My mutt Ace and I tested the WalkyDog dog bike leash from The Dog Outdoors. This dog bike leash is great for the right human and dog pair, especially if you have an active dog that can’t seem to get enough exercise.
When I say “hands free bike leash” or “bike leash for dogs,” I am referring to the WalkyDog bike leash. I have not tested other brands of bike leashes such as the Springer bike leash or the K-9 Bike Jogger.
The WalkyDog is a bike leash designed so people can keep both hands on the bike without holding or tying the leash. One side of the WalkyDog bike leash attaches to the bar beneath the bike’s seat. The other side clips to the dog’s collar, holding the dog securely and safely in place.
The WalkyDog bike leash has a quick release ability so in an emergency or if I want to walk Ace, I can quickly detach the leash section from my bike without unscrewing the entire tool. This also came in handy when I first installed the bike leash attachment. I did not have to attach Ace to the bike until seconds before I was ready to ride.
Biking with your dog
Taking your dog biking is a great way to have fun and get some exercise, but it is dangerous if the dog is not under control. A hands free bike leash makes sure the human is the leader, not the dog.
Even if you already bike with your dog, it will take some time to get used to the dog biking leash. Don’t rush it.
Ace and I have been biking together for two years, but I went back to the basics with him the first time I tried the WalkyDog. I kept him on the left side of the bike while I wheeled it between us. You can set up the bike attachment so your dog is on the right or left. Once on the bike, I made sure not to go too fast at first.
Who should use a hands free bike leash?
Dogs with decent leash manners
The WalkyDog is perfect for dogs that have good leash manners and respect for a loose leash. Since the WalkyDog is a hands free leash, the human can’t correct the dog with leash pops. There are other ways to communicate with the dog while biking such as verbally or simply stopping whenever the dog pulls.
People who bike in heavy traffic or in the wilderness
The WalkyDog bike leash is good for people who want to do some serious biking with their dogs out on trails or through traffic. These are times when having both hands on the bars is very important for safety reasons.
Athletic, shorthaired dogs
The WalkyDog bike leash is great for tall, active dogs. Let’s face it, even when we run with our dogs, we can’t always run for as long as they would like. Biking is a great way to make up for it. With a bike leash, you can go the speed your dog wants – fast!
Tall and fit shorthaired dogs will generally do the best with a bike leash, but I’m not out to discourage anyone from using this product. Any dog could potentially tag along on bike rides. If you have a small or short dog, check out the low-rider attachment sold at The Dog Outdoors.
I have the WalkyDog on hand to use with foster dogs, and I like having a hands free bike leash for my Fargo dog running clients that want to pick up the pace a bit.
People who need both hands on the bike
The bike leash is a good tool for people who are not comfortable biking with one hand. It’s also a good tool for someone who needs to focus on riding rather than controlling the dog. It takes time to be comfortable biking with a dog, and the WalkyDog bike leash is a good way to hold the dog in place while the rider focuses on not falling!
Someone biking with her dog for the first time
If you have never biked with your dog, then a hands free bike leash like the WalkyDog is a good way to start. It will help teach your dog to remain at your side.
Who should not use a hands free bike leash?
Untrained dogs
It is not safe to use a hands free dog bike leash with dogs that do not know how to walk on a loose leash. It might be OK with a dog under 40 pounds or so, but a large dog is capable of causing the biker to loose control. If your dog has no leash manners, then practice some obedience and loose-leash walking before biking with him.
Bikers who want to give leash corrections
Since a bike leash like the WalkyDog is hands free, it is not possible to give the dog corrections when he pulls. As a result, the dog is able to pull and pull and pull. The WalkyDog bike leash is designed with springs and a bungee to reduce the force noticed by the biker, but this does not make up for the dog getting used to a tight leash.
Dogs that have already been trained to bike without a special leash
My mutt Ace is trained to walk nicely on a leash. Because of this, a bike attachment is not necessary for us. I am kind of an old man and set in my ways, so it took me awhile to admit I like the WalkyDog. Now that I have one, I use it almost every day! Whether you and your dog should use a bike leash is totally up to you.
Ace is used to walking with his head further forward than the WalkyDog bike leash allows. Because of this, it took us some time to get used to a bike leash. He had a tendency to pull while trying to get closer to my front tire where he typically runs. It took two or three biking sessions for him to realize if he stays back he will be more comfortable. You can see us in the video below.
