Bike/Scooter Joring!

[amberdyan]

Hugo is 16 months and I started biking with him today. We've been training commands (left, right, pass, whoa, go) for several months since I knew I wanted to bike with him. He took to it like a PRO and loved it, but he really wanted to get out front and pull. We were on a secluded trail so I let him try it for 2 minutes. He LOVED it and couldn't get enough! I'm thinking about trying joring with him, but I have a few questions that I can't seem to find the answers to online. I know some of you it so I thought I'd ask here!

1. Do you have any harness and line reccomendations? I know I need a joring harness but I'm overwhelmed by all the types/brands!
2. Can I use my regular bike? I know there are joring bikes and scooters, but is it safe to use my hybrid?
3. How much is safe for my one 40 pound boy to pull? Is it even safe to pull me (180#) on a bike? I could also peddle to help him out, obviously.

Thanks in advance! I'm excited and enjoying researching!

 

[Snark]

Well, I scooter but I would think something like the Urban Trails harness would work better for you than an x-back. It's made for attaching to a higher position, like the front stem of a bicycle. (I bought my harness from Howling Dog, very nice people, who answered my questions promptly.) I'd also look at getting a tug line for the elastic (takes up some of the initial shock when he starts pulling) and I believe there's an accessory used on scooters (without fenders) that attaches to the front to keep the tug line from getting tangled in the front wheel. I would imagine it can be attached to bicycles, too. My scooter has fenders and only has 16" wheels so I don't have that problem.
Your boy might be a little on the small side to be pulling your weight, but, really, if you pedal just enough to keep tension on the tug line (and up any inclines), he's not actually pulling you, is he? He'll just be having fun running out in front of you. Have you looked at DogScooter.com? They have links to equipment and gear... Have fun!

 

[meepitsmeagan]

I'll get on my computer and reply to this tonight! I've done loads of research.

 

[amberdyan]

Thanks to both of you!

 

[meepitsmeagan]

Ok- sorry I was a little later than anticipated!!

Basically, I started off with a makeshift gangline/vacuum pipe to keep it off the tire of my bike. I had 2 CanaDog Shorty harnesses. Overall it worked ok, but the yfront harnesses definitely slipped around a lot and I didn't feel that they pulled evenly. In addition, if they don't fit just right, they will slide off the breast bone and end up choking your dog.

I'm now running in a 4 dog sectional (you would obviously be fine with a 1 dog) line from Alpine Outfitters. The 4 dog I use strictly for canicross as I got a Tug n' Tow for bikejoring over the winter. And oh god it is so amazing. Obviously other places make great lines, but I really felt that AO had the best fit for what I wanted. I got four harnesses from Howling Dog Alaska after researching all fall and winter. After speaking with them about the issues I was having with the yfronts, they really thought (and so did I) that their Second/Tough Skins would be a fabulous fit for my needs. And they did not disappoint. I've been running in them for about 2 months now and am over the moon! They are awesome. I also do canicross with the same setup.

I'll snag some pictures of FB to try to show you what my setup was then vs now.

Obviously everyone has different needs. I think it really takes buying a few different harnesses and gear and really suiting to what you like.

 

[meepitsmeagan]

OK- apologies for the huge FB pics

Front view

Back

Old harnesses

Old setup

 

[amberdyan]

Thank you! I'm definitely open to buying multiple harnesses and trying them out- I just had no clue where to start. He's going to love this, he just loves to pull and run.

I think I'm going to just go straight for the howling dog alaska harness. I like the way they look and with even just a little bit of research, they have great reviews. I'm excited!

 

[meepitsmeagan]

Thank you! I'm definitely open to buying multiple harnesses and trying them out- I just had no clue where to start. He's going to love this, he just loves to pull and run.

I think I'm going to just go straight for the howling dog alaska harness. I like the way they look and with even just a little bit of research, they have great reviews. I'm excited!

Good choice! They are great.

 

[StompinT]

This sounds like fun. When my guy is older I am definitely going to investigate this a little further.

 

[meepitsmeagan]

This sounds like fun. When my guy is older I am definitely going to investigate this a little further.

He is 11 months? You could definitely start doing some flatwork with him to prep!

 

[pinkspore]

Briz has an Urban Trails harness that was custom made for him. When he outgrew his first harness I contacted them to get a new one and they sent me a replacement free in exchange for the old one.

Unfortunately Brisbane absolutely hates pulling under any circumstances despite a whole lot of effort on my part over the course of a decade, so we've never actually done any type of joring. At the moment it's his primary walking harness because it's so nice and soft on his ouchy skin.

 

[amberdyan]

Thanks for the advice guys! We went with the howling dog Alaska harness and love it! I'll have to post pictures soon. Hugo is addicted to it. It wasn't an activity I ever took much interest in but seeing how much he loves it makes me love it.

It's funny because his "Pass" (on-bye) is mediocre when we're practicing but once I hook him up to the bike, he's serious about it. He's only really left the trail once and it was when there was a rabbit RIGHT in front of us coming around a corner.

My question is- do any of you run your dogs on concrete? When I look up safety I see everything from it's fine to run your dog on concrete 3 days a week for less than 8 miles to never ever it will destroy them.... I'm assuming realistically it's somewhere in between. We have a few nice trails I'd like to bike with him but they're paved. I jog with him on pavement sometimes but obviously it's a lot slower and a lot less distance. Is he okay on pavement like 5 miles once a week? Less than that?

 

[StompinT]

I can't answer your latest question, but I did pose some joring questions to a Bouv group I'm a part of (there are several members of it that do serious carting with their Bouvs). I was told to wait until after Louis turned 2 to do any pulling whatsoever. Now, he's a large, slow growing breed. I was really bummed, because I wanted to ski jore with him SO BAD this winter.

 

[Snark]

I have - there's a park where we go that has paved roads (fairly flat) with nice, wide grassy shoulders and Riley would rather run on the pavement. I don't know if he likes it because the scooter rolls easier or he's just... weird. I've tried scootering on the shoulder and he veers onto the road every time. He will swerve onto the grass rather than run on chat/gravel.

I don't think once a week will be that detrimental, especially if you're not flat out running the whole way. Riley starts out with a fast 1/4 or 1/2 mile (clocked him at 17mph), then settles into a steady 10 or 11 mph lope, occasionally dropping down to a trot. I'll give him a break if I think he needs it, and walk for a bit, and we do stop at a pond where he likes to wade in to cool off.

 

[sassafras]

Personally I think that distance once a week is fine. I do a combination of dirt and pavement.

 

[amberdyan]

Awesome, thanks guys!

StompinT, I've heard similar age limits for large breeds. Hugo is only a little less than 40 pounds so I felt comfortable starting him pulling at 18 months. He only pulls enough to keep the line tight because I'm pedaling the bike as well.

 

[sassafras]

Waiting until 2 for any pulling seems really excessive to me. Especially for a bike or skijoring when you are doing at least part of the work.

Most mushers start dogs in harness somewhere between 6-12 months. I started both Squash and Toast around 6 months for very short runs, of course they are running with partners always so they are not doing all the work.

 

[amberdyan]

Waiting until 2 for any pulling seems really excessive to me. Especially for a bike or skijoring when you are doing at least part of the work.

Most mushers start dogs in harness somewhere between 6-12 months. I started both Squash and Toast around 6 months for very short runs, of course they are running with partners always so they are not doing all the work.

That makes sense to me, especially since they're in partners. I waited a little longer because we don't really know how old Hugo was when we got him so I wanted to be safe. Plus he needed a lot of work with his impulse control before I trusted him to be attached to my bicycle, lol. I hope next dog enjoys it as well, it would be awesome to have a team.

I've seen the video you posted of Maisy bumping Squash back into place, lol. When we first started I definitely could have used a Maisy.

Good to hear that I'm probably safe to do some pavement stuff. The trail I want to bike on is gorgeous and we walk on it sometimes but it would be nice to bike there. I stop frequently (much to his annoyance) for water breaks and there's actually a lake 2 miles in that I let him take a dunk in when we run.

 

[StompinT]

I dunno - their growth plates aren't anywhere near to closed at a year, or even 18 months. Seems reasonable to wait - but it's killing me. I need the time to work on training anyway.

 

[Dekka]

I dunno - their growth plates aren't anywhere near to closed at a year, or even 18 months. Seems reasonable to wait - but it's killing me. I need the time to work on training anyway.

I wouldn't wait till growth plates close before doing any activity. Strenuous stuff sure, but none? Its not like the other breeds in question's plates close earlier.

We don't suggest children don't run and play and do sports until they are fully mature 16-18.