Hi everyone!

I am a newbie for bikejoring. Please bear with me if this topic has been repeated.

Currently here are our setup for the active Walkydog with back clasp harness Harness  
and a bike, and not to forget my 4yr boy. XP

Here are my questions:
1: What harness should be using? (I reckon the harness he has seems to be too big? That one leg has escaped and hanging the loop at the chest bit.) Is one? Urban Trail Harness

2: What footwear should be use for my 4 legs friend? (He has dew claws on 4 legs by the way, and we are bikejoring on the cycling pavement)

3: Does he need reflective gearing?

4: Anything else I have missed for the setup?

Updated:

There are few pictures  and video from other members' setup =) Lovely (It is awesome actually) to share, Big Thanks! and please keep going.
Includes Springer VS WalkyDog, different type of Harness, includes recreation harness (see Page 1 Erica), XBack and urban trail- (see Page 2 Megan).

For paw protection, so far I have received information is Musher's Secret.

New questions:
1: Are we progress too fast, as we bikejoking almost 3 days a week, 2 miles each session? He seems really flat out these days and lost a bit appetite.

Do you have a noodle?  That's the protective shell for the line that goes over your front bike tire and protects it from tangling or being damaged by your bike.  

You can buy one commercially from Alpine Outifitters or easily make one out of PVC pipe for dirt cheap.

Any padded harness would be good for bikejoring, it just has to be padded and fit properly. The Walky Dog isn't padded, eh?

To answer your questions I use and Alpine Outifitters harness. It is fantastic and high quality the only issue I had is because they hand make everything it took a few weeks but they make fantastic stuff.
I use this one.

http://www.alpineoutfitters.net/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=189

For the feet I use mushers secret its a balm you put on there feet before you go for a run to protect them. But you could always buy some booties as well.
 
As far as reflective gear it matters more when you plan to go. If you are going to go during the day then it's not really something you should worry about. If you are going to go during the early morning or late at night. I would get reflective gear for your dog, a head lamp for you and a rear light for your dog. They also have light up collars you can use.

It sounds like you are going to use the walky dog that attaches to a bike and has the dog next to you.

I use the springer myself its the same basic idea, and then you keep some control over the dog.  

Here is a view of my set up.



And here you can see the harness.

Playing with the Big Dogs wrote:

To answer your questions I use and Alpine Outifitters harness. It is fantastic and high quality the only issue I had is because they hand make everything it took a few weeks but they make fantastic stuff.
I use this one.

http://www.alpineoutfitters.net/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=189

For the feet I use mushers secret its a balm you put on there feet before you go for a run to protect them. But you could always buy some booties as well.
 
As far as reflective gear it matters more when you plan to go. If you are going to go during the day then it's not really something you should worry about. If you are going to go during the early morning or late at night. I would get reflective gear for your dog, a head lamp for you and a rear light for your dog. They also have light up collars you can use.

It sounds like you are going to use the walky dog that attaches to a bike and has the dog next to you.

I use the springer myself its the same basic idea, and then you keep some control over the dog.  

Here is a view of my set up.



And here you can see the harness.  

Elise, Thank you taking time to reply.

I have look at your harness and the current one we have, the major differences is between two is the underarm area Alpine has 2 individual belts, it seems one go just under the neckline and the body and the other around the rib. Currently, the one we have is
So, Alpine defiantly is a winner, but would mine be ok to use in the meanwhile waiting for a new one.

Silly question, how much muscles has been "built" up after the exercise have you reckon in yours? how long would I expect to see the result?

I am unsure the booties actually, read it somewhere said the bootie may cause discomfort if dog has dew claw and others seems doesn't to be bother.

I look up mushers secret it seems like a magical product. (thumb up)

Do you mind to share your thought that you have chose springer over walkydog? Does it gives better than Walkydog when dog get distract, and the rider would be better on balance?

I use the same set up as Elise with Mishka except I have the Walky Dog. It's a similar concept to the Springer (but completely different).

