Whether to select a custom made dog cart or an adjustable dog wheelchair is one of the most frequently asked questions. This article gives you the information you need.
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, 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, 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.
In 2006, Mark C. Robinson, founder of handicappedpets.com, mortgaged his house, borrowed all the money he could, and hired a team of engineers to design the ‘perfect’ dog wheelchair.
The features he asked for were:
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, re-sold to any other dog, 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 sold internationally.
Walkin Wheels
Adjustable Cart |
Competitor 1
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Competitor 2
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Competitor 3
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Adjustable
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Height, Width, and Length Adjust without tools.
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Some Height Adjustment Possible – Tools required
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NO
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NO
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Measurements required to order
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1 approximate height measurement needed
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8 measurements required
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7 measurements required
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10 measurements
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Time Required to Build
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Shipped Same Day
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3 – 4 working days
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2 weeks
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3 days
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Non-refundable Deposit
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None
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30% – 50%
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Refund Policy
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Up to 95%
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85% Less Shipping
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None – All Sales Final
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70% Less Shipping
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If Cart Does Not Fit
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Completely adjustable without tools. Adjust it yourself, call if you need help.
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Call for Support.
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“…we reserve the right to charge time and materials…”
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Call for Support
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Patented
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YES – U.S. and International Patents
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No
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No
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No
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Harness Type
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Flexible
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Flexible
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Welded Saddle
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Flexible
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Lifting Required
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No Lifting Required
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“…lift the rear of your pet and slip its legs down through the leg ring supports…”
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Yes
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Some Lifting
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Folds Flat for Storage
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Yes
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No
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No
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No
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Price (Medium Cart + Shipping)
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$399 – $459
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$390-$590
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$395 – $550 + Shipping
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$365 – $535
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Some Assembly Required?
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None Needed
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Some Assembly Required
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Shipped Assembled
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Shipped Assembled
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Indoor Use
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Yes
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Not Recommended
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Can be Resold to any size animal
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Yes
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No
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No
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No
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Belly Support Strap
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Included – No Extra Charge
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Add $25.00
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Extra Charge
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Stirrups
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Included – No Extra Charge
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Add $45.00
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Add $12.00 to $20.00
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Available in Stores
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YES
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No
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No
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No
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For sale by veterinarians
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YES
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No
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No
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no
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