Deals.Woot

Oh no, it's very safe. It is at a length where your dog can safely run along side of you but not get in front of your bike tire. It also has a unique safety release that will break if something like a post or tree gets between you and your dog. Check out the videos on our site or SpringerAmerica.com. I use one with my Labs and it is great exercise for them! Just be sure to use a quality harness; never attach the Springer to your dog's collar. Jason, Backcountry K-9

Hmmm... wonder if it would work with my cats?

I see other problems with this too due to poor design. Since it only connects to the bike frame in one spot what will keep it from rotating forward or back allowing the dog to go under the wheels or into the spokes? It might work on a 3 wheel bike that won't turn over and it was mounted in 2 places but I don't see how the current design could ever be made safe to use. Also, if the release breaks won't the dog be running loose in traffic? Anyone would have to be a moron to even try this.

>And when you dog shoots out to the side, Springer's large spring does an awesome job of dampening that pull.
That can't possible be true! When he tries to take off I can barely hold him with 2 hands so how's it going to keep the bike from being pulled over or going off course? Also I don't see anyway to prevent him from breaking loose and getting away or running underneath the wheels. In addition this device severely limits a bikes mobility making it harder to get out of the way of girls texting and socker moms in SUVs.

@stevec5000: Some dogs are more trained than others. I walk in the woods near me every week and see lots of dogs (big dogs) that are capable of ignoring squirrels, deer, other dogs. Not every dog pulls. I see no reason why this idea can't rely on the owner applying some common sense and evaluating it based on their own situation. I definitely see no reason to "ban" it or to be so adversarial.
Additionally, since it's attached to the rear wheel, the dog has to overcome more of your weight than when you're walking and the dog is "attached" at your shoulder. Same idea as protesters who lay down and require two people to be removed rather than struggle and only require one.

This looks like a great idea and much safer than trying to hold a leash while riding. Ever try to hold a leash while riding? Your dog bolts left or right and because the leash is in your hand or on your wrist on the handle bar, your bike gets abruptly turned in that direction. Not good.

While a safety break-away is a necessity, I am a little concerned that if you don't have a well trained dog the dog may take off if the safety break-away clasp snaps. But, if you don't have a well trained dog, you should walk him/her and not ride your bike with him/her.

The people that think this isn't safe are probably the same people that have 25' retractable leashes and consider them safe.

I tested it out with my dog at a local park with a paved bike trail. The first thing I learned is that until the dog realizes what you're going to do, keep your rear on the bike, otherwise he will yank it out of your hands. I should mention here that I purchased a harnass from the same place that was just a simple harnass. I was unimpressed with the harnass, as it slipped all over the place with my dog. We rode for about 5 minutes with him figuring out that a. he needs to stay on the right hand side of the bike (one of the reasons I liked this attachment was because I could choose what side the dog was on), b. that he should not come too close to the bike, and c. that we don't want to stop and pee on EVERY single rock, and tree.

I bought the attachment early this year, and we now use it every weekend (except when a hurricane is blowing through). We bike 20 miles or so each Saturday, and I am extremely pleased with the purchase. I've already purchased another set of safety snaps even though I haven't broken one yet. I lost the other two that came with the springer, and I feel better on long rides to have another with me just in case. I bought a different harnass which I really like. It's the EzyDog harnass Bohdi mentioned in his forum post.

A note about K-9 Backcountry. I've ordered through them twice, and have no complaints. The items were shipped out within a day or two, not quite as fast as Amazon, for impatient pricks like me :). I'll order from them again. If you have any doubts about this post, I will add pictures of my bike with the attachment, and my dog.

Stevec5000, Your dog would run under the wheels or into the spokes of a moving bicycle? He would run into traffic? You can't even control the dog? Sounds like the only moron around here is your dog. Time to put him down, I'd say. Your dog sounds like a menace to society and should not be legally able to leave your yard. I think that the girls texting and the soccer moms in SUVs should all have to worry about you and your dog, not the other way around!

@stevec5000: I get what you're saying, and I can offer this:
I tried running my greyhound with me on a bicycle. I used a leash with my hand, like you have tried, and you're right on there: Dangerous. Every time he pulled, because he was pulling at a pivot point, his leverage was dangerously powerful. Scared the crap out of me.
I put together a much less elegant version of springer - a seat tube based leash holder with an extension to keep him from getting ahead or tripping me up. It's worked beautifully. His impressive pull strength at the sight of a cat or squirrel is noticeable, but not enough to affect the line of my riding. I'm essentially sitting on him rather than trying to hang on to him.

Match the product to your dog's level of training. (The same could be said of your furless children as well).

I mean, if someone actually thinks a 25' retractable leash is inherently unsafe, it's proof that ANY product with the wrong dog can have undesirable results.

You guys would have talked me into this product, but I can't get past the $80 price tag. If it were $45 I'd consider it.

Where would I mount this on my Honda?

I have had a springer for a decade, ridden many many miles with it attached to the bike/dog, and will tell you that it is not a hazard and is much more safe than holding the leash - the dog can pull, but because he/she is pulling on a flexible spring/string/emergency release combo, it puts no pressure on the rider.

Safe, effective, and fun.

It took one ride to get her used to it - my dog is approximately 50 ponds, and a border collie mix.