The Urban Trail Harness is a great padded harness to use and you can also add D rings so you can have a D ring on the side. My harness for Mishka has reflective tape on it. I also have a little LED light that I have hanging on his collar that hopefully helps with visibility (this one). For my bike I ended up buying a headlight and flashing tail light - similar to this but not this one - http://www.target.com/p/bell-pharos-350-wo-light-set/-/A-13290177#prodSlot=large_1_2

It's pretty damn bright so if cars can't see me coming then they just aren't paying attention.

I use Musher's Secret on his pads as well when he lets me put it on. We don't really go very fast since he's still growing but with the upcoming heat we're about to have it helps their paws. But I also won't bike him if it's over 70 degrees so that means we won't be biking much at all until it cools off in the spring.

Elise, I just thought I would mention something that I found to work well with my set up for my springer. From alpine I also bought a double neckline and use that instead of the string that came with my springer. I still use the leash on their collars but the double neckline is strong and sturdy to connect  to the set up. Not the clearest picture, but it gives you an idea.

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Erica

I was actually thinking of getting one of those carabiner bungee cord things to replace there cord and give it more shock absorption.
 


Grizzly&Charcoal

I don't know how well you can tell from those pictures but my Sadie girl is pretty well muscled. She is also very lean and fit. So I didn't really notice much bulking with adding the springer I just got a tired dog. When it did it a ton she did have a little more muscle tone than she has now but she is super lazy all winter so I am going to have to start slow with her and work her back up.
Now after doing it for a month we could go for longer and faster so I could see the difference in her performance.


And as far as picking when I was looking for a bike safety device most of the reviews I could find and videos and such were for the springer and were very positive and I liked the the dog was closer to you. I have never used the Walkydog so I can't say how well that works but the springer is great at adsorbing force. The only time I really have issues is when she 100% stops to poop. And that's just cause my dog is mean.

One other suggestion is that I like to have a leash connected to her collar that way I can direct her head away from distractions.

Playing with the Big Dogs

OMG, what a good temptation to try the Springer!   However, if it is much safer than Walkydog, it worths it.

Thumb up for the idea of having a leash to connect the collar.

I have no clue if its safer I just found more reviews as well as youtube videos of people using them how to's.
Just wanted to clarify I don't know if one is better than the other but the springer has worked well for me.

Noted  Thank you Elise

I'm a "newbie" to bikejoring as well. so if you don't mind, can I ask questions in here too, so they are all on the same thread?

We just ordered a new alpine x back harness for our biggest girl,Nova,  and we have a kong harness for now for Kya. We will be getting her an alpine x back next payday. The biggest issue I'm having is that the dang walky dog moves! Kya doesn't use the walky dog, she uses a handsfree around me, for the moment, but will be setting up both bikes for joring soon. I don't trust her to be in front of me in my neighborhood yet, as she doesn't know her joring commands yet. She's got "on by" down, but that's about it! Those that use the walky dog, do you have problems with it moving on you? I may just not have enough strength to tighten it completely. LOL

ETA: Biking with them isn't new to us, but the whole set up, commands and doing is SERIOUSLY is new to us.

we use regular x-back harness from Musher

I am trying to get into sledding so these attachments would not work. I made my own set up up front. I prefer.
http://www.nordkyn.com/
http://stores.adanacsleds.com/


Maggie's is Nordkyn outfitter's recreation harness with the belly band attached

twentyfourpaws wrote:

I'm a "newbie" to bikejoring as well. so if you don't mind, can I ask questions in here too, so they are all on the same thread?

We just ordered a new alpine x back harness for our biggest girl,Nova,  and we have a kong harness for now for Kya. We will be getting her an alpine x back next payday. The biggest issue I'm having is that the dang walky dog moves! Kya doesn't use the walky dog, she uses a handsfree around me, for the moment, but will be setting up both bikes for joring soon. I don't trust her to be in front of me in my neighborhood yet, as she doesn't know her joring commands yet. She's got "on by" down, but that's about it! Those that use the walky dog, do you have problems with it moving on you? I may just not have enough strength to tighten it completely. LOL

ETA: Biking with them isn't new to us, but the whole set up, commands and doing is SERIOUSLY is new to us.

