June 5th, 2025Wheely good life for this loved pooch

Words & Image: Eve Lamb

Losing the function of her hind legs last year wasn’t about to stop pooch Sheba getting out and having a ball.

The beautiful 11-year-old long-haired German-Belgian shepherd and her owner, Clunes’ Dave Liddle, can often be seen out enjoying walks, ably assisted by a pair of sturdy dog wheels.

Attached to Sheba’s hindquarters with a specially-designed frame, the wheels allow her to walk after she lost the function of her hind legs last year due to cruciate ligament and spinal problems, and unsuccessful surgery.

But Dave, a retired UK police dog handler, was not about to see Sheba miss out on enjoying life to the full. So when a vet told him about the option of dog wheels, he wasted no time in jumping online and ordering a pair for Sheba.

Dave says that to start with, Sheba was not all that fond of her new set of wheels or “dog trolley”, as he calls them.

But eventually she settled into using them and now it’s clear to all who meet them out strolling that Sheba enjoys putting her wheels to good use, even managing an impressive turn of speed as she sees fit.

“I ordered it online in December, on Amazon, and they were calling it a wheelchair for dogs. But I call it a trolley. She didn’t like it to start with but now she loves it,” Dave says.

“She comes everywhere with me and we take her to the park and give her a good run. You wouldn’t think she had the trolley on when she’s off running.”

Dave, who relocated to Australia in 2007, has previously owned and worked with several German shepherd dogs, and also labradors, as part of his former career in Yorkshire. During that time he came to love and respect these intelligent breeds in particular.

“I’ve had three shepherds before. They’re excellent. In the city of Leeds in the 90s we used them a lot. They were good at searching and tracking stolen cars or wheres omeone had been disturbed at a burglary.”

Dave was with the UK police for 28 years and also worked with the dogs helping to provide security during special occasions such as dignitary visits.

He adopted Sheba about five years ago from a friend who had become unable to keep up with the zesty shepherd, and says that since Sheba lost the use of her hind legs last year, the wheels have made a major difference to her quality of life.

“It’s fantastic. She’s got her life back. Once she’s got the trolley on, she’s off.”