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Dog leashes - Springer vs. K9 Cruiser

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Dog leashes - Springer vs. K9 Cruiser

Old 05-09-01, 04:22 PM
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I love riding with my dog (a 4 year old Blue Heeler named Jessie), and she welcomes the chance to run with the big dog (me). I usually wait until late in the evening when there's nobody out so she won't be distracted. She's up to about 4 miles of pretty fast paced jogging. I believe she would go a lot further if I asked her to.
She's really good about staying right with me, or if she stops to snuffle around a fire hydrant she'll come running up as soon as I call her, but I would feel much better if I had her on a leash. I swear I remember reading something about dog leashes that mount on bicycles here at BikeForums.Com, but I'll be darned if I can find it....

An internet search for bicycle mounted dog leashes reveals two major vendors - the Springer and the K9 Cruiser. The Springer appears to be somewhat more elaborate, with a spring mounted leash and some sort of break-away connection in case the dog gets hung up on something. It also comes with a harness for the dog, which may be more comfortable for a dog on the move.

The K9 cruiser is much simpler, and it looks like it mounts easier, but there is no spring, no harness, and no clearly identified quick disconnect in emergencies.

Has anyone used either or both of these devices? I would like to get one or the other for Jessie, but I'm a little leery of buying something that I've only seen in a web page advertisement.

Thanks for any suggestions....

carl
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Old 05-09-01, 09:22 PM
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I don't know about the leashes, but I know you've got to be extremely careful of overheating the dog by running it too much.

I guess you probably knew that, though!
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Old 05-09-01, 10:07 PM
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We have a couple of springers. They work perfectly . I've never had any problems controlling the dogs or getting them tangled. We run a golden retriever and a malamute, my wife can handle either dog on the springer.

Their harness is cheese. If you are going to use it frequently, just get a regular chest harness, not a mushing harness as that would put the dog too far forward. Only other problem is the attachment on the seat post. The springer detaches easily, but you are left with the heavy-ugly-azz chunk of steel on your seat post. Depending on how much you are into it, you may want a spare saddle and seatpost with the springer attachments clamped on it.

Good luck and enjoy. Also, what is the URL for the K-9 cruiser? I've not heard of it.
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Old 05-09-01, 10:09 PM
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Carl,

Try:

www.bicycleforum.com

"Miscellaneous Topics"

Thread, "Cycling with Dogs"

You will have to register as a member, first (it's free.)

Some discussions there.
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Old 05-09-01, 11:54 PM
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*GASP* another cycling forum?! How dare you pete! j/k, Bicycle Bob is a great guy, and he runs a great forum also I just get lost over there, heh.
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Old 05-10-01, 09:25 AM
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Oops, sorry, DS, I should have posted references....

Read more about the K9 cruiser at https://www.adogsbestfriend.com/k9cruiser.html

Read more about the Springer at
https://www.dog-training.com/springer.htm

Dave, I agree entirely about overheating the dog. I believe that Jessie would run until she dropped, so we pace ourselves. She usually runs right next to me, and I can keep an eye on her. Occasionally her right wrist gives her trouble - it had been broken when she was a pup - and if she starts favoring that side, we head back home. I pace my speed to hers and when she starts to flag, we stop for water.

In fact, that's why I'm leaning toward the Springer. The K9Cruiser looks like it keeps the dogs running behind you, and on the Springer, they can run up beside the rider. Is that right, DirtSqueezer? We'd both enjoy it more if we could see each other better.

Like you, DS, I'm not too thrilled with a big hunk of metal stuck like a tick on my seatpost, but I've been thinking of getting a new seatpost anyway so I could swap them out.

Uh, well...gee Bill. I hate to say this, but I had an account there too. I've never posted, there, though, if that's any consolation....

c~

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Old 05-10-01, 09:54 AM
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Originally posted by HogWild
I love riding with my dog (a 4 year old Blue Heeler named Jessie), and she welcomes the chance to run with the big dog (me).

carl

I think riding with dogs is great. I'm glad to hear you want a leash.
We mtb with a guy who always brought his dog. The dog was so good. She listened and responded to whistle commands. She was a GS Pointer, energy out the wazoo.... One afternoon she got ahead of him, ran into the srteet and was killed by a car. It was the most heartbreaking thing I've ever seen. Ride with and enjoy the dog, but please protect her.. No matter how well trained, they have the natural instinct to chase and that sometimes overides their training.

