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  WalkyDog By: WalkyDog USA Average Rating: 5.0 Total Reviews: 29 More Information Wonderful product, but...  On: 2008-12-03I love this product, but the one thing that bothered me is that, while the length of the rope can be changed by removing springs on the inside of the metal pole, its not nearly long enough for smaller dogs. I have a Jack Russell and when I hooked her up to my bike, everything looked fine. When I got on and started pedaling, I realized the rope was about 2 inches (at least) too short for her. Since then, I have added a short length of leash to the end of the Walkydog and there have been no further problems. I suppose I couldve taken out the very last spring on the inside of the device, but I was afraid my dog would break loose, as the only thing holding the rope in place would be a small knot. Other than that, this is a wonderful help in keeping my dog healthy. Love it  On: 2008-11-30I was so skeptical that this would work for me. I have a crazy 2 year old golden retriever (70 pounds). I tried to bike while holding his leash...it was a disaster. So I tried this Walky Dog, and now we bike every day. I dont know why it works, frankly, because it seems like he should be able to wreck us pretty easily. but no, its awesome. you have to make sure you realllly tighten the clamp, and I found that its much better if I use his harness. when i clipped it to his collar, he almost choked himself trying to run. But after we figured out the harness, he can run full blast next to the bike, slows down when i brake. the only challenge we still have is taking sharp turns. Anyways, he gets so excited when I break out the leash part, and i really enjoy it to. Excellent quality. Works great! On: 2008-11-30I needed a way to let my dog get regular exercise in a town with strict leash laws. Walking him just wasnt stringent enough. Biking is perfect and after awkwardly trying to just hold his leash while riding, I was looking for something sturdy and safe. This is it! It took only 2 training sessions and now Koda cant wait when he sees the bike come off the rack. Safe and easy. I even have good control when he sees a squirrel. I got an extra clamp for my wifes bike and the quick connect works perfect. Only complaint is the length of the leash. It needed to be 2 feet longer for my dog, but that is easily remedied with a tied on extension. Great product for exercising athletic dogs! On: 2008-11-19We purchased the Walky Dog rather than the Springer after reading that the Springer was harder to take on and off. The Walky Dog installed quickly and easily, and it is very easy to take the "handle" off with one hand when you want to fit through tight spots on a trail, or use it to walk the dog when you stop for breaks. We had also heard that the safety connection on the Springer was easy for dogs to break, which we wanted to avoid as we bike near busy roads. The Walky Dog has survived several strong pulls from our dogs (after seeing squirrels run by, for example) and is very sturdy. The pulls dont seem to affect the bikes balance either. We feel much safer with the Walky Dog than we did trying to juggle the leashes in our hands as we rode. Although we saw many pictures of people using the Walky Dog attached to their dogs collar, we didnt feel that was safe for the dogs. We use harnesses instead, and the dogs get very excited when the harnesses come out. We have also attached the Walky Dog on the right side of the bike, so that we are between the dogs and traffic when we ride on busy roads. This is a great product for exercising athletic dogs. It was easy to install, the extra clamps that you can buy for it make it easy to switch from bike to bike, and it seems well-made. The tension in the "handle" can be adjusted, and at its strongest is tough enough for our young, athletic, pulling dogs. The only improvement I would make is in the short attachment leash that hangs from the end of the "handle" - it has frayed just a bit at the end where it comes out, and we will probably replace it with something tougher. The Walky Dog was worth every penny! A Real Solution On: 2008-11-13I have two dogs. Digger is 28" in the shoulders and Winky, the latest addition is 16". Based on the height difference, I couldnt figure out how to create a harness to run both of them at the same time. The walky dog is awesome. I can run both dogs off my mountain bike at the same time, one on each side. I removed one spring and lengthened the cord for Winky. Both dogs like squirrels, striped kitties, etc. but havent been able to pull me off the bike when they get distracted. Have wrapped the end of each walky dog with tape and attached blinker lights as we ride in the evening. So far no other bikes have run into the dogs and we ride/run 6 miles a night. Awesome product. Simple rugged design. Im a happy camper! Great times with Walky Dog On: 2008-11-09Finally my dog can come biking with me. My Border Collie needs to exercise each day and this is perfect! She loves the Walky Dog. I would recommend getting a no pull harness to use with it instead attaching it to the collar. - LW- Montana good for dog, good for me On: 2008-11-03Our newly rescued dog needs more exercise than a casual walk, so