What collar is best while biking with my dog?
The type of collar your dog wears while biking is up to you. There is not one collar that will work best with every dog.
The Dog Outdoors recommends a harness with the WalkyDog and sells one specifically designed for comfort and control while biking. I’m skeptical of harnesses because a harness makes pulling easier for the dog. Pulling is the last thing I want to encourage.
A training collar such as a pinch collar will give you the most control over your dog, but a pinch collar can’t be used properly when attached to a bike leash. The dog will likely keep the collar tight the whole time, defeating the purpose of a “training” collar.
Ace wore his regular nylon collar while attached to the WalkyDog. You’ll have to experiment and find what collar works best for you. A head collar like the Gentle Leader did not work well because of Ace’s height in relation to the WalkyDog. This won’t be the case for all dogs.
Other hands free bike leashes
There are other hands free bike leashes out there such as the Springer bike leash and the K-9 Bike Jogger bike leash. These are different than the WalkyDog, and I have not tested them.
Bike leash or not, I am a big fan of biking with dogs. It is a great way to get in some much-needed exercise. If you are into outdoor recreation with your dog, make sure to check out the WalkyDog and other products from The Dog Outdoors.
Don’t forget your helmet!
Do you bike with your dog? Do you use a hands free bike leash?
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August 12th, 2009 at 9:39 am
Very cool even though I know I won’t be using it. It would end up as a funny video though if I tried to use it with Gus. I could just imagine.
August 12th, 2009 at 9:50 am
Ha, yeah. I didn’t think you would be biking with Gus anytime soon!
August 12th, 2009 at 10:42 am
That really looks like fun. But I’m afraid it wouldn’t work for my four guys at once.
August 12th, 2009 at 12:23 pm
No probably not. Maybe one at a time?
August 12th, 2009 at 5:13 pm
We were looking for something like this earlier this summer when we decided to start biking with Fresca. She can be a hand full when we take her out. she is good on a leash we just can’t go fast enough for her and still stay in control. I will have to show it to the Husband and see what he thinks.
August 12th, 2009 at 5:37 pm
Let me know if you get one!
August 12th, 2009 at 8:54 pm
The WalkyDog is the same thing as the K-9 Bike Jogger – the WalkyDog changed its name. I have two – one for each dog. My husband has one on his bike, and I have one on mine. We have a great time biking with our dogs!
August 12th, 2009 at 8:55 pm
One other thing I meant to say – We have our dogs on the right, so that we are between them and any traffic. I would recommend that, since the dogs are smaller and harder for a driver to see.
August 12th, 2009 at 11:46 pm
I keep Ace on the left because I always bike against traffic. That way he is by the curb. But that’s because I bike in neighborhoods where there are few cars. Usually I’m on the sidewalk.
August 13th, 2009 at 10:17 am
We love our WalkyDog for our Aussies. Since I am not a runner, it allows them to run and really work off some of that pent up energy they always seem to have. I had another no name brand leash that attached to my back tire and it was so scary because if the dog pulled the slightest bit the back tire would come around on you. The WalkyDog has been a much better investment!
August 13th, 2009 at 10:22 am
Yikes, that does sound scary. Glad you’re using the WalkyDog with your Aussies. I’m sure they need the exercise! I wish more people would do the same.
August 13th, 2009 at 5:46 pm
I purchased a WalkyDog for my border collie mix, and it was the BEST investment I have ever made for her, and I! It takes alot to wear Shiloa out, and, the WalkyDog does it. I also take her mountain biking with me, but, she’s off lead in the woods. She is a very well trained dog, so, it’s easy to take her out…I would HIGHLY recommend this product to anyone who wants to consider biking with their dog. But, the dog does need to be pretty well trained!
August 13th, 2009 at 7:35 pm
Thanks for your input, Pat! You have a lucky dog!
August 17th, 2009 at 4:02 pm
I’m so glad to hear the positive experiences using the WalkyDog! I just wanted to clarify one thing from one of the previous comments. The WalkyDog is not the same thing as the K9 bike jogger. These products are created by two completely separate companies. The WalkyDog has been around for over 7 years. The bike jogger is a knock off product that just came out this year. I can’t speak to the quality of the bike jogger because I haven’t used it before, but I have noticed numerous companies attempting to market this product as the “new WalkyDog” – this is not the case. I can understand how the 2 products could easily be confused because of this.
