I hope this video illustrates 2 main points. First, a dog need not be physically perfect to have the heart and soul to live life to its fullest. People need to give dogs like Popeye a chance to show the world what they are capable of.
Second, the Doggon Wheels company rocks! Popeye started off with a different wheelchair made by another well-known cart company. After months of frustration and stress with that cart, the extra money we wasted in unsuccessfully attempting to "improve" it, and most of all, the lack of help and concern we received from that company, I cannot express my appreciation for Doggon enough. Not only did the Doggon Wheels turn out to be a superior cart with very few of the problems we encountered with the other, but everybody there was and continues to be so very helpful, patient, and friendly. After my previous experience, I am thrilled to have discovered a cart that is safe and stable enough for a dog of Popeye's special needs and high energy, and I am even more thrilled to have found a company that so genuinely cares about the well-being of their canine clients.
Thanks to his Doggon Wheels, Popeye is now able to do all the things he couldn't before. The Doggon has given him the opportunity to be a part of so many more of life's adventures, the freedom to run like the wind, and the gift of allowing the rest of the world to see Popeye being Popeye. I cannot recommend this company highly enough.
www.Doggon.com
Showing posts with label doggon wheels. Show all posts
Showing posts with label doggon wheels. Show all posts
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Popeye Meets Nemo
We had the pleasure and privilege of meeting Nemo and his dads at Pt Isabel today. What awesome guys. It's so incredible to me that they take such good care of Nemo (and 3 other dogs!). And then I remember, wait, I do that too (well, usually just 2 other dogs). But it's become such a routine here with Popeye that I just take it as a given and don't think much about it anymore. I'm sure the same must be true for them, but even the fact that I care for a paraplegic dog myself does not diminish how in awe I am of Nemo's dads, of their efforts and of the size of their hearts.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Rebuilt Doggon Wheels
After struggling for months with the Eddies Wheels cart and customer service, I was pleasantly surprised (thrilled, ecstatic) when we tried out the new Doggon Wheels. The toppling issues that were ever present with the Eddies didn't exist with the Doggon. Finally, a cart that could handle the speed of Popeye's energy.
So when I showed the Doggon people some pictures of Popeye in the cart, I was very surprised when they told me they would build him a completely new frame. At no extra charge. Apparently they weren't happy with the how the rear of the cart fit his narrow lower body.
They explained that the leg openings in the saddle were too big and the width of the frame was too wide back there. A week later and just 2.5 weeks from the day we got the original Doggon cart, the new frame arrived.
(Note: Doggon did not actually send us a 2nd set of tires--those were taken off the Eddies cart.)
As you can see from the picture above, the saddle harness was customized for Popeye's smaller frame in the rear, with the leg openings sewn smaller.
The top frame itself was also made smaller, with the width decreased as well as the length in the back.
As Doggon explained to me, by making the harness and rear frame more snug, it minimizes the swinging action that occurs with Popeye's (and most dogs') natural gait. The less Popeye's butt swings, the less the cart will weave side to side as he walks.
However, the narrower frame would leave less room for Popeye's extremely muscular front body. To prevent his front body from hitting the sides of the frame, they splayed the front part of the frame (called the sidearms) out.
New pictures submitted to Doggon for fitting advice.
Height +0
Length +3
Per Doggon, front harness is perfect in this picture.
Per Doggon, front harness looks high in both "Buckles detached" pictures, but probably because Tyler is holding it up.
Doggon Recommendation:
Move clamps on sidearms down approx 1-3/4cm to lessen tightness in back strap. This will cause the frame to lean backwards a little when Popeye is at standing position. Per Mel at Doggon, this is ok. Backward leaning frame takes weight off spine and puts it at ribcage. See pic below of Lori's (of Doggon Wheels) dogs.
Kozmo's cart leans back a lot. Per Mel at Doggon, this is ideal for his arthritis. Benny's cart leans back a little (Benny was hit by a car at age 6 months). I don't totally understand the significance of the leaning, but whatever. I want the red powder coated cart!! ($100 extra & 1.5 weeks longer to make though. Damn.)
Mel also suggested making sure that sidearms do not hit Popeye's legs as he runs. If they do, shorten length to +2 and loosen front strap. Do not change anything else. UPDATE 6/27/09: Tried this and resulted in too much side-to-side weaving. Ask Mel.
Other notes: If you are trying to make the top frame level, it should be level when the dog is at standing position. Frame will shift forward as dog moves forward.
It's too early to say whether these changes make any significant improvement, but I can say that the customer service I've received so far from Doggon has been top-notch. I don't see how it could possibly be any better. Not just the best out of the few cart companies I've communicated with but among the best of any company in any industry I have ever dealt with.
