22 replies to this topic

[Apparelyzed]

Hound-a-bout™ hands-free dog walking system for wheelchair users

The key to the Hound-a-bout™ system’s design lies in positioning a retractable leash at a height that allows the cord to clear the wheelchair operator, even as the leash rotates freely and completely about the anchor assembly at the top of the mast. The mast itself, a T-6061, clear-anodized, extruded aluminum tube, is the backbone of the Hound-a-bout system. With a wall thickness of roughly 1/3 of an inch, it is guaranteed to remain rigidly opposed to the tug of even the most spirited small dog. And at a height of approximately 60 inches, this mast provides sufficient leash clearance for wheelchair users up to 6 feet tall. All of this is delivered while maintaining a total system weight of just 4¾ pounds.

More: http://www.bluezoneenterprises.com

[goose]

I may have to give this a try. My new dog has a lot of energy to burn. I call her turbo........zoooooooom!

[greybeard]

Damned silly idea unless you have nothing larger than a dachshund! A sudden sideways or rearward lunge by my three would topple that easily. Too much leverage on the COG.

Even the web-site admits this

Quote:
In the event the user’s dog bolts in a way that would cause him/her to outrun the maximum extended length of the leash, the user should pivot the wheelchair so that his/her knees are pointing in the direction the dog is running. Failure to do so may result in the wheelchair tipping over when the dog hits the end of the leash at full stride.

Edited by greybeard, 02 May 2012 - 02:29 PM.

[Ratticis]

I'd rather just atatch a harness and let the dog pull me along. My dog weighs over 140 lbs though

[wheeliebear75]

Yeah.....for a 30lb or under size dog. But I saw this in the latest mobility magizines & thought the same thing as GB & Ratti....we've got a 80lb Siberian Husky.....we need to have physical control of him to reinforce the verbal commands.....he's a typical Siberian....STUBBORN with ADD!

[scaldedcat]

Yep, says not recommended for dogs above 20 pounds so rules out a large portion of the dog population. It's interesting though, because I have a small dog (untrained) who likes to run and pee on every tree and lampost in the vicinity, so of course gets tangled around me and is impossible. So I was thinking of trying out something that would go above my head and assist with this, so this looked like what I was after. But I think $140 is a bit steep for what it is, and I don't have armrests so don't know how they overcome that, but something to think about for us with little mutts.

Very old I know, but, did you hear about the bloke that crossed his bulldog with a shitzhu. Ended up with a bullshit !

[BlueZoneCJohn]

Thanks to all for the coments. But in kind reply to greybeard, Ratticis, & wheeliebear75, part of maximizing the system's effectiveness is about training the attached dog, paying attention, and staying ahead of the dog (e.g., anticipating what they're going to do). As dog parents/guardians/owers, part of the responsibility falls on us to shape their behavior. While I've never had to use one, the Gentle Leader Headcollar, invented by a U of MN veterinarian has proven to be very effective in controlling the actions of very willful, very large dogs.

[Ratticis]

Well in that case, it's easier to continue like I've been doing and hold on to the leash. At least that way in the event that he does see a cat and take off, I'm not dragging behind

[greybeard]

A slip lead with a figure of eight (round neck & over muzzle) works better, or as well as, any propriety harness and costs no more than the slip lead.

[BlueZoneCJohn]

Very interesting, GB. You should try that and see if it is effective. And as to Ratticis' post, part of my motivation is to protect both users (humans and their canine companions) on either end of the Hound-a-bout^TM system. Just letting the dog go subjects him/her to a danger that I would never subject my boys to.

[Ratticis]

Well Shadow's pretty well behaved and smart enough not to go running out into traffic or into the threaser. Learned the hard way that porcipines are assholes, though

[greybeard]

Very interesting, GB. You should try that and see if it is effective.

I have. It is. Very.

[BlueZoneCJohn]

Well Shadow's pretty well behaved and smart enough not to go running out into traffic or into the threaser. Learned the hard way that porcipines are assholes, though

OUCH! That's cool, though -- my JRTs have nowhere near that amount of self control.