I thought I would try the WalkyDog. I was concerned because the dog is easily distracted and I was remembering a nasty fall I took trying to hold his lease while riding my bike with him. The WalkyDog works well and the springs absorb the dogs occasional lunges, so it seems safe. Before getting it, I spent some time training him with a short leash and we also trained for a short time just walking the bike with the dog attached to the WalkyDog. Im glad I got it and the dog loves the running. Great Fun! A few concerns... On: 2008-11-02My daughter and I LOVE the Walkydog - it is great fun, and our dog Max runs like he is a sled dog when we bike. I really like the control (vs trying to hold a leash, etc) to remain stable on the bike. The synthetic lead coming off the metal post has frayed a bit already. I am not sure it is sturdy enough for long-term use with a large lab such as ours. I understand one can get replacements. I had to fuss with the mounting for a while before it worked without spinning on the seat post or pushing the seat around as the dog pulls. I am not sure whether to use a collar or a harness on the dog. I am worried that the collar tugging on his neck could cause damage. I would have liked better instructions and recommendations on how to manage larger dogs who love to run hard. Overall, a wonderful product and I am sure you will have fun with it. The dog is getting awesome exercise. Me, not so much - I hardly pedal the dog loves to run so much! dogs On: 2008-10-28I have a Great Dane and have moved from a house that had a fenced yard to one without a fence. I needed someway to exercise my dog. I saw this and ordered it. It seems to work fine. The only thing I have found that might be negative is that I cannot ride my bicycle slow enough for her to walk. In other words, she is always running. It does what it says it will do. Walky Dog On: 2008-10-24Product was exceptionally easy to install and use. Users may want to consider using a harness type collar for their dog when using this product. Product arrived sooner than was expected. Great value for cost. Walkie Dog Really Works! On: 2008-10-23This is a great product. We have a young and very energetic Golden Retriever who needs a lot of exercise. I had taken him for plenty of bike rides prior to getting WalkyDog, but it always felt unsafe. WalkyDog prevents short stops and pulling and feels much safer. It was very easy to install. Great product On: 2008-10-18This is perfect for my dog and now we both can enjoy time using the bike together. Great way to exercise your dog On: 2008-10-14me: 100 lbs + hyper dog: 50 lbs = bike accident me + dog + walkydog = happy bike rides this thing actually works well. my dog who has a tendency to chase everything that moves, cant pull me over while im using the walkydog. i highly recommend it to every dog owner. this is much easier than trying to run my dog on a regular ol leash. now both of us can enjoy the bike rides. Good for active dogs On: 2008-09-19We have a high energy dog who needs a lot of exercise - this is a great product for taking her for a run, without having to actually take up running. You can still feel the dog pulling if they lunge at something, but you can stay in control. Ive found that our dog stays pretty focused on me while shes running next to the bike, even more so than when I talk her for a walk. A couple things to keep in mind when using the WalkyDog - really do make its completely on before taking off. If you dont, the dog pulling can break the connector that holds it to the bike (a mistake I made). The other important thing to keep in mind is that your dog will be working a lot harder than you are - so let your dog set the pace and make sure that the weather isnt too hot when you go. Its easy to forget how far youre going because youre not running too, so be sure not to overtire your dog by taking a longer bike ride than they can run. Amazing! On: 2008-09-13I have a two year old Boxer, who had pulled me off my bike 5 times before when we had tried to have a pleasant run in the park. He is extremely strong, and curious about everything. I bought a head collar, and a walkydog, and it has transformed our exercise time!! On our first try, all was going well, and a stray dog came up and my dog went nuts! I was so afraid he would pull me off my bike again, but the walkydog held strong, and we kept going. In fact, the stray dog ran with us, and my dog pulled ME up a hill! He never gets too close to the tires, or is able to pull too hard to get me off balance. I chose the walkydog because of the fact that it DOESNT have the safety release. My dog is too strong, and would be able to pull free too easily. We also live in a wide open subdivision, and dont have space issues with tight paths or trees. I HIGHLY recommend this product! I wasnt sure it would work for my crazy dog, but it sure did! Almost perfect, but needs more accurate spring settings On: 2008-06-30Although I was walking my dog in the morning, he never really got to go on regular runs. I did try to jog, but his stamina far surpasses mine. I realized that the best solution would be to just get on a bike and let my little guy run alongside. Being too clumsy to just hold the leash in one hand and steer with the