The Walkin’ Wheels dog wheelchair is an adjustable wheelchair that can dramatically improve the quality of life for dogs that can’t get around as well as they used to.

Available in six different sizes, it’s designed to fit just about any dog – allowing your best friend to benefit from the joys of an active life, despite the trials that old age or mobility issues can bring.

This model is the latest iteration of dog wheelchairs from the Walkin’ Wheels brand, a company created in 2001 by Mark C. Robinson.

Walkin’ Wheels is synonymous with the pet mobility space – and it’s not just dogs that we’ve seen their wheelchairs used to help. It can also be used for cats, rabbits, lambs and goats!

But how does the Walkin’ Wheels compare to other popular dog wheelchairs? What sets it apart from its competitors – and is there anything that could be improved in future designs?

Find out in our full Walkin’ Wheels review…

Walkin’ Wheels Review: The Best Dog Cart Solution?

The much acclaimed Walkin’ Wheels dog wheelchair is a vet-approved dog cart to aid pets with leg and hip problems.

It can restore an active lifestyle to dogs suffering from a myriad of mobility issues, including: hip dysplasia, degenerative myelopathy, paralysis, arthritis soreness, slipped disk, and neurological and spinal problems.

You can also use it on dogs recovering from surgery or a temporary injury.

The Walkin’ Wheels dog wheelchair is perfect for dogs that still have use of their front legs. Its design enables them to move around, play, and explore while the back legs are either held safely in stirrups or lightly touching the ground.

There are several other manufacturers producing similar models – like Best Friend Mobility and Haute Wheels, but the design from Walkin’ Wheels has become something of a global leader.

In terms of build quality, it’s one of the most intuitive dog wheelchairs we’ve seen so far. And the fact that the wheels are interchangeable makes it a mobility solution that is fit for all terrain – both indoor and outdoor.

In short: there’s a lot to love about Walkin’ Wheels!

Pros

• The harness is made from fabric or neoprene
• The wheels on this dog wheelchair are interchangeable, making the wheelchair an all-terrain one
• This dog wheelchair has a veterinarian-approved design
• You can personalize this wheelchair with 4 colors to choose from
• The dense foam tires with rubber threads are puncture-proof, ensuring your dog can explore all kinds of terrain

Cons

• It comes only in 4 colors (if you’re super picky!)
• Some models of this dog wheelchair might not fit your dog seamlessly – particularly if your pet is measuring on the threshold of two sizes.

Features of the Walkin’ Wheels Dog Wheelchair

Selecting the right dog wheelchair for your dog can be challenging. How can you tell if the Walkin’ Wheels dog wheelchair is the perfect choice for your dog? Thankfully, the first step is quite simple. There is a basic way to help you ascertain this fact.

To understand how much support your dog needs, you can use the basic towel test:

• If your dog can walk well when lifting your dog’s hind limbs using a towel, your dog needs a rear wheel dog wheelchair
• If your dog’s front legs give out or splay outward, a 4 wheel wheelchair is required

Important Wheelchair Features

You probably already know that your dog requires a pet wheelchair if you are reading this. Maybe you’ve even tried to make one yourself!

However, there are some features you need to consider before deciding if the Walkin’ Wheels dog wheelchair is right for your dog.

The Frame

The frame has a powder-coated finish to provide an extra protection layer, ensuring it can stand up to your dog’s boisterous ways.

It has been constructed with high quality, lightweight aluminum, ensuring that it doesn’t rust, break or bend.

After a single fitting, your dog should be able to play and run again, getting the exercise they need to live a healthy and happy life.

Wheels

The wheels are an integral part of a dog wheelchair, and selecting the right wheels can be difficult. You can choose between foam wheels or air tires, and while both wheel styles work effectively, they are better in different scenarios.

Air-filled tires provide a more natural suspension and are great for dogs that love to hike, run and be active over rougher terrain.

Foam wheels are the most popular wheel type for the best dog wheelchair. The wheels on the Walkin’ Wheels are constructed from rugged and dense foam, making them extremely durable. The great thing about dense foam wheels is that they are puncture-proof, meaning they will never go flat. This makes them sufficiently durable to take to any terrain.

Size

Before getting any wheelchair, you first have to consider the size that you’ll need.

Since dogs come in various sizes and shapes, it is imperative to select one that can be adjusted to perfectly fit your dog and its needs. You can get the Walkin’ Wheels dog in four frame sizes and two special breed sizes that fits dogs of varying sizes:

• Mini
• Small
• Medium
• Large
• Corgi
• Dachshund

These sizes are designed to accommodate smaller dogs around two pounds and a large dog as big as 180 pounds. The Walkin’ Wheels dog wheelchair has a frame constructed from lightweight and durable aluminum. This ensures that it is sufficiently light for the smallest dogs to seamlessly move around. The material also ensures that it is durable enough to handle the rigors of a mountain hike.

Here’s a great demonstration of how to measure for the Walkin’ Wheels:

Size is particularly important when dealing with larger breeds. Some dog wheelchairs can be too bulky or big to travel with seamlessly.

Some might not even be large enough to fit in your car. You need to ensure the dog wheelchair you choose is one that can be easily packed and folds flat.

Rear Support

Rear leg support dog wheelchairs are great for a disabled dog with hind limbs paralysis, injury, or weakness. This type of wheelchair supports your dog from underneath, providing stability and balance.

