only snug.

Comfort sleeves can be cut for small dogs and cover the straps.

STEP 3 – Put the Dog in the Cart

Lift dog‟s back legs into leg rings or pass rings under legs and clip. Dog‟s legs go through the rubber tube loops.

Saddle should be tight not sagging. Straps clip over not under the frame. Rubber tubing may be cut back if needed to adjust for smaller dogs.

A – Saddle is pulled tightly and clipped over the side rail of the
wheelchair frame.

Inset Lower Left – Clips finger loops point down.
Inset Lower Right – Optional stay-on straps clip over dog‟s back.

Clip the front harness to the side extender rails. Side rails go through the D-Rings or loops before clipping in place. Rear harness straps go OVER the top of the frame and clip to posts.

Front Loop (as shown) or D-Ring (not shown)	Straps go OVER blue frame.

STEP 4 – Final Adjustments

Knuckles (A) should be on the hips. Front clips (B) high on the shoulders. Back straight (C). Toes (D) just touching the ground or up in Stirrups. Top bar (E) parallel to the ground. Leg rings flat and tight like a saddle.

Set screws are not necessary for operation, but reduce extra play and noise. See section on "Adjusting the Cart" for locations.

Before your dog begins walking in the wheelchair, look at the side view in the Walkin‟ Wheels® to be certain that the positioning is correct.

The photos below demonstrate the correct and incorrect positions of the Walkin‟ Wheels®. If your dog appears like either of the WRONG photos below, please refer to the section titled "Adjusting the Cart"

Getting Started - Important Tips

We created the Walkin‟ Wheels® in the hope that you will adjust the cart, put it on your dog, and in a few moments watch him or her running and playing again. It can happen that way, but it doesn‟t always.

A wheelchair can be a major adjustment for a dog. On the one hand, the frustration of painfully dragging an immobile back end is suddenly gone. Freedom! On the other, there‟s a strange device following the dog around; sometimes making odd noises and getting caught on furniture and doorways.

Dogs use their back legs to move and their front legs to stop. It is normal, therefore, for the dog to push back on the front legs and move backwards. With encouragement, they quickly learn to move by pulling themselves forward with their front legs.

Be calm, quiet, and slow when putting on the cart for the first time. Lots of stroking and reassurance is needed here. Treats help, too. Let the dog get used to the harnesses before attaching it to the cart. It may take a few minutes or a few hours for him or her to get used to the harnesses.

Keep in control of the dog‟s movement at first. Keep the dog in a clear area at first and keep him on a short leash. If the dog does become frightened, then disconnect the harness from the cart and try again later.

Until your dog gets used to the Walkin‟ Wheels®, limit the amount of time spent in it. The Walkin‟ Wheels® is designed to allow your dog to get exercise and physical therapy. Dogs cannot lie down in the cart.

If he does not move at all, check for harness comfort and encourage him with patience and treats. After the first few uses, check for chafing from the harness. Adjust if needed. Dogs will be able to urinate and defecate while in the cart.

Adjusting the Cart

Opening/Locking the Legs – Folding Flat

	Notches (3) on the TOP of the Knuckle

The black plastic pieces that connect the legs to the frame are called "knuckles" (see figure 1). Dials on the side knuckles (called "Dial Caps") can be turned to loosen the legs and allow them to open and close

To open the legs, turn the dial caps so that the teeth on the inside of the knuckle separate and you can move the leg freely. Do not unscrew the dial cap all the way off, although if you do, just push down a little to compress the spring inside, and screw the dial cap back on.

The Knuckles allow the Walkin' Wheels® to fold flat.

The Notches indicate the TOP of the wheelchair.

There are raised markers on the top of the knuckle and the top of the leg - one on the cart-side of the knuckle and two on the leg-side. Line up the raised marks so that the mark on the cart is between the marks on the leg. In the case of active dogs, you can angle the wheels back further. This is discussed in the section titled "How to tell if the Cart is Adjusted Properly."

Adjusting the size with snap buttons.

Note: Make sure the set-screws shown below are loosened or removed before adjusting.

Optional: Once the cart is adjusted properly, use the Allen wrench to insert and tighten the set-screws. There are six set-screw holes on the cart. Although they are not necessary for sturdiness, they will keep the cart from rattling.

Snap buttons are used to adjust the height, length and width of the cart. Push them in with your fingertip to adjust. When the snap button is behind the knuckle, use the back end of a pen or any thin, blunt object to release it.

Snap Button Adjustment	Snap Button behind the knuckle

Width & Length Extenders

1 – Short (6 inch) Width Connector snaps into the back of the wheelchair for dogs less than 9 ½" wide (measured at the widest point of the dog).

2 – Short (15 inch) Length Extenders snap in the sides of the wheelchair for dogs less than 19" in length (measured from the back of the front leg to back of the rear leg).

3 – Long (9 inch) Width Connector snaps into the back of the cart for dogs greater than 9 ½ inches wide (measured at the widest point of the dog).

4 – Long (26 inch) Length Extenders snap into the sides of the cart for dogs greater than 18" long (measured from the back of the front leg to back of the rear leg).

Sizing the Cart

Adjusting the Length.

Adjust the length extender so that the loop on the front harness is at the shoulder blade of the dog. The cart will connect to the harness right above the front leg.

Adjusting the width

Use the snap buttons on the width connector to adjust the cart to the proper width. There should be about ½ inch of space on either side of the dog at the black plastic knuckle.

The width extender shown here is the "small‟ extender shown at its smallest position. The larger width extender does not allow the cart to close all the way.

Adjusting the height

The correct height setting is based on the condition of the dog. If the dog has some use of his back legs, then set the height so the toe pads are on the ground. If the paws are scraping on the ground, protect them with boots.