other, I looked into several dog-and-bike-type devices. I seriously considered the Springer, but had heard that the safety mechanism sometimes detaches if the dog darts in a certain way. With the WalkyDog, you never have to worry about the dog breaking away from you and the bicycle, so this seemed much safer to me because I live near a very busy street. So far, things have gone really well with this product. After making sure that it was installed properly, I havent had any problems with my bike seat twisting (as other reviewers have noted) when puppy darts at a cat or a squirrel. There has only been one time when I have had any trouble with my dogs pulling and Im pretty sure that that was my fault. First of all, the streets were very slick and rainy, which would have made it slightly more difficult to maneuver with or without a dog attached to my bike. Second, I took the puppy for a run a little too late in the afternoon. It was very humid, so he couldnt comfortably maintain a run. We saw a man walking two dogs and, because we were going past so slowly, I actually did feel puppy pulling, for once. It felt like a strong tug, but I never actually lost my balance. Our slow speed must have caused this because he has darted in the same way before, but since we were going so much faster during those times, I never even felt a thing. The springs inside the Walkydog do a pretty good job of keeping the impact from pulling under control, though I wish they had smaller spring sizes so adjustment could be more accurate. As it is now, there are three large springs inside the Walkydog which can be removed for smaller breeds of dog. My dog is running on two springs, but I think he should have more like 2 1/2. If you do purchase this item, the main things to remember are to go at your dogs pace and to find a comfortable harness. If youre paranoid like me about your dog squirming out of his harness, you can also attach a head halter to your dog and hold the lead in one hand, just in case. This still allows you to keep both hands on your handlebars. Excellent product On: 2008-06-21I am old and out of shape and the dog is young and out of shape. I wanted to change that situation so I bought a bike and a walkydog. I love it and the dog gets a far superior workout than I could provide otherwise. I took the dog and hooked her up to my bike. We were off! I soon discovered a fact not mentioned in the walkydog literature: If ones bike is hooked up to a harnessed, running dog who has been cooped up all day, one does not need to peddle! In fact all one needs to do is hang on for dear life and pray the brakes work. It was hilarious and great! You will not be disappointed with this purchase. buy it you will love it! I do! On: 2008-06-18all i can say is WOW! such a simple sturdy design. easy installation. no training involved. my dog took right to it. what a great invention. I totally agree with all the things that others wrote. I love it and so does my hyper spaz black lab! well be using it all summer! and beyond! A must buy for an active dog! On: 2008-06-09I have a five-year old 65 pound Boxer. We live in an apartment and I cant run due to back problems. This is the perfect thing to use to give my dog plenty of exercise (in a shorter amount of time) and help me burn calories too. When we come across other dogs, squirrels, etc he has to stay with me and his jerking does not affect my riding. This is much safer then trying to hold a leash and bike at the same time. My dog absolutely loves it!! He cant stop grinning while he trots along beside me or after the ride. I have only used it three days but we are both hooked. It is easy to put on the bike and extremely easy to take detach the pole from bike or put back on. It didnt take my dog very long to figure out how to use it (~300 feet). I use two springs in it. Three springs seem to be too much tension for him. I would highly recommend this product to anyone that is looking for a good way to exercise their dog. I personally was wanting to be able to ride my bike without leaving my dog at home. Now I feel I can have both worlds and still keep us both safe. My dog was very comfortable being attached to the bike like this and has no issues figuring out which direction I am turning. He also walked fine on the leash when it was detached from the bike. An excellent design, an excellent product! You will not regret this purchase. I wish I bought it sooner!! Well worth the price! Great for high-energy dogs On: 2008-05-23I have a Siberian Husky who needs a lot of exercise and constantly pulls me when I walk him. I bought the WalkyDog so I could give him a quick and efficient workout in the mornings before I go to work. So far the WalkyDog has been great! I was worried that I would have problems with him pulling, since he is a strong dog and is usually VERY determined to smell other dogs on walks. But the WalkyDog handles it pretty well. One factor might be that when were moving at a moderate pace, he cant really slow down to has to focus on keeping up with the bike. Ive noticed that if Im riding at a slower pace he is able to tug a bit more. A few times he has lunged in such a way that it has twisted my seat post, but I blame that mostly on me not having my seat clamp tight enough. One