The Walkin’ Wheels dog wheelchair is a rear-wheel wheelchair support that enables your dog to run, walk, stand and play again.

You also need to consider the extent of your dog’s paralysis. A dog with completely paralyzed rear legs will need a dog wheelchair with stirrups. You can use stirrups to raise your dog’s rear paws off the ground, thereby preventing injury caused by dragging or scraping feet.

If your dog is experiencing weakness in both back and front limbs, you might need a quad or four-wheel dog wheelchair. Your dog’s front legs will need to be sufficiently strong to steer and drive the quad wheelchair.

Full support wheelchairs can be a great option for dogs with progressive illnesses such as Degenerative Myelopathy as well as a senior dog with similar health problems. But if that’s the case, you’ll need to look at options beyond the rear-support favoring Walkin’ Wheels.

Getting A Dog to Use The Walkin’ Wheels

For most dogs, transitioning into a dog wheelchair can be an easy process.

This is because dogs want to have the ability to move, and the moment they learn that the wheelchair can help them do that, they dive right in. However, there may be a learning curve for the dog owner as you find the best size and fit.

Dogs that haven’t had the opportunity to run in months will be eager to get on their feet the moment they begin to use the Walkin’ Wheels dog wheelchair for the first time. There is nothing quite as amazing as seeing a dog that has been sad and frustrated for months realize that it can run again.

As a dog owner, you should understand that not every dog will hit the ground running when it comes to its wheelchair. It could be that the dog wheelchair requires a few adjustments for it to be completely comfortable.

You might need to disassemble and then reassemble the dog wheelchair to ensure that it has been assembled properly.

The Walkin’ Wheels is just like any other dog wheelchair in this respect. However it benefits from the extra comfort options that other models don’t possess.

Benefits of the Walkin’ Wheels Dog Wheelchair

Increased Wellbeing and Emotional Transformation

When formerly highly active dogs become inactive, they can become visibly depressed. While they still want to engage in all their favorite activities, their inability to move on their own can be frustrating and disheartening.

This all changes once they get a wheelchair. The first time a frustrated dog gets into its wheelchair and realizes it can walk and stand again, there is a complete emotional and physiological transformation.

They begin to perk up and wag their tails more. The ability to play, run and engage in family activities once again can completely change a dog’s outlook.

The Walkin’ Wheels design is one of our favorites. Its engineered from the ground up to give maximum freedom of movement. A light but sturdy design encourages the activity take-up that we love to see as owners of dogs who are starting to slow down.

Physical Benefits

You can describe wheelchairs as life-changing tools, given that they give your dog a new lease on life. The Walkin’ Wheels dog wheelchair can help give any dog suffering from mobility challenges the following physical benefits:

• Weight loss
• Increase in flexibility and strength
• Increase in endurance and stamina levels
• Improved circulation
• Decreased rate of muscle atrophy.

It is important that you start mobility support as early as possible. You don’t have to wait for your dog to become paralyzed before it benefits from a wheelchair. If you have an aging dog, particularly one showing signs of mobility loss, a dog wheelchair like the Walkin’ Wheels can help improve its physical health.

Even dogs just beginning to show signs of loss of balance or weakness can greatly benefit from a rear dog wheelchair like the Walkin’ Wheels dog wheelchair. While in this dog wheelchair, your dog can continue standing on all their limbs, with the wheelchair taking excess weight off their joints.

Fully Adjustable

The Walkin’ Wheels dog wheelchair is fully-adjustable, making it more versatile than other offerings.

This also means that you might be able to use it on more than one dog. The adjustability feature is easy to access, it simply requires the push of a button, and you can adjust the width, length, and height of the dog wheelchair.

The video below will show you in detail how to adjust the Walkin’ Wheels dog wheelchair.

Walkin Wheels Dog Wheelchair vs Best Friend Mobility

When comparing the Walkin Dogs wheelchair with the Best Friend Mobility wheelchair, you will find they are very similar. However, Walkin Wheels is often the top overall choice while the Best Friend Mobility dog wheelchair offers a slightly cheaper but still highly regarded model.

The Walkin Wheels dog wheelchair is veterinarian approved and features a patented adjustable design, so it can be easily customized for your specific dog and their mobility issue. It can also be folded flat, making storage and travel more convenient.

The Best Friend Mobility wheelchair, on the other hand, is another high-quality product and is lightweight and made of a non-rust aluminum, which adds to its overall durability. The height, weight, and length of this dog wheelchair can also be adjusted with the use of a hex wrench. It also won’t restrict your dog from using the bathroom.

Overall, the Walkin Wheels dog wheelchair is the best option if you have a larger dog and need more in the way of adjustability. However, if you need something more affordable and want more value, then the Best Friend Mobility wheelchair may be a better choice for your handicapped pet.

Is The Walkin’ Wheels Worth Buying?

If your dog is suffering from mobility issues as a result of paralyzes or due to age, then a dog wheelchair like the Walkin’ Wheels dog wheelchair can help give your dog a new lease on life.

As we have seen, this dog wheelchair is designed to support the rear limbs, helping your dog get back out there doing what it loves.

The Walkin’ Wheels dog wheelchair is a great choice with a fully adjustable design enabling you to fit the wheelchair to your dog’s exact measurements.

If you are interested in getting a dog wheelchair that increases your dog’s mobility while remaining comfortable, the Walkin’ Wheels dog wheelchair is one of the best in class designs.

It’s certainly not cheap, but it can make a real difference to your best friend’s quality of life.