Today I saw a youngish man in early 20's riding a bike running by his side on a "extending/arm" sort of thing with possibly a spring on it was a Dobe who seemed to me to be struggling to keep up. The bloke was going quite fast and I wondered if anyone else excercised their dogs this way? He passed so quickly I blinked and almost missed him.

Karen

http://www.springer-uk.com/

Thanks.
Has anyone tried it?
I don't think it's the idea that bothers me I think that could be very useful for some breeds but the fact the dog looked as if he was struggling to keep up. The chap was going fast.  

Karen

Yep, I regularly exercise my Mals on a Springer and so do many owners of sled dogs :)

I use a side springer at home, as I have to use a cycle path to get to our local country park. And I have trouble keeping up with the dogs ;)

Round here we have a man in his late 20's riding a bike with 2 GSD running alongside on leads.
I must say it looks impressive, they seem very well trained (I have walked past with my dog and they don't bother).
I can't see it being any less safe than me walking the dog and pushing a buggy :D Mind you they don't seem to look as though they are struggling.

:D I can imagine me an Gus seperating around a tree :D

Wonder if they attach to buggies? :rolleyes: lol

I think its acctully illigal to have a dog attached to a bike on roads, maybe even public land, but I'm not sure if its a law or just something thats said for safty!

I used to exercise some of my dogs on privet roads and my g-dad used to exercise his aussie boy on an electric buggy (belongs to my nan!!!)  and i also know of people who do exercise there dogs on bikes.

Rox

This was inside a park. Not on a main road.

Karen

this was the only way i could tire our first ess out, i would take her and bike to along the sea front, at night so we didnt bump into any one and run, i had more problems peddling as fast as her running, when she got home she would sleep it all off, compared to her coming to work with me, walking the 5 miles there, play with the dogs allday, 8 til 5, then walk the 5 miles home again, then go out with the other dogs, she would get home and do wall of death around the living room. I couldnt do it with my labs though as they chase the wheels, jack our spaniel not sure on bikes as he has run into the kids a few times, i run with tess (although admittadley not since september, due to restart as soon as her stitches are out) and bruce only a baby :)
tanya

It's not safe but it isn't illegal to exercise on main road with a springer. They are used a lot on the continent, but they are a lot more cycle friendly there

I think you might be getting confused between dogs pulling vehicles on the highway & being exercised along the side of a cycle Ice

Personally i dont agree with it,some dogs would rather drop dead of exhaustion then let their owners leave them behind,there are many more "humane" ways of exercising dogs in ways that the dog actually has a say in if he wants to run or not!
I dont mean to offend anyone,this is just m.h.o,i have spoken to a few vets about this as i see it every now and then at the park and it makes my blood boil i feel so sorry for those poor dogs,and they all seem to say the same,"dont do it" I also have read about in one of my dog books and from what i remember nothing positive was said only negative! I will try and dig it out and post on here if anyone is interested?
Wouldnt it be nice if our dogs could tell us how they feel :D I'm sure they would have a thing or two to say about what WE think is best for them?

christine