It’s biking season!! The TART trails are wonderful for exploring this area, but, alas, Bryn would be left behind, as it would be difficult and dangerous to hold her leash and still control my bike. If she spotted a squirrel, or saw another dog, she’d bolt to chase them, and bang! Down I’d go, at speed, to re-break my half-healed shoulder, or my head or arm...
That possibility made me shudder.
But at the dog park Joe and I struck gold.
Dog owners exchange information and advice about the best groomers, toys, veterinarians, dog food- you name it. For example, I wanted to purchase dog poop bags that didn’t take forever to open. A woman suggested a better bag brand, and where to buy it.
A man mentioned that Tractor Supply carried a beach ball sized, heavy rubber ball with a handle, made for horses to play with. “They roll it all over the pasture, or toss and kick it around, and have a wonderful time. It works just dandy for dogs, too.” He went to his car to fetch his, and let his 60-pound dog demonstrate by rolling the enormous ball everywhere using his nose. “He’ll do that for a long time and wear himself out,” the owner commented. “It’s great exercise!”
Then, pay dirt! Another man standing with us suddenly piped up. “ You want a way to run Bryn safely next to your bike? My friend recently came across a really clever American invention online, called the Bike Tow Leash, or BTL. It’s pricey, but he and his wife absolutely love it. The inventor designed a strong, yet flexible gadget that won’t cause rider or dog any problems. Its design is really ingenious.”
We went home and immediately looked up ‘Bike Tow Leash’ on our laptop. It looked odd and was expensive- $145.00. But if it worked, Bryn could be part of our adventures. We hesitated over the price, but after watching movies of bikers demonstrating its effectiveness, and noticing that dogs towed their owners happily, and after reading the rave reviews, we ordered it. (There are cheaper versions, but I wouldn’t trust them, as their center of gravity is too high.)
A few days later, it came. I took it outside, attached it to the frame holding the rear wheel, and summoned Bryn. She studied that long, bright red, flexible arm sticking out 90 degrees (it comes in different colors, by the way, and snaps back onto the frame when not in use) and slunk off. It took a few firm calls to get her back.
She refused to even sniff it. It looks stupid, Boss…
Yeah, it did.
Determined to try it, I attached the gadget’s business end to the top of her harness, straddled the bike and peddled off slowly, before gradually moving to trotting speed.
She went along quietly, while shooting me Are you nuts? looks. I ignored them, and cheered her on.
Far down the alley I turned my head toward her again, saying “Good girl, you’re doing fine…”
She was gone. Just gone. The empty harness, though, still hung in the air at the correct distance from the ground as it obediently accompanied the bike.
Shocked and confused, I stopped and looked back. Bryn was by the garage with Joe, watching me. She’d slithered out, Houdini-style! I’d felt nothing!!
Except foolish.
Joe was doubled over, laughing. Actually, it was pretty funny, but in a sad way, because we’d have to send it back. Bryn would remain alone in the kitchen while we were out having fun. Rats.
But then, some Yankee stubbornness kicked in. I would NOT give up.
I put Bryn back into her harness and coaxed her, inch by reluctant inch, to my bike. I snapped on the BTL. She looked at me incredulously, hunched her back, made herself thin as toothpaste and simply backed out of it in two seconds flat.
Wow.
Third time’s the charm, I thought. I dragged her back, harnessed her again, knelt down, looked her straight in the eye, and said firmly, “No!! Don’t. Even. Think. About It.” She hunched anyway, shot me a glance- and thought better of it.
This time I got smart and slowly walked the bike from its right side, giving her time to adjust. An attached Bryn followed at heel on the left side, shooting me you know I can ooze away whenever I want to- looks. But I was the Alpha Dog. I shot her that look, and growled ‘No.’ She sighed, and allowed herself to be walked, as that seemed safe enough. But still, she’d hunch, relax, hunch, relax, to show what she could do if she felt like it.
I snarled, just to let her know she’d better not go thin.
We made a strange pair.
Finally I straddled the bike. “let’s go…” and peddled off. She trotted alongside stiffly, but never once oozed out and away. And about a block into it, a miracle. Her back unhunched. She began to relax and look around! Hey! We were a pair! Thrilled, I dared to grin as we moved briskly along, but I was still quite nervous. Our neighborhood was full of dogs. We’d absolutely meet some.
Oh, well, in for a penny, in for a pound. This gadget had to be tested.
Five blocks later the worst happened. Two big Labrador retrievers barked thunderously and threw themselves toward her from behind their fenced-in yard. My 50-pound yearling reared, then bolted toward them. Oh, God! The cement would be my pallet in another second…
Nothing happened.
The bike tow pole, unimpressed, had flexed an inch or two- and that was that.
My bicycle remained rock-steady.
On the way back- another potential nightmare at ten miles an hour! A fat rabbit dashed out of the shrubbery, right in front of us!! Bryn charged!
Same thing happened.
Nothing.
Heavens! The BTL worked!
