Does anyone use a springer bicycle jogger and if so what is a good age to start using it?

thanks,
nancy black

I used it for the AD. It definitely makes it safer to bike with a dog - they can't jerk you off the bike suddenly. I wouldn't be doing road work with a dog until he's about a year old.

can't jerk you off the bike suddenly. Oh yes, they can...I had the skinned and bruised knees to prove it! (and yes, it was /is set up properly). Having said that I really like it and use it! I would wait until 2 before I would road work and dog excessively.

It is one of the safer things out there to use. Still not full proof against accidents or the dog not pulling you off your bike. They can also jump over to the other side of the bike if they REALLY want to get to the other side (cousre, they may get hung up on the way). I am still careful where I use it and even more careful with beginning dogs.

My dog adapted to it immediately, but I didn't start with it until he was over 2 years old, by which time his OB was pretty solid. Also, he's not particularly excitable as regards other dogs, so YMMV.

Also, I did not glue it to the bicycle frame as recommended--a friction fit seems good enough and produces a little extra "give" that seems to help smooth out any differences between where I want to go and where Oka wants to go.

I had to glue it to the seat post! If I didn't, Lucy could jerk it around if she really wanted to lunge at something, such as a squirrel or bird. We bit it once for that exact reason. She saw a squirrel, lunged, the thing swung around the front, causing the front tire to run right into Lucy, and me to go flying off the bike. Fortunately, I landed on soft grass, but a full city bus happened to be passing by right at that moment, so my ego was a little bruised. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> Another time, she tried to go around behind the bike and got her snout caught between the rear fender and the tire. I was able to stop quickly enough that she wasn't hurt. Good thing for her, though, she seemed to learn from both of these experiences and never did either one of them again.

Now that I have it securely glued, Lucy's ability to use the "give" to her advantage has been severely curtailed.

Since Lucy is a young (18 mos Border Collie mix), reactive dog, I really have to stay on my toes when cycling with her. I don't normally ride near any auto traffic with her, but there are a few places between my house and our cycling route (a concrete bike path through city parks and wetlands) that I cannot avoid. I ride on the concrete and she runs on the grass along side the path.

Lucy,

Sorry to hear about your accident. Fortunately Lucy and yourself turned out ok.

What I did in a systematic way is this

1) Ensure heeling work is solid
2) Ensure the dog properly socialised to everything in sight
3) Start with bike and dog on springer and push the bike with the dog heeling to the bike and take a walk with it for 3-4 days until he gets the idea of healing with bike.
4) Then only I start to go on the bike.

Seams to work fine with zero incident.

Thank you, James. Fortunately for me, Lucy's a quick learner.

Lisa,

Just noted that I had posted my earlier reply to Lucy instead...lol. Wondered does Lucy sits in front of the PC typing those replies... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I wasn't kidding when I said she's a fast learner! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> Besides, she's a Border Collie (mostly).....'nuff said. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Lisa,

I'm sure Lucy is special.....my earlier mail was meant as a joke. Borders are very intelligent working dog indeed. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />