Check out the new leashes we are carrying from Surf’s Up Dog. These waterproof leashes are perfect for active dogs and active owners. They are perfect for jogging (or simply walking) with your dog because they will never trip you or your dog up. These leashes are so much more convenient and safer than the retractable leashes you will find at many pet stores. I especially love the neoprene comfort handle. Great Colors to. Learn More here
It’s that time of year again. With temperatures already hitting 100+ in Texas and around the country, it is more important than ever to make sure we are taking precautions to prevent heat stroke in our pets. Please make sure your pets have a place to stay cool and make sure they do not overexert themselves in the extreme heat. My dog Parker has 2 modes – fast and sleep; if I let him he would run until he passed out, regardless of the temperature. When I am out for shorter periods of time in the heat I sometimes put him in a RuffWear Swamp Cooler dog cooling vest to help make it bearable.
Another problem for dogs in the extreme heat of summer that many owners unintentionally overlook is hot surface temperatures. Before taking your pups out for a walk, please take a moment to feel the surface with your hands to make sure it is not too hot. You might unwillingly be harming your dog’s paw pads by walking or running them on a surface that is too hot. Remember, the best time to take your dog for a walk in the summer time is in the early morning or in the evenings when it has cooled down. Always be sure to bring along water for your pet. You might also consider using paw pad protection such as a natural wax like Musher’s Secret or even protective boots in extreme terrain conditions.
If you are using one of our bike leashes and your dog likes to run, keep in mind that you will need to keep an even closer eye on paw pad wear. Start off riding shorter distances and at slower speeds. If possible, mix up the terrain you ride on so that it is not solely pavement. Check pad wear after each ride and apply Musher’s Secret if necessary. Dog’s paw pads are tougher than human feet, but it is still important to allow the pads to build up strength slowly over time – especially if your dog is not used to running on pavement. If you notice any blistering or cracking, be sure to allow them to heal before continuing to run or bike your dog. By taking the right precautions you can prevent paw pad injuries all together and ensure a safe fun summer for you and your best buddy. For a cool place to lie down after coming in from the heat you may consider looking into a durable dog cooling bed.
If your dog is not a fan of boots, there is another option for protecting their pads from the harsh winter elements. Learn about Musher’s Secret all natural paw pad wax. There was a great write-up about it recently in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette. See it here.
We just got another shipment in directly from Canada and have availability in the 60gram and 200gram size cans. Our winters in Texas are not harsh, but I still use Musher’s Secret on Parker’s paws to keep them conditioned and from getting cracked since we bike together often. Order here
We just started carrying a great line of dog coats and jackets from RuffWear. We also now carry the all new RuffWear PolarTrex dog boots which are the best dog snow boots we have ever seen. Check out the video below…
As I am writing this it is 105 degrees in Austin Texas. Fun stuff – especially when packing up orders mid-day in our garage! I’m not complaining though – please keep the orders coming My latest way to beat the heat when packing orders is to soak a tank top in cold water. I really need to get a picture or video of the shipping setup we have going right now – I think you would all get a kick out of it. Just know that nothing will keep us from getting your orders out to you the same day they are ordered
Speaking of soaking a tank top in water, let’s talk a little about the Ruff Wear Swamp Cooler™ dog cooling vest for keeping your dog cool in the summer heat. It is obviously a more advanced version of my wet tank top method, but the way it works is similar. It all comes down to a concept called evaporative cooling.
First let me start off by saying that the swamp cooler™ dog cooling vests really work – otherwise I wouldn’t be carrying them. I have to admit, I was a little skeptical at first (it is hard to imagine putting something extra on your dog would really cool them down), but with these temperatures I was willing to try anything for my pups – especially since they both have thick black fur.
So what exactly is evaporative cooling?
Technical definition – Evaporative cooling is a physical phenomenon in which evaporation of a liquid, typically into surrounding air, cools an object or a liquid in contact with it.
