I cant remember the name of them, are they springas or something ? I was after something to attach Alf to my bike, would one of those work or would he still be able to pull my bike over with me on it :(

ooh that sounds like fun, Millie can take me to the park for a change :-D

They are called Springers. To be honest I've never been convinced by them.I think a dog that really pulled suddenly could pull you over. I used to ride a bike with my dog a lot at home in Sweden 20 odd years ago, and the advice always given then (this was just before the springers came into existence) was always to let go of the dog's lead if the dog should pull suddenly or stop or anything, as it would prevent you from falling off the bike and the dog from getting injured. It did of course mean that you had to be certain that you were NOT on a road, and that your dog would came back when called.

Having said that, I've never actually TRIED the springer.

I have one and it is really good if you buy this one it has extra safety release clips so they cannot pull you over. Mine never have and I have never had to replace the safety clip on it either yet. The safety clip is designed incase you have a dog that will pull you over. Dogs are all different but from my experience they seem to know to run at the same pace as the bike. I was a bit worried about it also but it is fine.

Claire I have PM'd you.

http://www.kvvet.com/KVVet/productr.asp?pf%5Fid=80286&gift=False&HSLB=False&mscssid=0EB88027976B546D5984ED17B755C121

Pam, thats one way to excercise, not being cheeky but would love to see you on a bike, with the westies running at the side of you. Dont think I could even get on a bike nowadays never mind ride one, LOL!!!!!!! Hope you and dogs are well. I like the look of your dog, maybe come to scottish breeds to see him, thinking way ahead for midget either end of year or next year.

Hi Irene.   Me on a bike certainly would make you laugh it makes me laugh.   I wobble a bit to get going :-D

You should get Midget out showing I have always thought she was a lovely bitch really.

I am going to get some new pictures done in the next week or two as the Southern Club have their new Hand book coming out. I will stick them on my site anyway but will send you them if you like.

Quite a few open shows coming up , I have 5 in a row the next few weeks. Only have 4 points to finish my SHCM with Dino so going to try and get them and get that out the way.

We are all fine , nothing much changes. Hope all is well with your lot. :-)

Im back at training classes ,and have been working on the coats, Pearls coat is coming along nicely, lovely and harsh, got a compliment at training on Thurs from a westie judge said I should get her into the ring. Midgets coat still needs a lot of work before even thinking about showing her.

Even get back to the open shows Irene. I love the open shows to be honest. I spent the last 2 years in the car travelling down south , this year I am going to be more selective with my champshows and not do them all and do more open shows. 

Your learning Pam, better doing the ch shows up here than travelling way down south, furtherst I used to go was Darlington. Love open shows though, have been visiting a few recently at the Magnum.. Kirsten wants to go back into showing so we shall wait and see.

I've seen photos of them in use but don't actually know anyone who uses one in person.  I do know a few people who bike their dogs but I daren't try it with mine :rolleyes:  Not so much they'd pull me over - I just couldn't cope with the "does my bum look big on this saddle" syndrome   :D

woops - nearly witching hour - off to bed

You can get flourescent tabards for horse riding with "does my bum look big on this" :D I was going to get one but I was a bit concerned that folk might get distracted reading it and run into me :D

I was going to get one but I was a bit concerned that folk might get distracted reading it and run into me

Is that the WIDE LOAD sign

:-D :-D

Hi Clairey!
Funnily enough I was just having an arguement with a friend in the pub tonight on this verrrrry subject, Im just emailing this to him (he thinks only 'Sled dogs' can run with a bike )
   You might find it interesting in your quest for more info, just one word of advice ignore the reference to prong collars (its American :rolleyes:)
http://homepages.udayton.edu/~merensjp/doberdawn/dobebike/dobebike.html

also this one for a comparison to the pictures of springers in the above link.
EverythingHusky

get some Knee pads and good luck ;)
:D

I often take my TM out with the bike, no problem and my retriever used to insist on coming! :-) Not just Huskys, tell your friend.

lol..yes thats why as I said in the post I was just sending him the link (about dobes!) ;)

We have used a springer attached to the bike for quite a while now off and on , never had any problems :) Obviously can't use it on a proper road as it is illegal.