I enjoyed the rest of that ride! Bryn was tired- and happy- when we came home.
She’d liked it, too!
Joe was elated!
So much will be possible, now!
That possibility made me shudder.
But at the dog park Joe and I struck gold.
Dog owners exchange information and advice about the best groomers, toys, veterinarians, dog food- you name it. For example, I wanted to purchase dog poop bags that didn’t take forever to open. A woman suggested a better bag brand, and where to buy it.
A man mentioned that Tractor Supply carried a beach ball sized, heavy rubber ball with a handle, made for horses to play with. “They roll it all over the pasture, or toss and kick it around, and have a wonderful time. It works just dandy for dogs, too.” He went to his car to fetch his, and let his 60-pound dog demonstrate by rolling the enormous ball everywhere using his nose. “He’ll do that for a long time and wear himself out,” the owner commented. “It’s great exercise!”
Then, pay dirt! Another man standing with us suddenly piped up. “ You want a way to run Bryn safely next to your bike? My friend recently came across a really clever American invention online, called the Bike Tow Leash, or BTL. It’s pricey, but he and his wife absolutely love it. The inventor designed a strong, yet flexible gadget that won’t cause rider or dog any problems. Its design is really ingenious.”
We went home and immediately looked up ‘Bike Tow Leash’ on our laptop. It looked odd and was expensive- $145.00. But if it worked, Bryn could be part of our adventures. We hesitated over the price, but after watching movies of bikers demonstrating its effectiveness, and noticing that dogs towed their owners happily, and after reading the rave reviews, we ordered it. (There are cheaper versions, but I wouldn’t trust them, as their center of gravity is too high.)
A few days later, it came. I took it outside, attached it to the frame holding the rear wheel, and summoned Bryn. She studied that long, bright red, flexible arm sticking out 90 degrees (it comes in different colors, by the way, and snaps back onto the frame when not in use) and slunk off. It took a few firm calls to get her back.
She refused to even sniff it. It looks stupid, Boss…
Yeah, it did.
Determined to try it, I attached the gadget’s business end to the top of her harness, straddled the bike and peddled off slowly, before gradually moving to trotting speed.
She went along quietly, while shooting me Are you nuts? looks. I ignored them, and cheered her on.
Far down the alley I turned my head toward her again, saying “Good girl, you’re doing fine…”
She was gone. Just gone. The empty harness, though, still hung in the air at the correct distance from the ground as it obediently accompanied the bike.
Shocked and confused, I stopped and looked back. Bryn was by the garage with Joe, watching me. She’d slithered out, Houdini-style! I’d felt nothing!!
Except foolish.
Joe was doubled over, laughing. Actually, it was pretty funny, but in a sad way, because we’d have to send it back. Bryn would remain alone in the kitchen while we were out having fun. Rats.
But then, some Yankee stubbornness kicked in. I would NOT give up.
I put Bryn back into her harness and coaxed her, inch by reluctant inch, to my bike. I snapped on the BTL. She looked at me incredulously, hunched her back, made herself thin as toothpaste and simply backed out of it in two seconds flat.
Wow.
Third time’s the charm, I thought. I dragged her back, harnessed her again, knelt down, looked her straight in the eye, and said firmly, “No!! Don’t. Even. Think. About It.” She hunched anyway, shot me a glance- and thought better of it.
This time I got smart and slowly walked the bike from its right side, giving her time to adjust. An attached Bryn followed at heel on the left side, shooting me you know I can ooze away whenever I want to- looks. But I was the Alpha Dog. I shot her that look, and growled ‘No.’ She sighed, and allowed herself to be walked, as that seemed safe enough. But still, she’d hunch, relax, hunch, relax, to show what she could do if she felt like it.
I snarled, just to let her know she’d better not go thin.
We made a strange pair.
Finally I straddled the bike. “let’s go…” and peddled off. She trotted alongside stiffly, but never once oozed out and away. And about a block into it, a miracle. Her back unhunched. She began to relax and look around! Hey! We were a pair! Thrilled, I dared to grin as we moved briskly along, but I was still quite nervous. Our neighborhood was full of dogs. We’d absolutely meet some.
Oh, well, in for a penny, in for a pound. This gadget had to be tested.
Five blocks later the worst happened. Two big Labrador retrievers barked thunderously and threw themselves toward her from behind their fenced-in yard. My 50-pound yearling reared, then bolted toward them. Oh, God! The cement would be my pallet in another second…
Nothing happened.
The bike tow pole, unimpressed, had flexed an inch or two- and that was that.
My bicycle remained rock-steady.
On the way back- another potential nightmare at ten miles an hour! A fat rabbit dashed out of the shrubbery, right in front of us!! Bryn charged!
Same thing happened.
Nothing.
Heavens! The BTL worked!
I enjoyed the rest of that ride! Bryn was tired- and happy- when we came home.
She’d liked it, too!
Joe was elated!
So much will be possible, now!