Biking with Emma

My friends dog Emma always pulls when she is on the leash so it would be impossible to bike with her without a device called a springer, that reduces the tug. After some training she has become stronger phsyically but also calmer and more well behaved. She now stops or slows down and also turns left or right on command. When we meet other dogs she doesn't start a fight like before, but ignores them. Clearly she loves biking!

When I first heard about springers I didn't believe in them. Now I know they work. The dog gets lots of exercise and both biker and dog are safer.

Here is some some advice that I found on the Internet:

- Take it slow in the beginning, depening on what condition the dog is in. Take short brakes now and then and never bike with the dog when it's too hot. On long tours take a bowl and a waterbottle along.
- Running on hard surfaces is not good for the dogs joints, so when possible choose sand roads or bike at the edge of the road so that the dog is outside the road where the ground is softer.
- The springer leash is attached to a harness, not to the collar.
- Adjust the length of the springer leash/chain so that the dog doesn't get to much in front.
- It's recommended that one also has collar and leash on the dog as an extra safeguard, but the weight of the dog should be on the springer.
- Springers are designed for trott, not for gallop.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• biking
• cycling
• bicycle
• dog
• springer
• training
• cykel
• cykla
• hund
• fahrrad
• koira
• springeri
• Harcourt
• God
• protect
• Your
• Soul

[joHnBaRtLeT]

um where do you get these springers and are there anydisadvantages like wil it stop them from pulling you off your bike ?

[Havshexan]

Springers are designed to keep you on you bike even if the dog pulls. I have never fallen off when using the springer. Some pet shops sell springers and you can order them on the Internet. Do a search on firms selling stuff for dogs in your part of the world. Good luck!

[BikeYourDogcouk]

great video, good to see everyone enjoying the Springer, concerned you have no safety release for the springer and don't understand why you also use a lead and collar whilst biking. The Springer is all about safety for you and your dog, the correct use ensures you both have fun :-) xx

[Havshexan]

Yes, if the dog gets entangel in something it could be good with a saftey release. Just have to make sure the dog doesn't go around something. If you buy a springer now, you'll get one, so it's only my potentiol problem. Collar and leash are actually recommended for biking with springer, at least in Scandinavia. Amyway, I need them when I make stops a long the road. At least it is more practical than without. :)

[StraightUpBitch]

OMG, that dog looks SO simular to mine...you won't believe it!

My dog is SO smart, she listens SO good.... she's quite the dog. She use to be like an Energizer Bunny.... non stop, then I gave her something organic and she totally chilled.

Very seldom have I had to raise my voice at her. I don't even have to leash her......she is such a COOL dog!

[Havshexan]

Emma is really smart too, but not always so well behaved as when she's out biking... I believe she is a mix of German Shepherd and Labrador Retriever and some other breed maybe, but she looks a lot like a German Shepherd. Is your dog of mixed breed too?

[TheGreatYuffie]

I love biking with my dogs, but since they are carting breeds we've trained them in dryland mushing. I make quite a sight with three big dogs on sled riging pulling a modified bike. My small dogs use springers and a normal bike though.

[llazy1]

Hi- enjoyed your video.. I just got my springer for Christmas and have a few questions..

I see that when it's on the bike, there seems to be about 5 inches of play - that you can move the bottom of the U forwards and backwards that much.. it's pivoting a bit on it's attacment place - where the big cotter pin holds it to the big pin. Is that normal?

[lizaveeta]

When you say that Emma now ignores other dogs, do you mean just when she's on the Springer or even when she's taken out with a regular lead and buckle collar?

[Havshexan]

Actually I don't use a springer for my own dog either. She pulls much less and it's much easier when she has to relieve herself, like you say. But some dogs just pull too much, so you can't bike with them without the springer. Then you just have to make stops to let the dog relieve himself, like I do with Emma in this video.

[akyramoto]

she looks like she enjoys it!!!

[Calexica]

Thanks for sharing this video - I wanted to see it in action.

[paparozzy]

Thanks for the great video. You show the device very clearly as well as your own preferences in using it. Emma looks like she's having a great time.