General Cycling Discussion - Springer - riding with your dog

Does anyone on these forums use a 'springer?'

http://www.springerusa.com/

Looks like an accident waiting to happen, especially if you're on a multi-use trail. Or on a road. Maybe it would be good through an open field, but then why not just let your dog run around in the field?

The dog is not very good on the voice commands, and I will not have him harass any more horses! We have trails here which are plenty wide, at least in my area. I have ridden with him on a leash, but that is somewhat frightening, though he definately works with me. Any experences, any one?

I have one and love it! It's the only thing that kept Auster sane while she was alive (no fenced yard and not trustworthy off leash). The K9 cruiser is another model I think. I put the springer on the right and let Auster trot on the dirt, while I biked on the road.

The thing really works. Auster (70lbs) would do a right angle turn to chase something and I (115lbs) would not fall. I think that's pretty impressive. I hooked it up to the beater bike that was heavy as a tank and had knobbies though.

I let my dog run loose down the dirt road and through the hay field. There is no way I can stay with her so if I used this she'd be pulling - maybe pulling me over. But it does sound interesting. If you try it post results please.

Joe

Oh, in Germany GSDs are required to pass an endurance test before breeding, so these kinds of things are much more popular over there :). I can send you the URLs of a few dog forums if you would like to get more responses.

Oh, in Germany GSDs are required to pass an endurance test before breeding, so these kinds of things are much more popular over there :). I can send you the URLs of a few dog forums if you would like to get more responses.

Looks like an accident waiting to happen, especially if you're on a multi-use trail. Or on a road. Maybe it would be good through an open field, but then why not just let your dog run around in the field?

Yep.

It is, in fact, an accident waiting to happen when on a multi-use trail.

The problem is that the dog is not aware that if he passes a cyclist on the right that the springer will whack the cyclist and then yank him back (and hopefully disengage the springer).

I've seen this happen, its scary. In the case I saw the dog ran inbetween two pace-lining cyclists and tried to pass the front cyclist on the right.

PWD's (people with dogs) do dumb stuff on trails, this is just another example.

I found it was pretty easy to teach my dog to run beside the bike. I would position the dog about 2' to my right and 1' behind the front wheel, and wrap a 6' leash loosely around the handlebars so that it was slack when the dog was in the proper position. I would just watch him, and speak to him if he left the proper position. He got it pretty quickly. Running side by side is very natural for dogs, it's how two dogs will run together. We used to ride on city streets in traffic and never had any problems. The big issue is that very few dogs can run more than a couple of miles at bike speeds.

My experience is that dogs respond well to communication, and don't respond well to inanimate objects. I think if I hooked my dog up to a contraption like that he would fight the whole way.

I tried the Springer on my Chihuahua.
The little guy just hung there like a piñata for a while until he passed out.
Now when I get my bike out he runs and hides under the bed.

Enjoy

ha. ha.

Bah - I take my dog (48# black mixed breed) on a MUP all the time with a springer. It's mounted so she runs on my right, which is usually on dirt next to the paved trail. Easier on her paw pads. Don't run a dog for long distances on pavement.

It requires a little common sense. You're not out for a serious ride and you might have to slow down and/or stop at times if there is another dog on the trail. I hate blanket statements like "it's an accident waiting to happen."

Thanks, vtjim! I also find it hard to believe that the dog could run into another cyclist.
I estimate keeping the speed under 10 mph. And biking smart, naturally.

Thanks, vtjim! I also find it hard to believe that the dog could run into another cyclist.
I estimate keeping the speed under 10 mph. And biking smart, naturally.

I've seen it happen this way...

Guy w/dog on spinger decides to pass two cyclists who are riding in single file. As he passes on left, dog moves left to avoid rear-most rider. Then, after passsing the rear-most rider the dog darts into the space between the riders and gets confused when the springer pulls back as it hit the front cyclist's bike and disengaged. It nearly caused a wreck.

i always worry having dogs behind me when im riding that they will jump into the spokes or something and seriosuly get hurt

And biking smart, naturally.
because you're smart, it's fine.

But we passed an idiot this weekend who had his dog leashed to his left chain stay... friggin' idiot. He had to go off the path to let us pass cuz the dog was afraid of the spokes and wanted to be as far from the bike as possible.

There are a couple "boyz from da hood" that strap weights to their dogs and then tie the dog to their car and drive around a local park. Usually the dog is in great shape and the driver is a gold toothed blob. Too bad dogs can't drive.

Enjoy

because you're smart, it's fine.

But we passed an idiot this weekend who had his dog leashed to his left chain stay... friggin' idiot. He had to go off the path to let us pass cuz the dog was afraid of the spokes and wanted to be as far from the bike as possible.


Now that's a recipe for disaster. (I'd crashed or dumped a bike a number of times with a dog on a leash...mostly because I can't ride one handed/right hand only very well. )

I don't think I'd be passing much when I ride with my dog. Why wouldn't the dude give enough clearance in the passing? I mean there only so much slack....

ok, I'm gonna say it just because I have a dog myself. I don't like this concept at ALL!!! It doesn't seem very safe to me. I love my dog more then words could describe and I would rather get off my bike and walk him and really enjoy him then pull him along the side of my bike. Now with that being said, I can understand your reasoning behind it, but everytime I see a dog with their owner attached to the leash, which is attached to the bike it really scares me. If for any reason you fall or crash so does the dog. I could be wrong cause I don't know much about this thing but I'm sticking to my leash and walking the dog.
If it works for you then great, I just can't get myself to do this.

I just put my dog in kiddie trailer and bike to somewhere with a big, grassy field where he can run around unencumbered. Unless you have to, I think pavement, and all the glass and junk on it, is not all that great for dogs paws, especially when he's at a run, and can't avoid crap in the road as well.

That's the great thing about having a Chihuahua.
You can throw it in the seat bag, go to a park the size of a postage stamp and let it run around for hours. You just have to remember to bring a slingshot if you are in an area populated by falcons. (I loose more dogs that way....)

Enjoy

OMG...that company must have millions to pay their lawyers...

That's the great thing about having a Chihuahua.
You can throw it in the seat bag, go to a park the size of a postage stamp and let it run around for hours. You just have to remember to bring a slingshot if you are in an area populated by falcons. (I loose more dogs that way....)

Enjoy
I know some folks who had their Jack Russell Terrier snatched by a bald eagle. The poor dog came back a couple hours later, with scratches on it's back from the talons. That dog never went outside again without looking at the sky in terror. Sad, funny, and true.

I do have a dog. I take her for walks and to the dog park, on foot. She likes it that way (she wags her tail all the way). When I ride my bike, I ride my bike with as few distractions as possible. It might be different if you train the dog from puppyhood, but I can't see my grown dog going for a ride on the springer.

I always used a small size 6 foot retractable leash carabinered to my belt on the right side. The weak spring keeps the leash out of legs and wheels and dosn't pull my girl into me, and i can reach one hand down to lock it keeping her "on wheel" for traffic areas.
I've ridden in the city, the multi use trails, slow and with my dog at a dead run. It's a great way to get a running dog some exercize. It took me a couple months to train her not to run away from the bike, she never goes near the front wheel. (And she was a few years old when we started so 'old dogs...'
I miss my dog. sniff...