Newbie question time: Just how bad an idea is this?

[Beldanan]

Hi All,

I'd like some input from you all as to how bad an idea this is exactly. You see I have this problem. I have a young Irish Wolfhound that I obtained nearly 2 years ago with the idea of him being my on lead jogging partner as part of my health/fitness regime. Fast forward 18 months and a 2nd knee operation later and my doctors are now telling me that my jogging days are over. More over, I should probably save my walking for when I really need it. There goes the whole 10k steps a day on my fitbit! So now I have the problem of how to exercise my IW. I was going to re-home him but it will break the hearts of a lot of people I care about if I do that. And he is already way too droopy and weak looking in the rear end for his age so I simply must resolve this. No one else is really able to walk him as they aren't confident due to his size or are simply not interested (teen age boys!)

So after dismissing idea's like cycling with him (it will end horribly for me!) & roller-blading with him at the local rec reserve cycle track (I have no ankle ligaments from football!), I hit upon the idea of triking around the rec reserve track with him attached to a rack at the back of the trike at night when there are no cyclists using it. I would have to use a heavy duty self retracting lead to attach him so there is no slack.

Sounds like a really bad idea still hey? Looking at the worst things that could go wrong;

1. He snaps the lead. Potentially runs into traffic 50 metres away. Its a risk.
2. He pulls suddenly and causes a crash. Partially mitigated by wearing helmet, knee & elbow pads & long clothing. Keeping speed low ie 15kph?
3. Hazards from other riders. Solved by not riding if others are about.

Thoughts? Thanks in advance.

[OldBloke]

Beldanan, There are some posts in the Recumbent Trikes Group on Facebook about triking with dogs.
This is one example: https://www.facebook.com/groups/4363008 ... 814670833/

Similarly in the TadpoleRider group on Facebook. For example: https://www.facebook.com/groups/4553380 ... 875302702/

There might be some ideas there.

OB

[Beldanan]

Thanks a lot! Checking it out now...

[Comedian]

I'm not sure which state you are in.. but it's illegal in QLD.

I still see it all the time though. Just recently a friend who had been doing it for years had their dog into their front wheel. Given I love dogs this makes me sad. The poor dog was pretty hurt.

The other thing to consider is that it might not be you that your dog takes down. I've seen this too. Personally if someones dog took me down I'd be doing my best to get them in as much trouble as I could.

[redsonic]

An Irish Wolfhound that is weak and droopy in the back legs could have hip or stifle joint problems. I would get a vet to go over him before starting to run him beside a trike.

[fatherofmany]

I'm not sure which state you are in.. but it's illegal in QLD.

Illegal to have a dog attached to a bike in NSW too even on bike paths

[RonK]

This looks about Irish Wolfhound sized...

Large Dog Treadmill

[Comedian]

I'm not sure which state you are in.. but it's illegal in QLD.

Illegal to have a dog attached to a bike in NSW too even on bike paths

I was of the opinion that basically anything to do with owning or operating a bike was illegal in NSW

[fatherofmany]

I'm not sure which state you are in.. but it's illegal in QLD.

Illegal to have a dog attached to a bike in NSW too even on bike paths

I was of the opinion that basically anything to do with owning or operating a bike was illegal in NSW

Pretty damned close Comedian, I do believe that the closer you get to Sydney, the more illegal it gets. I'm on the Central Coast and don't have too many problems like our velobros a bit further south.