Introducing Your Dog to Dog Wheels at the Right Time

Back or front leg weakness may occur as your dog gets older. I had a smaller breed (a 23-year-old Papillon, named Naquita) in which there were no issues. However, my next two dogs were larger breeds (Coco, a chocolate lab, and Skylar, an Aussie mix). When they started to show signs of weakness, this became an entirely new experience for me.

You might consider “dog wheels”. They make them where you can buy for front leg weakness or back leg weakness or both.

Purchasing used wheels is also recommended. Bring your dog with you (if you can). You can see if it’s a good fit. Returns on used items from an ad can be a bit more difficult than purchasing from a company,

The KEY is to get your pet into these wheels while they “still can walk”. I was told this by a woman who fostered handicapped dogs and this bit of advice is a total game-changer! Don’t wait until the last minute.

I was hesitant to introduce Skylar to dog wheels because my goal was to get Skylar stronger and keep her walking as long as she could with little help. This is a delicate time frame and from experience, you will want to get your dog adjusted to his or her wheels while they can still walk on their own.

However, there comes a day when they hit their cap on leg strength and they then start to decline. It comes quickly. Skylar was 17 and because of our hundreds of hikes together, she could maneuver fairly well at this age! But, looking back, Skylar could have been into her dog wheels weeks before I thought it was time.

Don’t wait until YOU think they’re ready. A dog’s progression of time is extremely fast and you will think you’re too soon, but you won’t be. You must get them into these “dog wheels” while they are at their strongest/weakest time frame. It comes seemingly overnight. Be prepared.

Buy your wheels way before you need them and have them on hand and ready-fitted. You really won’t have time to wait or adjust the size. You want time on your side so be proactive and prepared!