Think about when you get out of a pool and the cool feeling when your skin hits the air. This is evaporative cooling. Sweating is another example of evaporative cooling. When sweat evaporates, people cool down. For dogs it is not as easy to cool down because they only sweat through their paw pads. They cool down mostly through panting, but this is a much less efficient way to cool down. We humans have it made compared to dogs, so if you think you are hot just know that your dog is much hotter. This is where the swamp cooler cooling vest comes in. It artificially creates the sensation of sweating for dogs by letting evaporative cooling take its effects on the core of their bodies.
The Swamp Cooler cooling vest works just like an “on-dog” cooler. By soaking the vest in cool water, wringing it out, and placing it on your dog, you are helping your dog to “sweat”…allowing evaporative cooling to take place as the cool water is exposed to moving air. The water heats up, vaporizes, and the surrounding air is chilled…noticeably cooling your dog. No more dashing from tree to tree seeking shade. No more hiding when the leash comes out. Your dog can beat the heat more comfortably.
P.S. For those of you that are wondering how our dog Parker is doing after his back injury from thinking he was Superman and leaping off a ledge after a squirrel….he is doing much better and is back to his crazy ways
I got an email yesterday that really made my day and helped confirm that we are selling the best dog bike leashes on the market. One of our Bike Tow Leash customers, Amanda and her dog Ranger are competing in the United Kennel Club Top Ten Invitational right now. Amanda writes:
“Last year my dog Ranger was ranked #8. In March of 2010 I got the Bike Tow Leash from you and started running him to improve his physical condition, for the show ring, for his competition in weight pull, and just for fun.
Well, today Ranger not only got 5 points toward his advanced Weight Pull titles, he won the Best of Breed Top Ten–the best of the best. I know he would not have gotten this without the conditioning he got by running with my bike. The Bike Tow Leash has made our training easier, safer, and a lot of fun. I get a lot of comments and questions about the BTL while I’m out in the park, and people regularly stop to watch us as we go by.
Ranger is one win away from his UKC Grand Champion title, and we have three tries at it this weekend. Hopefully all the running will pay off and he’ll get that last win.”
Biking can be an extremely enjoyable activity for both dog and owner. We recommend biking for dogs that are at least 20 lbs. Your dog needs to be in good health and it is ideal to get a checkup with your dog’s vet before beginning any serious exercise. Dogs with slight builds will be able to bike for longer distances than heavier or more muscular breeds so keep this in mind when deciding how far to bike your pup. Breeds such as Bulldogs and Pugs that have flat faces are not designed for distance running because they can become overheated very quickly. Biking is not an activity for puppies. Your dog should be at least a year old and a minimum of 20 lbs to start biking. They should be closer to a year and a half before biking long distances.
What Equipment Do I need?
Below are my suggestions based on biking my dog for the past couple of years starting with the essentials:
If using the WalkyDog, a non-restrictive comfortable dog harness is recommended – preferably with padding. Using a dog harness with the Bike Tow Leash is a personal preference. If using a harness with the Bike Tow Leash, it is important to make sure that it doesn’t allow your dog to get too far forward on the bike. This will make it harder for your dog to determine when you are turning towards him/her.
Paw pad protection. It is important to monitor the wear on your dogs paw pads. They will toughen up over time, but products such as Musher’s Secret can help condition, protect, and toughen your dogs pads in all types of environments.
Cooling vests for summertime heat. I strap a large thermos with ice water to my bike and take Parker’s cooling vest along for the ride with us.
A dog bike trailer. A great way to go on extended rides so your dog can rest when tired. Or you can bring your small dog along for a bike ride in complete safety.