If Mishka (my 55lb boy) really tries to pull the Walky Dog moves. What's worse is that it moves my entire seat so I have to adjust everything when he decides to do that. I don't really let him pull on the Walky Dog just keep pace with the bike. The problem I have is the bike I have is a low rider one because I'm so short. I literally have a kids bike so it where the Walky Dog attaches it can turn my seat. Lol.

If you use the attachment straight on the bike without that rubber grip thing and tighten the crap out of it it shouldn't move.

Ashleigh, how and when do you apply Musher's Secret to Mishka?

I just take a goop of it and slather it on his feet. Lol. He doesn't like it but I tend to only do it when I know it's warmer and when his pads are starting to feel really dry. He'll lick it off so I try to do it within 10 minutes of leaving to go walk or bike. -_-

Ok, yeah the licking is what I am thinking about. It's just about time here to start some practice in harness and I have some, I just want to make sure I don't give him time to lick it off.

Ashleigh I do it right before like as I am getting her attached to the bike but Sadie has has issues with running her paws bloody so I want to make sure she has it on.

I only have had a few issues with the springer moving and it just need to to be tightened more.

Erica I am planning to getting into sledding (well Skijoring) too but I trust my dogs a lot more when I have padded winter gear and I am on snow then in the summer when I have to deal with traffic. I know people that sled that use it to condition there dogs in the off season.

Jeff I bring it in the car or leave it in the garage and do it right before we leave so they can't lick it off because we are busy, walking, hiking, biking.

Tiffany,

Try to tighten the setting from time to time, as there is a plastic wrap, it gives and would be loosen from time to time. I found the slightly "aged" plastic seems can wrap the seat better than the new.

I also use a Springer.  I chose it because it has much more flexibility in changing the line you want to use as well as physical flexibility and shock absorption in the attachment itself.  It costs considerably more than a walky dog but I just didn't feel the walky dog was as safe for me.

I have never had the Springer move on me like I have heard can be an issue with the Walky. I use Mushers Secret for paws.  My sibe doesn't wear anything reflective but we only bike during the day.  Harnesses, I use either his custom Alpine x back or the Ruffwear Omnijore harness when biking.  I favor the Omnijore for biking due to it's red color for increased visibility.

Elise, I also replaced the plastic safety release that comes with the Springer with a bungee cord with carabiners on both ends.

Pics (these are before I started using my x back and Omnijore harnesses for biking):


The set up...


On the move








With his Omnijore harness


With 2 little ones, this is my current setup:

This is our set up.

The Walky Dog attaches under the seat, but with my tiny bike, it's literally on the adjustable part.



Mishka in his Urban Trail Harness with extra D rings.



Waiting to roll!



If you look hard enough you can see I replaced the original reflectors with the flashing LED lights for nighttime. I use a leash attached to his collar for more control with distractions, which unfortunately doesn't always work. Lol.

Erica,

Would you mind to give a brief idea of the harness you have choose?

I haven't come across with this, does it gives better pulling or the opposite?

X-back harnesses are used with lines that go in front of the bike or scooter and the dog pulls out front.

You'll want some type of attachment or noodle to go over the wheel to prevent the line from tangling in the wheel if the dog slows down or stops, as Jeff said in his first post on the thread.

Then the harness itself is a harness that is shaped like an x over the dogs back and goes to the base of the tail, the design of it leaves the shoulders open and free to move and gives the dog more pulling power. It doesn't work well with side-attachments like the walky dog or springer though. So you often use x-backs with the dog out in front. The dogs need solid commands on hike, gee, haw, woah, etc, and good at 'line out!' otherwise it will be difficult to avoid an accident, what I did was train those commands using an urban trail harness and the walky dog first, then transitioning them up front.




Oh, and I get all my gear from http://nooksackracing.com/

Megan, what are awesome sharing! Thank you   
btw, is Cloud is the middle one in your signature pictures? What breed is she/ he?

Grizzly&Charcoal wrote:

Megan, what are awesome sharing! Thank you   
btw, is Cloud is the middle one in your signature pictures? What breed is she/ he?

Yes Cloud is the middle one He is an American Eskimo Dog! He's my best puller and I call him 'the motivator' lol!