If the legs are paralyzed, use the stirrups to hold them an inch or two above the ground. Typically, if you use the stirrups, you will need to put both legs in, even if one leg is stronger, so that the dog maintains balance. The stirrup should be placed on the dog‟s hock and adjusted snug by using the push-lock.

NOTE: When taking the dog out of the cart always remember to take the feet out of the stirrups FIRST.

Front Harness Attachment

The Red strap goes under the dog, in the back of the front legs. The Blue (or Green) strap goes over the back. The black strap goes to the front. The base of the "T" faces forward.

Place the Black & Blue or Green straps over the head, then buckle the red strap underneath the dog and clip into the front harness. It may be helpful to remove the comfort sleeves while adjusting the front harness then replace them once the harness is adjusted.

Proper positioning and adjustment of front harness:

Typically, the top strap is fairly tight and the other two are just snug. The clip should be positioned just over the shoulder blade.

Rear Support: Leg Rings or Rear Harness

Two types of rear harnessing systems are available; the Leg Rings (included) and the Optional (Needs to be purchased separately) Walkin‟ Lift Cart Compatible Rear Harness Support System

Leg Ring Support System	Optional (Purchased Separately) Walkin‟ Lift Cart Compatible Rear Harness Support System

The Leg rings need to be tight to create a firm "seat‟ for the dog. When the dog is in the leg rings, the knuckle should be at the mid-hip level.

The rubber tubing of the leg ring can be shortened if necessary with scissors. Avoid cutting the strap inside. Try cutting about an inch off all four ends of the rubber then adjusting the clips on the straps to tighten them up.	The Velcro wrapper can be moved forward or back to avoid putting pressure on the dog‟s genitals. In addition, the Velcro can be wrapped loosely so that there is a space between the rings. The Velcro must be used. Adjust for best comfort and fit.

The Lifting handles can be attached to the harness clips for help lifting the dog when not in the cart. Use one or both handles based on your comfort and the comfort of the dog.

Clip-On Leg Ring Support System

Secure the clips by passing the webbing back through the clip

Rear Walkin' Lift Harness

(optional, purchased separately)

To attach the Rear Harness to the animal, put the rear harness on the floor.
Put the animal‟s rear legs through the leg-holes. There is no Front or Back to the harness. Reinforcement strapping is on the bottom side.
Pull up the harness like a pair of shorts and clip the back-strap(s) to hold the harness on the dog. Back straps may be crossed.

The four plastic clips hanging at the side are for attaching the harness to the cart. They can also be used to attach the optional lifting straps.

Optional Walkin‟ Lift Harness is sold separately.

Attach front harness to cart.

Slide harness around extension tube. There is a loop or D-Ring in the strap. Put the metal (side-rail) length extender tube through the loop or D-Ring. Clip the side buckles on each side to cart.

Attach the rear harness to the cart

Attach the four cart-clips to the pegs sticking out of the side of the cart and click the clips into place. To take the dog out of the cart, un-clip the cart clips by pulling down on the clip.

Unclip the cart clip

Position the animal with its hips lined up to the plastic knuckle section of the cart.

Loop the harness clip over the cart frame and lock it into the peg by pushing up (or the weight of the dog will do this) until you hear a click. To unlock, put your finger in the round plastic loop and pull down.

Customizing the optional (purchased separately) Walkin' Lift harness for comfort and elimination

The harness is made of Neoprene so that it can be safely cut with scissors to avoid the animal‟s genitals allowing them to pee and poop when in the cart. It will not fray at the edges. Remove the harness from the dog before cutting it, and make sure not to cut the reinforcement strap material.

Cutting Excess Strap

Note that the straps can be cut if there is excess. After cutting, you can seal the end of the strap by briefly touching it with the flame of a lighter. This will melt the end and keep it from fraying.

Attaching foot straps (Stirrups)

If feet are dragging or knuckling under, use stirrups.

Place the animal‟s hind legs in the foot straps so that the foot rests about 2 inches above the ground and tighten to a snug fit.

Belly Belt, If needed (included)

Some pets will need additional support under their belly. You can tell if they need additional support if the dog‟s spine bows downward, or if the dog is elderly or overweight.
To put the belly belt on the cart you can either (photos below).
a) place the side rail through the looped opening in the strap or
b) undo the tri-clip and loop the strap over the side rail, then feed the strap back through the clip

The purpose of the rope is to prevent the belly belt from sliding backwards toward the rear of the dog.

Loop strap inside side rail	Clip and secure with rope to keep the belt from sliding back.

	Your Belly Belt is equipped with Velcro (Photo to Left) on one side. Loop the strap over the railing and attach the Velcro under the dog‟s belly. A rubber band can be used to secure excess strap if needed.
Belly Belt, Installed	Belly Belt

The belly belt is looped around the side rail from the inside, through the rope, then back through the clip. The rope looped around the front clip is used to prevent the belly strap from sliding backwards underneath the dog. Cut and tie it if desired.

How to tell if the Cart is Adjusted Properly

When the cart is adjusted properly, the animal stands in a "natural‟ position. 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 hip where the bone of the leg meets the bones of the body. If not, tighten harness and/or adjust length. Allow ½" to 1" on each side between dog and black knuckle.

B – Front Support loop at the shoulder. The loop on the front harness that the length extender goes through should be at the shoulder. Adjust the straps so that the loop is held firmly against the shoulder. Then clip into cart. If the loop is too tight, you can cut the plastic tie-wraps. Replacement tie wraps are available at no charge. It will loosen up over time.

C – The dogs 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 Belt.

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 can be 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 adjust the wheel height. 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 bar needs to be parallel to the ground.

For active dogs with strong front legs, the wheels can be adjusted to angle back

Wheels angled back for stability