Springer Hands Free Dog Leash Bike Attachment Kit -Pet Exerciser for Running, Walking Jogging - Universal Fit for Bicycles - Quick Release, 18-Inch Rope

This thing is just awesome. Before getting this, I tried biking my dog (a 45 pound Samoyed) simply using a leash. However, she is a sled dog trained to mush, so she always tries to get in front of the bike and pull. Also, she is a little shy of the bike, so when she gets tired, she goes next to me but at the full length of the leash. so we are taking up the whole path. I almost killed myself a few times trying to make sure she didn't get in anybody's way, so I decided to try one of these products for walking dogs on bikes. Now, I got one of those walkydog things that is simply a spring in a tube that sticks off the bike. They are a lot cheaper, but there is a reason for that. I have no problem with the quality of that product, it just didn't do for me quite what I wanted. Yes, it kept her closer to the bike and at my side, but I felt like she could still easily get too close and get hit by a pedal or a wheel because there was still nothing between her and the bike. Despite that, it now seemed that she had too little freedom to move around, like I could hurt her if I stopped suddenly (however, this thing turned out to be great when used instead for urban mushing using a regular leash without a real bungee tow line). So then I decided to try this one, and it worked wonders. I've only used it a couple times now, and I really feel like both the dog and I are a lot safer. Now, I did hesitate with the crappy plastic attachments that everyone was complaining about, because my dog is a sled dog and she can pull like crazy, so I did an experiment and put a loose leash on her as well so that the leash would hold her if the plastic thing broke off. After two fairly long rides, nothing broke, so I'm not too worried. Even if you plan on using your own makeshift bit of leash instead of their weird safetly thing though, this product is worth it. The spring action is just perfect, keeping my dog comfortably at my side but still giving her some freedom with gentle resistance while keeping her away from the wheels and pedals. She's still a little uncomfortable being that close to the bike, so she leans sideways against the pull of the spring a bit while running, but she does that less when she gets tired, so I think the more we use this, the more she will get used to it and stop leaning. However, even when she leans or gets distracted, I stay perfectly balanced and in control, never feeling like she is going to pull me over or anything. All in all, I think this is a great product and I would highly recommend it.

Before I start my rave over this bike attachment (and I WILL rave over it - it's marvelous!), I have to point out a few assembly quirks. First, the main clamp that attaches the Springer S-tube is 3-1/2 inches long and to install it properly you need a 3-5/8 inch length of the main (most vertical) tube of the bike, OR a 3-5/8 inch length of the seat post that extends from the main tube. (The dog exerciser should NOT be attached to any other place on the bike - Springer specifies only these two places.) Be aware that if you attach to the main tube, the bottom edge of the clamp should be about 4 to 8 inches (depending on your shoe size) above the bike pedal at the top of its rotation, otherwise your heel won't clear the horizontal part of the S-tube. On the other hand, if you attach to the seat post, make sure that your seat is still low enough so that your feet can reach the ground while you're on the bike! Second, Instruction 1 for how many and which plastic tubular gasket inserts to put around the main tube or seat post before you attach the clamp over them, suffered badly in the various translations. In English, they give you three post diameters: 36mm - use two blue inserts (wrong!); 32mm - use blue insert (wrong!); 28mm - use white and blue (this one is right). My seat post is 26mm in diameter... None of the other instructions (Norwegian, German, Spanish, French and Dutch) gives the correct number and type of inserts to be used for all four diameters shown in the illustration, so follow the illustration! 36mm - 1 blue; 32mm - 2 blue; 28mm - white and blue; 25mm - red, white and blue. For my 26mm post I used red, white and blue, and the clamp fits snugly; perfect! Third and last, when you screw the spring onto the S-tube, make sure you don't screw it on too far because it's impossible to unscrew it even a hair. Instruction 2, as well as the illustration, tells you the proper position of the eye at the top of the spring after it's screwed on. Now for the rave! We recently got a 70-pound, 1-year-old, female Lab mix from a shelter - high energy and mostly untrained. I have arthritis in both knees, so walking her for all the exercise she needs is out of the question, and the dog park is hit or miss when it comes to dogs "playing nicely" together. Enter the bicycle dog exerciser (drum roll please)! Judging by the pictures, I thought this Springer exerciser looked kind of weird compared to other brands that don't have such a deep bend in them. Some don't have a bend at all and that seemed much more straightforward to me. Fortunately I sought the opinion of my daughter, who sees and talks with bicyclists who ride with their dogs in the park where she runs in the morning. She immediately pointed at the Springer and said that was the one she would recommend. We looked at Springer videos and reviews and in no time I was convinced. The Springer takes most of the dog's weight in the event the dog lurches sideways, plus it has a safety release, so it is highly unlikely that even a big dog could upset the rider. I have now taken the dog for a bike run three times. The first time I first walked between the dog and the bike, then walked with the bike between the dog and me, and finally rode the bike with a leash in my hand that was attached to the dog's martingale collar, in addition to the Springer being attached to her harness. The second time I dispensed with the walking and just did the riding, still with the leash on her collar and the Springer on her harness. The leash helped whenever we passed someone walking a dog, a big temptation for her to trot over for a happy greeting session. I had to pull her along by the leash a few times on the first ride and once on the second ride. On the third ride I no longer used the leash and I'm glad to report that she happily trotted along with only the Springer attached to her harness! I am ecstatic over this product!

I love this dog exerciser - I have an Australian Shepard who loves to chase and herd - I was a bit concerned he would pull me over but with the spring on this bike leash I barely even feel the pull. After a few times out he has figured out that he can't pull and just runs/walks beside the bike. I did have a bit of a hard time putting it together, trying to turn the spring on the tube was difficult for me and had to get a neighbor to help out.

I specifically purchased the original Springer in black because it has a beautiful black finish. Unfortunately, the manufacturer's packaging is completely inadequate. The individual metal parts are not packaged separately and bang against each other in the packaging during transport, resulting in the stand being completely scratched. At this price, I find this unacceptable.

Excelente

Excellent quality, easy installation and works as advertised

Works great but was hard to find a spot on our bike. You must get it really tight or dog can spin it. Our dog loves it . But the plastic pipes if she pulls hard alows her to spin the springer