other point I would like to bring up is that I have a harness for my dog. This prevents choking that he would get from a choker and it also gives my dog a bit more room, because the lead on the WalkyDog is rather short and my dog is a bit timid being so close to the moving bike (hes been hit by a car before). I dont know how this product compares to the Springer or similar products, but I found this one very easy to use and am benefiting greatly from it. The best option for biking with your dog(s) On: 2008-05-15The Walkydog is the best of all the Bicycle Leash Attachments. It is safe, sturdy, reliable, comfortable, and easy to use. It took my husband 5 minutes to attach two Walkdogs to our mountain bikes. They are very unobtrusive, and simple to use. Our dogs were not afraid to walk/run next to the bikes and were very comfortable. Customer concerns about it being in the way of your legs while peddaling should be alleviated, as it mounts to the seat post, and at an angle, is well away from your legs. Very well designed product. Well designed and convenient On: 2008-05-08My dog already knew how to run along with the bike. We practiced a summer with me holding on to her retractable leash until we got the hang of it. This being dangerous and tiring though I searched for a better way and found the Walky Dog and the Springer. After researching and carefully considering, I chose the Walky Dog. It is perfect. Well designed and solid it holds tightly to the bike with a clamp that has a release to pull off the extra arm when you dont need it. The spring system works well and I ride in security, as my 50 pound border collie runs along with. Id have to be moving very slowly and turning for her to pull me off balance. My only complaint is that the rope is a little short. She is kept in a pretty narrow zone next to the bike, which offers a sense of safety but also limits her flexibility in dealing with terrain. I may thread a new rope to add just 2-3 inches and give her more leeway. But I am working with it as is for now before deciding. This is an excellent product, although I would hesitate a bit to start a dog out on this as there isnt much opportunity to communicate in a gradual way. You are either going or not and the dog is pretty much compelled to go along. So be sure your dog understands the idea, isnt afraid of the bike and likes to run with you before you just hop on and go. A tired dog is a well behaved dog! On: 2008-04-30I ordered this because I have a high-energy doberman that I was worried wasnt getting enough exercise on walks and trips to the school yard. So, this arrived just as we were going out for our normal lunchtime walk. Well, about 5 minutes later I had it on the bike and we were off (very easy install!) I did walk the dog for a few minutes on it while it was attached to the bike prior to getting on the bike path to get her used to it. She was a little apprehensive at first but after a while her head finally came up and she had that "Im having total fun" look on her face. We covered about 4 times the ground during our normal 30-45 minute lunchtime walk... not to mention I got a workout too! I am 100% pleased with the product performance and construction. The spring-loaded leash component was a brilliant idea. Highly recommended! One of the best things I've bought for my dogs! On: 2008-04-26The walky dog is an awesome product! I have a Jack Russell terrier who is always FULL of energy. With the walky dog, I can safely bring her on bike rides with me. The walky dog keeps my dog away from the wheels, pedals, and spokes, while at the same time keeping her close. The springs in the walky dog keep her from pulling me or knocking the bike over, unlike a regular leash. I feel completly safe & secure (and so does she) when shes on her walky dog. Another great feature is that it clips on & off the bike very easily. You can even use the walky dog as an impromptu leash if necessary, although its not good for long distances, as it does get heavy. My Jack Russell gets so excited when I take the walky dog out for a bike ride! She will run next to my bike at about 20mph with no problem-- in fact, she usually is running so fast that I dont even have to pedal. We recently purchased a second walky dog for my chihuahua. Surprisingly, he keeps up pretty well! He feels so confident when he is running. After all, he thinks he is a great dane... little does he know, he only weighs 10 pounds. Overall, the walky dog is definitely one of the best products Ive ever bought my dogs. We have 2 walky dog leashes & 2 extra attachments (the walky dog comes with 1 attachment). This way, both my bike & my husbands bike have 2 connections. Therefore, either one of us can take both dogs for a run at the same time. Kira greatest invention On: 2008-04-16I love this product. Im a volunteer with a local dog rescue group and sometimes we get dogs in the program who really need exercise. The Walky dog is very easy to set up and use. I usually let the dogs get used to the walky dog for a few minutes and off we go. I actually bought a second one so now I can take 2 dogs at a time out for adventures. I tried the Springer too, but I found it too difficult to use. I had to superglue parts to the bike and wasnt able to transfer