Sorry to sound preachy, I'd hate for anyone to lose a member of the family just to enjoy a bike ride.
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Old 05-10-01, 10:32 AM
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Aha, Thanks for the link for the k9-cruiser. Looks like a nifty little setup. I still favor the Springer though (having never tried the cruiser……so a big grain of salt I guess). The Springer keeps the dog up in the heel position this is beneficial as:

1) I can keep a better eye on the dog to make sure they aren't having problems.
2) My dogs are trained that heel position is a "working" position and they are supposed to pay attention to me, not sniff, chase gophers etc….
3) The springer uses a harness - in case of the unexpected, any abrupt loads would not be applied directly to the dog's neck, and dampened by the spring.

My $0.02
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Old 05-10-01, 12:12 PM
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Sorry, Hogwild.

Don't know about riding w/dogs, but it sounds like it could be fun. But since I know nothing (like Sgt. Schultz), I posted the reference. Just trying to help.
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Old 05-16-01, 01:24 PM
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Hmmm... You know, a mushing harness might come in handy on those climbs.
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Old 06-07-01, 12:26 PM
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I wanted to follow up on this thread.

I ordered a Springer from PetSmart.com for about $35 - it was the cheapest price that I could find.

Sad to say, I couldn't make it work. It wouldn't fit on my bike (a Giant Cypress) - the clamp that mounts on the seat tube was too small to fit. I managed to get it attached by removing all the plastic spacers and inserting a bit of plastic from the wrapping to keep from scratching up the paint.

Once installed, it interfered with my foot while I pedalled. I figure it was the combination of the geometry of the Cypress frame combined with my size 13 feet (american sizing - I don't know the euro shoe sizes - big feet, though) that kept me from finding a workable mount point.

Still, I managed to at least try it out. Heels on the pedals, dog on the leash, we went for a quick jog around the block. I felt claustrophic with that big hunk of metal just waiting to smack into the back of my leg. It also seemed to rattle more that I liked. Good thing it's easy to remove when not in use.

Jessie fought against it at first, but soon figured out that she wasn't getting away. Within a minute or two she settled into a comfortable pace pretty close to the position where she normally runs, maybe a little closer than we're used to. She seemed to get along well enough, although I know she would have preferred to run free....can't say I blame her. It was pretty easy to make eye contact with her, so I felt we were able to communicate our moves and intentions as well as we normally do. At no time did I feel like she could have knocked me off the bike or stop abruptly and cause me to fall.

So I guess I still feel like it's a valid concept, and it may very well work on a different bicycle or with smaller feet. Before I give up and send it back, I want to try it on my wife's bike. I'll let you know how it works.

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Old 06-07-01, 12:34 PM
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Hogwild -

I don't think you are supposed to mount it on the seat tube. Do you have enough length on the seat post to mount it? Mounting on the seat tube could potentially crush the tube and ruin your frame!!!

Also mounting it on the seat post will raise it up and should reduce the clearance problems you mentioned. I've got size 12 feet and ride on a 17 inch frame - no problems.
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Old 03-03-11, 11:00 PM
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My experience

I have a Springer that I have used with my 2 Airedales for over a year. I just ordered a new leash, the "running dog bike tow" that mounts on the back wheel from the Dog Outdoors. I really like riding with my dogs. They love it and keeps them happy, and active. A few points,
My smaller female airedale Amy was running along on the Springer and the pin came loose. The whole apparatus was pulling behind her as she ran away and was scared to death. She still has issues about noises that I believe was from this episode. Not to be deterred though, we dumped the whole pin design and secured the arm by just putting a nail through the hole and bending it around so it would not come off at all. This could have been bad with a dog loose in neighborhood. That said we havent had any more problems with the design. However with any of these leashes on a bike, be very wary if you are riding around where there may be other dogs, such as your neighborhood. Lots of idiots have their dogs loose in front yards. Most other dogs do not like seeing you and your dog riding by and will attack your dog and possibly you while on this. I have had at least 3 incidences. So my word to the wise is have something to defend yourself and your dog with if this should happen.
I have chosen the new design mainly because I also have a dog basket on the front of my bike to carry around a Shihtzu. He likes to go for rides too. For some reason the female Airdale doesn't think its fair that he gets to ride and she will jump up and snap at the basket or brake lines while he is in the basket. I'm thinking that with the rear wheel attachment she will be positioned further back and not be able to do this. Just my 2 cents for what its worth. Have fun, and yes remember as the people said above, not to go too far and to watch out for hot pavement in the summer. Thats when we only go in mornings or later in evenings.

Last edited by katpharm; 03-03-11 at 11:02 PM. Reason: spellign
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Old 03-04-11, 05:50 PM
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Old 03-06-11, 01:39 AM
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I just tie Sparkles to my seatpost w/about a 3.5' lead. Has worked great!
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