Getting Started
Some dogs take to this type of exercise right away and others need to be acclimated a little more slowly. The best way to start is to attach your dog to the bicycle and just walk alongside your bike on the opposite side of your dog. You want them to understand that this is no different than taking a normal walk. Once they have going straight down, practice turning left and right and then u-turn to either side. If your dog is nervous being close to the bike you may want to extend the cord some to give them a little more space. You could also add a leash extension or create your own custom length line if using the WalkyDog. Once your dog seems confident, hop on your bike and ride slowly at first practicing the same maneuvers. It is best to begin in an area with few distractions so that your dog will focus on you. It is best to bike at a trotting pace, just make sure you never go beyond your dog’s pace. If your dog gets nervous and freezes up DO NOT attempt to keep pulling them along. Immediately stop and start walking next to the bike again.
How Far To Ride
You cannot just start biking miles on your first time out. You need to gradually increase your dog’s stamina. According to canine expert Christine Zink, D.V.M., Ph.D, you should gradually increase the distance you travel by 5 to 10 percent every four to six exercise sessions. She recommends that once you reach a distance of 2 miles, you should limit biking to every other day providing a day of rest for rejuvenation of the muscles. Extremely fit dogs can run a maximum of 10 miles per day if the sessions are broken up (less if riding on pavement, which can be tough on the skeletal system). Personally I even feel that 10 miles is too far. In the summer months this is much too far in one setting. Parker and I usually ride 2 to 3 miles everyday or every other day. Obviously, be sure to stop to rest occasionally and always monitor your dog for signs that nature is calling. Also monitor your dog’s pads for cuts or scrapes. Consider using a good paw pad wax or even protective booties if riding on rough terrain often.
Dealing With Summer Heat
During the summertime when temperatures spike, it is very important to only bike your dog during cooler parts of the day and for shorter distances. If biking on pavement be sure to check the temperature of the pavement before biking. Make sure to bring water along for the ride and take frequent breaks. Consider bringing along a dog bike trailer to give your dog a rest on the way home. You may even consider looking into a dog cooling vest. Keep an eye out for signs of heat exhaustion such as if your dog’s tongue becomes very wide and curls up at the end.
Want more help deciding?
We have answers to all your questions about biking with your dog and if it is the right activity for you and your pup/s. Browse through our dog bike leash buyer’s guide and if you can’t find an answer to your question, email us and we will promptly get you the detailed answer you are looking for.
I will miss your slobber and nose butts to the chest. You were one HUGE dog, but always a puppy at heart. I’m glad you didn’t have to suffer.
Diesel was our good friend Ross’s Russian Great Dane that lost a battle to cancer yesterday. He was a goofy sweet dog that wagged his tail until the end. We will all miss him so much.
Just recently we started carrying the new 2010 HoundAbout dog bicycle trailers. I came across these bike trailers that are specifically built for dogs after wanting a way to extend my bike rides with Parker. I tried out several different models looking for just the combination of price, features, and durability. Well I found it in this new dog bike trailer. This is now my favorite way to take Parker biking. Now if he gets tired along the ride, he can hop in the trailer and relax in style and comfort. Since it has been hotter lately, I have been riding during cooler parts of the day and also bringing along a dog cooling vest that I keep iced down in a large thermos. Sometimes my smaller dog (that is not big on biking – and really not big enough to enjoy it anyway) comes along with us for the ride too. This is a way, I can take both my dogs riding with me and don’t have to feel guilty leaving one at home. Check out the video below to see how much they enjoy it. We are carrying these trailers at an all-time low introductory price – AND shipping is FREE. Check them out here.
The other day one of our customers, Stephanie Ash, contacted me to tell me that she had just finished making a video of the WalkyDog bike leash in action. She said it was a killer video, but I had no idea it would be this cool. Stephanie is an extremely talented photographer in Winnipeg Canada. She also took some great pictures of the WalkyDog mixed in with some of her dog Babe’s favorite toys; check the video and pics out below. Thanks Stephanie! Note that we ideally suggest using a comfortable dog harness with the WalkyDog (Stephanie let me know she is planning to get one for Babe soon).
My latest way to beat the heat when packing orders is to soak a tank top in cold water. I really need to get a picture or video of the shipping setup we have going right now – I think you would all get a kick out of it. Just know that nothing will keep us from getting your orders out to you the same day they are ordered 