it quickly from one bike to another. I would highly recommend this product to anyone who wants to spend more time with their dog, has an active dog they cant keep up with physically, or a dog that really needs to let off some steam. Amazing Solution! On: 2008-04-12This is a fantastic idea! My 75-pound Brittany Spaniel/Golden Retriever mix LOVES to run. A previously injured foot flares up on occasion and this can make it uncomfortable for me to walk fast or jog. Concerned about his exercise needs, I purchased the WalkyDog as a possible solution. I was concerned about him darting off and crashing us both. My fears were unfounded and unrealized. The WalkyDog gave me the control and the enjoyment of being able to "run" alongside my friend with the majority of the work being done by him. I just had to apply the brakes and tell him to stop. At one point in our trial "run" he wanted to stop suddenly and confront a barking dog. Normally, when walking, this might have turned into an uncomfortable ordeal and involve alot of pulling. This time I felt a slight tug and just kept pedaling. Also very convenient is the detachable baton. A sliding ring, like an air hose fitting, quickly releases for an easy transition from outside to inside. I also purchased the Clamp for WalkyDog which is an additional clamp for my wifes bicycle for extra convenience. We finished circling the block with him panting and myself very comfortable. The WalkyDog is great as an alternative or additional activity. Pefect Design On: 2007-11-25The WalkyDog rod makes a perfect way to walk your dog, by keeping him to the rear and at a safe distance from the pedals, and from the front tire; he will not be able to cross in front of you or get his leash tangled in the tires. I have an 80-pound Standard Poodle, plus a 26-pound Cairn terrier (which I attach with an extra extension). They do all the normal dog stuff: Lurch after squirrels, try to stop and sniff other dogs or interesting smells at every pillar and post. But they have no choice but to go along with the bike. They cannot pull you over. It must have something to do with the lower center of gravity when attached to the post below the seat. They get so excited when they see me pick up the WalkyDog. They know theyre going for an adventure, and after theyre harnessed up, sidle right up to the bike ready to go. I snap the end into the clamp (very simple mechanism), and were off! I am a non-athletic woman in my 60s. So it doesnt take strength or vigor to bike with your dog. I wouldnt hesitate to recommend it to anyone who would like to combine exercise for themselves and their pets. An exercised pet is a happy pet. Wonderful Wonderful Product On: 2007-07-18This is the most wonderful product I have ever purchased for either my bike or my dog. I absolutely love it. I live in an apartment and it can be grueling to get my dog the exercise he needs but since I got this product a short thirty minute bike ride is all it takes to wear him out. Aside from this, though, the product is well-designed, keeping my dog a safe distance from the tires because of the foot long aluminum bar. I also keep the product at a slight angle, about 45 degrees, so that the few times my dog pulls sideways he physically cant pull me over. (Although even when it was at 90 degrees he never managed to pull me over, and I have a 80 pound dog who can pull me over on a leash when he wants to...) I used to ride my bike with the dog by holding his leash in my hand, but it wasnt until after I got the Walkydog that I realized how difficult that really was. Now I can keep both my hands on the handlebars, where they belong. I also love that the apparatus can be used as a detachable leash. This is great for rides to the dog park! As always, safety first. I would always recommend using this product with a bicycle helmet on (as you should be wearing in any event), and it is best to start out slowly at first, not only to work your dog up to more strenuous exercise, but to allow both you and your dog to get used to this new activity. I quite often use this while riding on the road in the bicycle lane, and I have my dog on the right of the bicycle to keep him away from traffic. All in all, I am extremely satisfied with this product, I just wish it was available at my local pet store. Dont be put off by the price, either. It is worth every penny you spend for it. I guarantee you will love it! Great fun for me and the dog both! On: 2006-10-27I purchased a WalkyDog so that I could take my 2 year old Basenji with me on some of my bike rides. Because it mounts on my seat post, the bike remains very stable even when the dog tries to veer off or jerks on the bike. The leash itself is very durable and is attached to a spring on the inside so that when the dog darts after a squirrel (which happens a lot with my dog!) he snaps right back to the normal running position. I tend to angle my WalkyDog arm backwards about 30 degrees rather than mounting it at a 90 degree angle to the bike, so were not very wide as we go down the bike trail. I think this is a wonderful product, and now I can indulge in my two favorite hobbies at the same time---bicycle riding and hanging out with my Basenji! |
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