| Frequently
asked Questions: Harnesses
Thanks for shipping overnight! Package arrived
at 10:20 AM today as advertised. Product (Walkabelly Harness)
is even better quality than I imagined. Thank you very much
for your excellent service and superior product.
- Bill
Brown Littleton, CO 80130
Dear HandicappedPets.com
The harness for Chewbacca showed up promptly and was put to immediate use. We can walk again!
- Many Thanks, Ann
Q.
How do I put it on? What does it look like?
A. See
Back Harness Instructions
or WalkaBelly Instructions.
Q. Is the back harness just for dogs?
 
A. The harness works with any animal that needs a little extra support.
Q. My
dog is reluctant to let me put on the harness. What should I do?
A. If
you feel a dog is being "emotional" about this, the harness
should be put on when introducing their favorite things, like food
or tennis ball. Introduce the harness during a quiet time, while you
are stroking or petting the dog... perhaps during a massage. If the
dog resists consistently, stop.
Consider trying a WalkaBelly first. This will get the animal used
to the idea of being helped.
If you need all the products, front harness, rear harness and dog
boots, put only one product on at a time and get them used to it slowly.
Remember, they don't wear clothes, (unless they are poodles), and
their handicap has given them extreme sensitivities to balance, the
slightest change upsets their balance and can subsequently "freak
them out".
Some people use the back harness as well as a leash. This is especially important as the animal is beginning to get used to the harness. This prevents the dog from trying to 'walk out' of the back harness. Also shown here is another leash, tied to the back handles, to make a 'handle extension.' Use this technique if it more comfortable for you.
Q. Can
animals urinate and defecate with the harness on?
A. Yes.
They are designed to allow this conveniently and comfortably for almost
all breeds of dogs.
Q.
No matter which size I use for my female, or which way I turn the
rear harness - she still managers to pee on it. Any suggestions?
- I'm thinking of cutting a bigger whole in the back and re-stitching
it - but I thought I would ask you first.
A. Every
dog has a varied anatomy, it is impossible to know them all. I often
recommend a slight remodeling to make the best of the peeing dilemma.
The material cuts back well. Sew down the edges to prevent any thread
from undoing. Always do the remodeling with the product off the dog.
Q. How
long are the handle straps? Am I going to have to bend down while
I'm walking the animal?
A.
21"small
(from leg hole to top of strap)
15" medium
12" MediumLarge
10" Large and XtraLarge
Normally,
you should be able to walk comfortably holding the strap. Sometimes people will tie a leash to the handles to extend them further.
Q. It seems that the harness
is not long enough as there is a lot of velcro showing when I wrap
it around Zeek's body. How snug should it fit? I can't figure out
which way to put the harness. There is a rounded area on one side.
If I put that towards his chest, it interferes - it kind of bunches
up against his armpits. If I place it near his belly, it covers up
the tip if his private area.
A. You do not want the harness to
obstruct your dogs ability to walk but if it is a little
bunchy but still provides an assistance to your dogs walking
then try to see if this will work out for you and your dog. The support
lies forward into the chest for more balance in that direction.
We can send you an extension piece to add additional wrap around
for your harness.
The arch piece
faces forward. I would not expect the product to bunch up under the
armpit area according to your measurements yet all dogs body types
will vary to some degree making this a possibility.
Q.
Harness or Wheelchair?
A.
This Question should be posed to your vet. Some of the opinions I have
heard vary. Some feel that a harness is a better choice where the animal
is expected to recover. Using a wheelchair can cause the animal's unused
muscles to become weak and atrophy. With a harness, the animal uses
the muscles when he can. A harness can be a less expensive option.
Q. I
have this little guy who needs to be mobile because although he is on
cage rest, he needs to sit out in the sun a little and come out of the
crate some so that while he is crated all day while I'm working he won't
be so anxious. And stressed. When talking about a harness are you referring
to a belt type of device fitted around the abdomen that I hold up while
he's walking? If so I tried that and the problem is that I'm trying
to get him to go potty outside on his own and he won't go while I'm
right there, plus the belt type harness goes across his weenie preventing
him from his "freedom." That's why I thought some wheels would
be more convenient for him and me as his recovery, If he does recover,
will be long time coming. He's dragging his back end around now and
straining to try to hold himself up so I hold him up so he's not straining
his back more, but then again he won't urinate
or defecate with me holding him.
A. Sounds
like the harness would greatly help your dog with his
need for cage rest and conservative walking periods. I can really
understand your dogs need for
privacy in bathroom situations yet maybe for now he would settle for
you turning your head. Have a little talk with him about the current
dilemma you are both in and how you are doing everything you can to
help him keep his dignity.
But...........if
he falls down while doing his business this could really hurt his
overall recovery and the cart sounds too aggressive for a dog
requiring cage rest. The overall healing process takes time and I
try to have my clients understand that a re-training period has to
take place in order to ease the pressures of the lifestyle change
you and your pet are experiencing. Your pet feels your concerns and
if you try to negotiate on
some of these issues (such as turning your head) and work together
new ways of doing things may prove to be successful.
p.s. and don't
forget if he does do his business with this "new way" to
give him
a big steak! (or veggie burger if he's a vegetarian).
Q, The Difference
between back and front harnesses
A.
Back harnesses have 2 handles for sizes ML, Large, and XLG.
Back harnessess size small and XS have one handle
Front harnesses,
all
sizes, have 2 handles.
Front
harnesses have the word "FRONT" written on the inside neck.
Open them up and have a look. also, fronts have smaller leg holes. the
rear harnesses the hole takes up the whole width of product.
Q. We received the harness and I took it along to the
vet. He says that this will be helpful during the 10 days my Cocker
has her legs in casts so I have decided to keep it. Have one question,
she has worn it a couple of times, the first time it fit fine -- now
it wants to slip off her back side. What can I do to make it stay in
place? Do you think taking a tuck in the width around would help?
A. I suggest crisscrossing the buckles and closing
the velcro on the diagonal. A dart could help, but be careful too not
sew a dart to tight.
I have started using the Walkabelly on my 80# Doberman, but found it would not stay in place when she pulled forward, especially when we were going downstairs. It would end up gathered at the back of the belly and act as a tripping agent.
Attached is a photo of how I modified your harness to make it better functional. Two padded straps are sewed to the bottom front between the legs. They come forward and cross in front (anchored together) and Velcro attach on the top of the harness above her shoulders. This arrangement is easy to put on and to take off her and works much better than the original design.
Hope you can incorporate similar changes for a harness to be used safely with the larger dogs.
Juana
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