Safety & The WalkyDog Bike Leash
July 1, 2009
It’s hot out there! At least down here in Austin. It has been over 100 for what seems like weeks now. I just wanted to go over a few things to consider when biking your dog using the WalkyDog bike leash that will ensure both you and you dog have a safe ride. Most of these are common sense. So here we go….
1) Make sure to bike your dog during cooler parts of the day – especially when riding on pavement. The hot pavement can damage your dog’s paws. If you do have to ride on pavement – during cooler parts of the day – it might be worthwhile to look into purchasing some dog boots or paw pad protecting wax like Musher’s Secret. I have been using Musher’s for the past week and it works great to condition and toughen Parker’s pads since he rides on pavement for a portion of our bike rides. I plan to sell Musher’s on our site The Dog Outdoors soon. It is all organic too and can actually be ingested with no harm.
2) Make sure to bring water along on your bike ride.
3) Limit the distance you ride (especially when it is hot). Dog’s have to be conditioned just like humans to walking/running distances. The last thing you want is for your buddy to get heat stroke!
4) Use a harness when using the WalkyDog. A nice padded dog harness will be much more comfortable and safe for your dog. A good harness will not rub or chafe your dog’s skin.
5) Always Always ride at your dog’s pace! If they look tired or are lagging behind – it is time to quit. Never drag your dog! If you acclimate your dog to the WalkyDog from the beginning they should be right at your side or – in the case of Parker – actually pulling ahead. Check out videos at The Dog Outdoors to see what I mean
6) The WalkyDog Low Rider (the attachment for smaller dogs) will not be ideal for all smaller dogs. We do not recommend using the WalkyDog with dogs less than 20 lbs. Some people prefer to ride using the normal attachment with an extended cord. See this video to learn more about options for biking smaller dogs
7) For powerful pullers leave off the clear plastic rubber piece under the jaw clamp. This will keep the WalkyDog from moving. You may need to also tighten you seat post in some cases. Also check the wear on the cord occasionally. Powerful pullers will sometimes wear down the cord slowly over time. You can buy replacement from Lowe’s or any hardware store. I have also been testing some super strong military cord that can be used as replacement cord or extension cord for your WalkyDog. I plan to sell this on my site soon as well. This stuff is strong! Contact me if you would like some in the meantime.
If you ever have any questions feel free to contact me by going to the contact us link at The Dog Outdoors . We use all the products we sell and have thoroughly tested everything. We love questions and feedback from customers and of corse potential customers – so keep them coming.
-Scott
Filed under: Dog Biking
6 Comments Leave a Comment
1.
Laura | July 3, 2009 at 2:34 pm
difference between walky dog and K9 bike jogger please? I can’t find any info
2.
Amy | July 15, 2009 at 6:35 pm
I just got the Walky Dog. My Border Collie mix loves it !!! Good exercise for her.
3.
Administrator | July 24, 2009 at 9:50 pm
Hi Laura,
As for the difference between the 2 products, I honestly can’t tell you because I have not tested the bike jogger myself. What I can tell you is that the bike jogger is not the same thing as the WalkyDog – a different company makes it. The WalkyDog is Italian designed and has been around over 7 years. It has gone through numerous modifications over the years to get things just right. The site that sells the bike jogger used to sell the WalkyDog so this is why some people have confused the 2 products as being the same. From what I can tell the bike jogger was designed using the WalkyDog as a template. While I can’t tell you what the difference is, we love the WalkyDog and I have personally used it with my dog for the past couple of years. I can also tell you that we are known for our customer service and will do whatever we can to make sure you have all the information necessary to enjoy taking your dog biking safely. Please shoot me a email with any other questions. You can find contact info at http://www.TheDogOutdoors.com. Here is a videos page I set up at The Dog Outdoors you might like to check out as well http://www.thedogoutdoors.com/wavitu.html .
Take care Laura,
-Scott
4.
Jan | September 29, 2009 at 11:35 pm
Please, please… !!!
continue to educate people on the DANGERS to DOGS that is possible when exercising a dog in this manner… (ie: on a leash connected to a moving bike)
Most of the articles I find are in support of this practice, in attempts to sell a product…
I feel many dogs are pushed way beyond what is safe and comfortable for them, by this means of exercise…
Would we do this to a child or any other human ?
The dog MUST be the one who decides what pace and what distance he/she travels, and that is rarely respected or followed, from what I have witnessed with this form of exercise. I have often seen dogs barely able to keep up and with toungues hanging out… and they are clearly sufferring…
In fact I have sometimes witnessed humans who are impatient with and/or angry at dogs who are simply trying to express thier needs to the human.
PLEASE promote your products for this practice responsibly, and PLEASE FIRST and ALWAYS, protect and advocate for the ANIMAL.
Thankyou !!
(Jan), a concerned animal lover and advocate
5.
Scott | September 30, 2009 at 3:22 pm
Hi Jan,
Thank you very much for your comment and concern. I agree with almost everything you say. The one part I respectfully disagree with is that the concept of biking your dog is inherently dangerous or cruel. It is irresponsible owners that push their dogs beyond their limit that can make dog biking dangerous for the dog. Any responsible dog owner would know not to bike beyond their dog’s pace. You can just as easily ride at a pace that is similar to simply walking your dog. Most dogs love being able to go for a bike ride and I could send you dozens of emails from people telling me how excited their dog gets when they get the harness out and hook them up. Trust me, I love all animals and would never want to see a dog hurt or pushed beyond their limit. That is horrifying to hear about the dogs you have seen being pushed too far. Again though, it is the irresponsible owner that is at fault in that situation. I do everything I can to make sure that people understand when it is appropriate to bike their dog and how to do so safely – I have created numerous how-to videos. And I will continue to educate people. I really think you are only seeing the worst case scenario of biking a dog when done so by a cruel irresponsible owner that probably should not even own a dog. The most important thing for a dog is to let them get outside and exercise. Biking a dog is one alternative to simply walking your dog and when done so with the right equipment and a comfortable padded dog harness it is no different than taking a dog for a walk or for a jog. It is easy to conjure up the image of someone racing down the street dragging their dog along, but my feelings are that no one that would take the time to research and buy equipment specifically for their dog’s enjoyment and well-being would ever think of using a device in such a horrible way. Thank you again though Jan for your concern and you can count on me to continue to be an advocate for all dogs. That is my intent for this blog – I want dogs to have a chance to get outdoors with their owners and enjoy life. Take care Jan
-Scott
6.
Lindsay | October 7, 2009 at 9:53 pm
Ace and I love our WalkyDog! I would recommend staring slow and walking next to the bike and dog first to get the dog comfortable. Then get on the bike but go slowly.
Most people will know not to go too fast until you know how long your dog can run. But don’t forget to check the dog’s paw pads. If your dog is not used to running, he may wear out his pads and show no sign of pain until you get home. So, start with just 10 minutes or so at first unless your dog has been running on pavement for several miles a day already. Each dog will be different.
I don’t think biking with your dog is cruel at all! Not exercising your dog enough is cruel!
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