Thank you Lindsay for the very thorough review. If anyone has any questions or would like to learn more about the official WalkyDog bike leash, please feel free to contact me.
August 17th, 2009 at 4:09 pm
Thank you Scott! Ace and I are using the WalkyDog all the time now!
August 22nd, 2009 at 2:22 am
Thanks for a well researched article… I loved who should and should not use this…
Im just learning to walk both danes at the same time…lol, but I could see with my sons confidence and ability on a bike (he has skateboarded with them) that this would work for him and one of the girls…
Im thinking that if you did this with a young, athletic dog that they would grow with it… but you also need the confidence to attempt it… not a job for the learner..
With the quick release, can this happen in emergencys or because of the dog (running off etc) or only for the rider?
August 22nd, 2009 at 10:26 am
The quick release would not work in an emergency unless the owner actually popped it off. It can’t come off if the dog pulls, either. I suppose if someone was worried, they could always use one of those breakaway collars, but I wouldn’t recommend it because then the collar would just pop off if the dog pulls. I’ve dealt with many strong pullers!
And yes, it does take some time to teach the dog to get used to biking.
September 1st, 2009 at 8:16 pm
The quick release on the Springer Dog Exerciser (www.springeramerica.com) pops automatically when your dog goes on the other side of a post. You can see how it works in their video at springeramerica.storesecured.com/video
We prefer the Springer over Walky Dog because the large steel spring on the Springer absorbs most of the tugs that a large dog can create on a run.
September 2nd, 2009 at 9:04 am
That feature would be a good one to have. I don’t see this happening often, but accidents do happen. The WalkyDog absorbs all the tugs as well, which is nice.
September 20th, 2009 at 7:26 am
I took my GSD out for the first time today on a walkydog…we both loved it! we are lucky to have a large flat country park at the back of our house so dont have to go far & the surface is perfect.
He took to it like a fish to water – literally I just got on the bike & started pedalling and he just jogged along side….what a fantastic buy…
I noticed there has been a comment about younger dogs using this – the maker says dogs under 2yrs shouldnt use this product. Dogs esp Large breed dogs are slow maturing & their grow plates and joints are very important and shouldnt be overworked – I wouldnt recommend this for young dogs.
September 20th, 2009 at 9:23 am
I’m glad you and your German shepherd like the WalkyDog bike leash! That’s great that he picked up on it so quickly. I’ve found that to be the case with some dogs. With others, it takes more time to introduce the bike.
If young dogs go biking or running, just make sure the pace is kept slow and not to work the dog too long. When in doubt, check with your vet or breeder. Each dog is different.
September 28th, 2009 at 12:38 pm
[...] Buy a bike leash. A hands free bike leash comes in handy because that means you can have both hands on the bike. You won’t have to hold the [...]
October 26th, 2009 at 10:43 am
in an earlier comment, you mention riding against traffic with your dog. You might want to check with your local bike laws…in California, bikers have to follow the same rules as autos and I believe you can actually get a ticket for riding on the sidewalk or riding against traffic. Not only that, but most drivers dont expect a biker to be coming from the opposite direction…sounds like an accident wiating to happen. I think the idea of keeping your dog to your right is good since it does protect them from traffic. Thanks for the review though, it was great!
October 26th, 2009 at 10:45 am
Your points are very valid and that is something everyone should consider. I choose to keep my dog on the left in “heel position” because that is where he is used to being when we walk (against traffic). But as for biking, sometimes we are against traffic and sometimes we are with traffic. We live in a very quiet area and only bike where there are very few cars. It would be different if we lived somewhere busier or biked among a lot of cars. I will keep what you said in mind. Thanks.
October 30th, 2009 at 9:55 am
[...] recommend this if you have a reactive dog that easily gets excited around other dogs. 5. Consider a bike leash. A dog biking leash makes biking much safer in some circumstances because it allows the dog [...]
November 10th, 2009 at 2:54 am
.., whew.. nice video though I probably wont do that.. how can you stop the dog from pulling his leash? that would be hard for him..
November 19th, 2009 at 2:06 am
its nice,, you and your dog looks like walking in the street,but its also dangerous,what if your dog was running so fast,you cannot stop him because the force was on him,em i right…
November 19th, 2009 at 10:22 am
You’re right, it can be dangerous if the dog is not kept under control at all times. I am always aware of my dog and never go too fast. I also would be hesitant to bike with a dog larger than my 65-pound mutt.