Some pics from Sunday's training session. I bikejor with my dogs daily, and wanted to share the fun and experience with my family, starting with my oldest daughter. I had to rig some of her gear, since it was made for an adult, but it all worked out. We bought her knee and elbow pads just in case she fell (which she didn't!), and got her all geared up and ready to go:



To show her how it works, I ran alongside Nara and was explaining everything as we did a test run:



After one pass, everyone was comfortable enough for a first solo ride:



Look at that smile! We continued from this point for another 5.5 miles. All my daughter requested for next time was a longer distance. She loved it. I ran alongside them the whole way. We are also going to swap out dogs for her to ride with, and eventually build up to a 2-dog team or more. I usually take out all 4 dogs for a team run when I bikejor. Earlier Sunday morning I ran the 3 boys and let Nara rest up for her solo run with my daughter.

Fantastic pictures and your daughter is braver than I am (or has better trained dogs and more people around her with experience.) I am not brave enough to bike with my dog with out the springer. I am looking forward to Skijoring but I am counting on the fact that snow is softer than concrete for someone learning. You have very stunning GSD fantastic dogs.

I'll write more when I can, but I see that you're in Idaho like me. Whereabouts?

I am in Idaho Falls so a few hours away.

I know you shouldn't bike them at all until their growth plates seal. I think this is normally around 2 years of age. I know some people say to wait at least a year. Not sure if you're already biking with your 6 month old Sibe or your 4 year old. Haha!

I've watched videos of dogs on the Springer, and I just have too many issues with it to ever want to use one. Bikejoring with the dog out front is so much more natural and balanced. I like being able to see my dogs without turning my head. In the videos of the Springer, it looks like, if the dog wanted to, it could get caught up in the tires. I've read where people have had dogs that ran around behind their back tire trying to chase something. So if the dog can go behind the tire, what's keeping it from going between or through a tire. Just too dangerous. Plus, the dogs I've watched are leaning to their right, trying to avoid the bike as much as possible. This could cause chaffing from constant rubbing on one side of their body against the harness. So unless you switch them from the right side one day to the left side the next day, it isn't balanced for them. Also, their muscles will build differently on one side of their body compared to the other side of the body, due to the constant leaning and pulling to one side. With the dog out in front of you, there is no leaning to one side, as they naturally pull straight ahead. When I take out multiple dogs, I switch them from side to side, so they alternate left then right every other day.

Anyways, that's just my opinion (not that you asked or it! Haha). Any exercise is better than no exercise, so it's good you're doing something related to huskies pulling and running!

And yeah, you're much braver than I if you plan to Skijor. No brakes when it comes to that! At least on my mountain bike, I have brakes and better control.

But as for my daughter, I was running right up there with Nara the entire time. We did most of the run with my leash connected to Nara's collar like in the 2nd pic. From time to time, when my daughter felt comfortable, she would ask me to remove the leash. We're going to take Beowulf on our next bikejoring run, and then pair up Nara with Beowulf so my daughter can experience 2 dogs pulling her at the same time. Should be fun. My wife will take pics of our daughter with Beowulf and with both, when we make it happen, so I'll post those in here for everyone to see! I can't wait! Little musher in training!!!

Oh, and here's a pic of me with Paw Paw and Beowulf from back when I was a newbie at bikejoring:

I have only biked with my 4 year old pit bull I haven't really started anything with the puppy yet. I see what you mean about the springer its just the best way I can exercise them in the summer without ending up broken. It really does help them not pull you over or drag you into a tree for a squirrel.

I am excited to see the follow up pictures of your daughter with the other dogs. It's fantastic that she has family that can teach her.