I remember being amazed in Amsterdam by the number of dogs/bikes in the city centre, they all seemed so well behaved - mine would have had me in the canal in no time, but then, they're not used to traffic

Hi

I bike my Hounds with a springer attached to the bike...Have had no problem....I bike the country lanes and have had a fox run in front of me....The springer on my bike gave me enough time to get my feet on the ground, so an accident was avoided.

I would certainly recommend one :-)

Pam

One of the exercises in the KNPV in holland held every year (Police Dogs) is "heelwork" with the handler riding a bike.  They are also trained to detain criminals escaping on bikes...........

:rolleyes:Ive tried a GSD wearing a harness pulling me on a pair of roller blades and thats soooooooooo much fun. :)

Were you advertising a particular feminine hygiene product at the time.........? :D

:D :D :D he,he,he :D

OOOOOOOO,Never thought about that.I could of earned a bit of extra pocket money there.Missed out again. :)When i finally gave up though i could of done an ad for elastoplast or even promotion of the NHSS local hopsital :D The things we do when dared by a gang of teenagers,including two of my teenage sons. :)

I have one that I used a couple of times before discarding it as I wasn't terribly impressed. My bitch managed to break the safety clip and got loose, thankfully we were in an open field at the time and I got her back rather quickly - also I found that if the dog pulled to the side (if they saw a squirrel etc) you could quite easily find the bike slipping out from underneath you. I still take mine out on the bike but I now have something similar to a bikejoring setup. I have a line that attaches to my waist belt and this is then attached to my dogs harness (so the dog is attached to me and not the bike).

I think your all sooo brave I would be really scared to take my two out on a bike, I lost loads of confidence when I did my flying through the air routine last year when my bitch decided to drop her head to sniff some cow poo and at the time we were going at speed downhill ,me and two shepherds that is!
I broke my wrist and four fingers trying not to land on the dogs,:rolleyes::rolleyes:
The man who stopped his car and brought us all home said it was a vey spectacular sight to see it was so painful though I,m only just feeling confident on my feet let alone on a bike.:rolleyes:

When I've taken mine out with the bike I only take one at a time, and hold the lead. I also don't go faster than the dog's natural trotting pace.

Didn't you ever see Pongo and bike on 101 Dalmatians

Yep! Which is why I hold the lead so that I can let go if necessary! And I certainly don't let them start to run - that would be asking for trouble! :D :D

Willis + Bike = Casualty

:-D :-D

T'was most amusing the other evening. Beloved husband dug out the ageing exercise bike (think penny farthing) and jumped on and started to pedal away furiously. Willis, who was expecting him to actually move launched himself across the room and over the coffee table in a race to get to the front door . Upon discovering Jon not moving anywhere but still pedalling furiously, Willis did what he always does when confuzzled and attacked Jon's ankles :D :D

Jon AND the bike ended up on the floor. I nearly wet myself laughing :D

Teee heee you should keep a video  set of for willis. Think of the money you could make.

EERRRMMMM.....Sorry but still think biking is great exercise ( for you and the dog... LOL)

BEST exercise I have ever done..... Will be the big 40 in June....like a challenge

Go for it Gal

Pam

a scotter is great fun too! 

http://www.arcticpack.co.uk/index_020.htm

thanks for all the info, I think I will give one a go, im not convinced though that if Alfie pulled sideways he would have me off the bike :rolleyes: I will only use it through the woods away from roads as I will have Fagan off the lead.  I am trying to build Alfs hind legs back up so will only going fast enough for him to trot, at the moment im jogging with him but im sure biking will be much better fun :D

Well, I wasn't going to get in on this till you said your dog's name was Alfie.  Many years ago a school friend was biking with her bassett hound, named Alfie.  Alfie took off after a cat and my friend, while not critically injured, was nothing but a mass of black and blue bruises and bad scratches and scrapes.  Since she was dumb enough to bike with him in the first place (no such thing as springers then and no bike helmets either) and on a paved road to boot, she was incredibly lucky not to break something.  Boy, I'd want to be positive that springer attachment would release.

Oh yes, scooters are great. I had my heart in my mouth yesterday though as a squirrel decided to drop down on the path in front of us - my two were sprinting at the time :o Thankfully it moved rather sharpish and though my bitch wanted to take off after it, my dog just carried on going.

hmm, I was think the first few times to have him on the springer but also have his halti on with a lose lead in my hand - just as back up if he does take off :D :D

Its only until his leg is better then he can run free with the bike.

Ow i use to hava great time with my dobe when i was out riding my bike