So when I showed the Doggon people some pictures of Popeye in the cart, I was very surprised when they told me they would build him a completely new frame. At no extra charge. Apparently they weren't happy with the how the rear of the cart fit his narrow lower body.
They explained that the leg openings in the saddle were too big and the width of the frame was too wide back there. A week later and just 2.5 weeks from the day we got the original Doggon cart, the new frame arrived.
(Note: Doggon did not actually send us a 2nd set of tires--those were taken off the Eddies cart.)
As you can see from the picture above, the saddle harness was customized for Popeye's smaller frame in the rear, with the leg openings sewn smaller.
The top frame itself was also made smaller, with the width decreased as well as the length in the back.
As Doggon explained to me, by making the harness and rear frame more snug, it minimizes the swinging action that occurs with Popeye's (and most dogs') natural gait. The less Popeye's butt swings, the less the cart will weave side to side as he walks.
However, the narrower frame would leave less room for Popeye's extremely muscular front body. To prevent his front body from hitting the sides of the frame, they splayed the front part of the frame (called the sidearms) out.
New pictures submitted to Doggon for fitting advice.
Height +0
Length +3
Per Doggon, front harness is perfect in this picture.
Per Doggon, front harness looks high in both "Buckles detached" pictures, but probably because Tyler is holding it up.
Doggon Recommendation:
Move clamps on sidearms down approx 1-3/4cm to lessen tightness in back strap. This will cause the frame to lean backwards a little when Popeye is at standing position. Per Mel at Doggon, this is ok. Backward leaning frame takes weight off spine and puts it at ribcage. See pic below of Lori's (of Doggon Wheels) dogs.
Kozmo's cart leans back a lot. Per Mel at Doggon, this is ideal for his arthritis. Benny's cart leans back a little (Benny was hit by a car at age 6 months). I don't totally understand the significance of the leaning, but whatever. I want the red powder coated cart!! ($100 extra & 1.5 weeks longer to make though. Damn.)
Mel also suggested making sure that sidearms do not hit Popeye's legs as he runs. If they do, shorten length to +2 and loosen front strap. Do not change anything else. UPDATE 6/27/09: Tried this and resulted in too much side-to-side weaving. Ask Mel.
Other notes: If you are trying to make the top frame level, it should be level when the dog is at standing position. Frame will shift forward as dog moves forward.
It's too early to say whether these changes make any significant improvement, but I can say that the customer service I've received so far from Doggon has been top-notch. I don't see how it could possibly be any better. Not just the best out of the few cart companies I've communicated with but among the best of any company in any industry I have ever dealt with.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Nemo Unleashed
This is a video posted on the Doggon Wheels website.
At the end of the video, there is a website listed. It sounds like Nemo came from Bad Rap in San Francisco, which makes him local! I would love to meet him one day.
At the end of the video, there is a website listed. It sounds like Nemo came from Bad Rap in San Francisco, which makes him local! I would love to meet him one day.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Friday, June 12, 2009
Doggon Wheels Fitting 2a
These are pictures for more Doggon Wheels adjustments.
Rear harness has been moved behind blocks.
Length shortened to shortest setting.
Height increased 1 notch.
Straps on rear harness are at shortest setting.
Questions for DW:
1. Is rear end supposed to be so high?
2. Are clips and front harness positioned correctly? Harness is picture 1 doesn't look right.
3. Popeye's back seems to be bending up more rather than level. Is that proper?
4. I have noticed that the more of Popeye's body that is behind the wheels, the more the cart sways side to side as he walks. Any way to prevent that?
Rear harness has been moved behind blocks.
Length shortened to shortest setting.
Height increased 1 notch.
Straps on rear harness are at shortest setting.
Questions for DW:
1. Is rear end supposed to be so high?
2. Are clips and front harness positioned correctly? Harness is picture 1 doesn't look right.
3. Popeye's back seems to be bending up more rather than level. Is that proper?
4. I have noticed that the more of Popeye's body that is behind the wheels, the more the cart sways side to side as he walks. Any way to prevent that?
Doggon Wheels Fitting 2
These are pictures for Doggon Wheels adjustments.
Rear harness has been moved behind blocks.
Length shortened to shortest setting.
Height increased 1 notch.
Clips haven't really been adjusted--I moved them down at first but they seemed to work better in their original position.
I noticed after the fact that the straps on the rear harness got loose so all pics and video show the rear harness sitting lower on the straps (straps at longest setting). They are usually at their shortest setting.
Rear harness has been moved behind blocks.
Length shortened to shortest setting.
Height increased 1 notch.
Clips haven't really been adjusted--I moved them down at first but they seemed to work better in their original position.
I noticed after the fact that the straps on the rear harness got loose so all pics and video show the rear harness sitting lower on the straps (straps at longest setting). They are usually at their shortest setting.
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