[BlueZoneCJohn]

Very interesting, GB. You should try that and see if it is effective.

I have. It is. Very.

Excellent! I'd love to see a photo of the setup in action.

[greybeard]

Very interesting, GB. You should try that and see if it is effective.

I have. It is. Very.

Excellent! I'd love to see a photo of the setup in action.

It's not the best bit of filming, but you get the idea:

[Ratticis]

Well Shadow's pretty well behaved and smart enough not to go running out into traffic or into the threaser. Learned the hard way that porcipines are assholes, though

OUCH! That's cool, though -- my JRTs have nowhere near that amount of self control.

lol, no offence intended dude. My dog listens pretty well, okus he's like 140lbs+, so usually he's the bigger one. He only ever get's agressive if he's threatened, or if someone's threatening his owners (the people who feed him). Really, he's a big pussy

[ems]

Why not get the dog to learn to heel !? No dog is un-trainable, they may be stubborn, but if asked to do something, they should do it! Yup my Spaniels bum wags harder when she sees another dog, a cat or a squirrel, but when she's 'inside' a command, she wouldn't do anything till I release her from it. When she hears *that's all*, she's released from whatever command she's in, whether it be heel, whoa, stay, doesn't matter if its at home on a pavement, or in the field. She carries her own leash, should the time ever come I need it, because I'm no fool. The unexpected could freak her out one day. She wears it round her collar and it just sits there. if you need it you pull on it and it unwraps ( just a velcro closure) quickly into a perfectly useable leash, I can push fine on it, and she's a medium sized spaniel. So the lead would feel longer if it was a bigger dog. ps.. She's not a perfect dog, she steals eggs from the chickens, she hides them in her bed ;) We've just spent a long time training her for ourselves and for the field. When she was a very small pup, she might have tried to dash for a cat etc walking down the road,
first we praised her for *leaving it* then we praised her for heeling, now she's four she looks up every few moments for that praise, eye contact is enough, and she walks along happily wagging along . Heel means stay by my right side, no matter what I do. Around means switch sides, from the back of me. Come means come and sit in front of me and watch, she will switch in and out of most of her commands very happily, because she understands them, but also because she likes *doing* something. Whether it being asked to hold something, pick something up or.. just do whatever you say .. she just wants to be praised and have fun

http://www.surfpet.c...ick-draw-leash/

Edited by ems, 10 May 2012 - 10:00 AM.

[BlueZoneCJohn]

Very interesting, GB. You should try that and see if it is effective.

I have. It is. Very.

Excellent! I'd love to see a photo of the setup in action.

It's not the best bit of filming, but you get the idea:

I love simple solutions! Thank you.

Well Shadow's pretty well behaved and smart enough not to go running out into traffic or into the threaser. Learned the hard way that porcipines are assholes, though

OUCH! That's cool, though -- my JRTs have nowhere near that amount of self control.

lol, no offence intended dude. My dog listens pretty well, okus he's like 140lbs+, so usually he's the bigger one. He only ever get's agressive if he's threatened, or if someone's threatening his owners (the people who feed him). Really, he's a big pussy

None taken. Too funny!

[odom87]

My pit would pull me right out of my chair as he has before in my electric chair...now he walks w a pinch collor

[greybeard]

My pit would pull me right out of my chair as he has before in my electric chair...now he walks w a pinch collor

Get one of these and attach the lead to your chair instead of to you.

[odom87]

Thanks ill try that. I do like holding him on a snug leash so he don't think he can take off but he hasn't pulled me out of my chair since. I think he thought he hurt me and he felt bad

[greybeard]

You can still hold the leash to maximise control, but if he takes off you won't suffer so much. I use a mobility scooter and clip the caribiner with all three leads to one of the headrest uprights. There should be some part of your electric chair that you could use as your anchor point. Lower is better if your dog has some weight.

[odom87]

yeah he is a beast lol thanks