Well - I bought one of those "Springer" contraptions for running dogs and after trying it out quite a few times - and I don't like it.
Drawbacks - 1) You can't properly assess your dogs gait, comfort level etc 2) the dog isn't pulling anything so isn't really getting much conditioning floating along 3) the device doesn't leave the dog much leeway to get out of the way due to uneven trail surface or obstacles
4) not very easy to use on a dirt trail unless it has been groomed super smooth 5) forces the dog to assume a pace as set by the bike and not necessesarily the most comfortable and efficient
pace that the dog is capable of 6) the dog doesn't get much opportunity to learn any commands
(for speeding up, slowing down, turning, lining out etc) I think a more efficient( and much cheaper) solution to train one dog would be to use the mountain bike with a long line and a properly fitting running harness. The dog gets the added conditioning of resistance training, is more easily observed for gait, attitude etc and
will be running at the gait/speed that is most comfortable and efficient for the dog. You can more easily assess the dogs progress as he gets more conditioned instead of "pushing the rope".
You have a more varied choice of training trails
and surfaces that you can safely run on - the Springer only seems to work efficiently on very hard pack or even worse, pavement. You should never run your dogs on pavement for any distance at all if possible. Another Springer drawback is the cheesy little "harness" that comes with it-pure junk. The Springer itself is well made and sturdy but I would consider it to be of limited use to train any large, strong or lively breed and better suited to run slipper dogs around the block on Sundays. Biggest drawback is you can only run ONE dog with it - I ask you where is the fun in that! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> As an avid cyclist and musher I would give it a D grade. Springer going cheap....

Thanks for the rating. I was looking into one for my dog, now I think I will just stick to the bike and a prong.

Sounds like a Jerry Springer running contraptions! Funny how nothing really takes place of good ole trail running and excersize eh?

Deanna,

I just used a prong and a 6 foot leash....

I would like to get a Springer for my little mixed breed. She's too easily distracted and fast moving, even with a prong, to run safely in an urban environment, which is where we bicycle. I took her out the other day, and hit her with the front tire repeatedly to teach her to stay outta the way of the darn thing, and did she learn? HELL NO! She's a hard headed little mutt.

Anyway, I might be interested in buying that from you, if you're serious about letting it go cheep!

Oh, BTW, type "bikejoring" into your browser and see what you get.

I rollerblade with my dog. I have to admit though that unless you have a dog that has excellent leash manners and heels very well this activity (or biking) would be an "interesting" :rolleyes: experience if the dog isn't held in place by some sort of contraption. I tried it with a couple of dogs other then my own and just about killed myself.
This is why I have recommended the Springer to others when they have asked about road work. I also don't think you're supposed to go flat out on the bike, but use a pace that is accomadating to the size of your dog. Yes, the harness looks fairly cheap, but I have an excellent harness that is part of a seatbelt unit I purchased. I use it quite often. I still think the Springer is a pretty good idea if you use it wisely.
Tiggy2 has dogs that are used to being out front and pulling. I don't think the Springer was probably the best choice for the type of conditioning work she wanted to do.

I think that part of what coloured my opinion of the Springer gizmo is the lack of trails it will work on around here as I have a choice of logging roads, cow paths with large ruts, and some very unmaintained abandoned railroad track. The bikejouring thing is not without the chance of grave bodily injury also as attested by the number of responses on the sled dog discussion forum in the thread of "Worst Wrecks". Granted in that case it was people hooking up a number of dogs in excess of two and piling off down the trail. Considering that most bicycles have just enough brakes to stop only the bike and the rider
it kind of ensures that any wildlife encounters will be at best "interesting". In my case we are training the dogs to pull so having a heavy rig with enough brakes to stop the number of dogs you are running makes it safe. I use an engineless ATV for anything from 6-10 dogs which works well but ATVs with engine are pretty much the norm nowadays as you can run anything from 1 dog up with them. Oooh just talking about it makes me wish for some cooler temps - fall training here we come!

You definitely have a different requirement. I do NOT want my dog out front pulling me. A Springer would be perfect for keeping her contained in one area, out from under my wheels. Sounds like bikejoring is up your alley, but only one dog at a time. Kinda puts a crimp on training the whole team.

Well - I purchased it thinking it would be a nice, easy way to take out the house huskies for a little jaunt on cooler days or evenings in the summer. The one girl was pretty suspicious, but went along with it, but the my old leader "Tally" gave me that "this is a joke right?" look and went along but looked kind of pissy about it. I think it would be ok for a dog that doesn't pull - mine see harness and immediately think "time to go like H##L"even though they will heel nicely on lead, and it took a lot of concentration to balance when they did their shot out of a gun routine down trail behind my place. When you try to slow them down they just act confused about what is going on. Dogs trained to pull get a lot of signals from the gangline and actually use the pull to balance themselves - when they feel slack in the line they pull to feel it tighten up. If they are allowed to run too fast down hill and the line goes slack they are not just prone to injury cause they can't use the line to balance but also don't have the secure feeling of that snug line - one of the reasons some dogs balk at running down hill especially if someone has done it too fast in the past and they are scared of it. The Springer is so flexy and the point of pull so high plus the light weight and low rolling resistance of the bike gives a very different feel to a dog that is used of the resistance of pulling.

Great description! I can even imagine the look on Tally's face....