There’s no doubt that dogs need regular exercise, but humans tend to overestimate how much exercise dogs can handle, and some commonplace methods of exercise, like running them alongside a bicycle, can lead to injury when a strong animal and a leash is involved.
“I shudder when I see people riding a bicycle,” with a dog, Harvey Isman says, “because most people have the leash secured with their hands while it’s on the handlebar.” If the dog pulls the bike over, the rider ends up eating pavement. The Kickbike however, is becoming increasingly popular as a safe exercise option, and Harvey Isman says it’s as easy as step on, push, and go. A modified scooter originally developed by a medical student in Finland as a way to train for the sport of kick-sledding during the warm months, the Kickbike has a platform for the foot that is just inches off the ground. You’re essentially standing, so dismounting is quick and safe. Isman was so impressed with his Kickbike that he is now a licensed distributor of the product.
Isman jogged with his dog until he was sidelined by double hip replacement surgery 10 years ago. Discovering the Kickbike revived his joy of exercising, and now Isman and his 55-pound pit bull Kharma get an effective workout everyday. “It’s an all-body workout similar to cross-country skiing,” Isman says. “You use all your muscles, whereas on a bike you’re just sitting.” According to the International Kicksled and Scooter Association (iksaworld.com), the activity burns about 40 percent more calories per hour than biking.
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Connie Manning, owner of Bare Bones Dog Wash, also has a hip injury, but in her case sitting on a bicycle is more manageable than standing, so she’s using a Kickbike to train her dog Nina, a Labrador-Vizsla mix, to ride alongside her on a bicycle. “It’s a great way to exercise your dog until you get them conditioned to go with the bicycle,” Manning says. “Nina gets so excited when we start that she’ll pull me for a block and a half before she calms down,” says Manning, “so with a Kickbike the chance of injury is a lot less because you can just step off.“
Isman ties Kharma either to his waist or to the scooter with a 4-foot lead and a harness. “With a Kickbike, you’re running at a speed that is more comfortable for the dog,” Isman says. “Most bicyclists run their dogs too fast, and it’s easy to do because it’s a much faster vehicle.” Manning observes that because the Kickbike is powered by your legs and not by a pedal, “you’re going to get tired before your dog gets tired.”
Another issue is that most bikes are ridden on flat, paved surfaces that are hard on a dog’s tender paw pads, particularly on hot days when the dogs are treading on scorching asphalt. “Dogs don’t have an efficient cooling system,” says Isman, and when the dog’s person is sitting on a bike seat, they often don’t notice just how hot the asphalt or concrete sidewalk really is.
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Jody Maddox, owner of Wags Dog Emporium, recommends booties if you can’t run your dog on bark trails or sand. Her favorite is the Grip Trex boot by Bend-based manufacturer Ruff Wear. “They have heavier soles and are made for dogs who hike on lava trails,” Maddox says. “Their Skyliner boots are not as heavy, a little slicker, they’re made for hot pavement.”
During hot weather, a cooling vest is a good investment for active dogs. Maddox likes the lightweight Swamp Cooler, also by Ruff Wear. “All you have to do is dunk it in water. It’s reflective and it fits the dog well. “
Another item she recommends is the Chase It. Less about safety than convenience, the toy has a stuffed squirrel on the end of a string that’s attached to a rod. “It’s nice for people who have worked all day long,” she says. “They’re tired and don’t want to walk their dog so they can use this in their backyard. You don’t have to do anything. You just stand there, you can even have a glass of wine.”
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When dogs get the exercise they need—safely—they’re happier, sleep better, and are more calm when left alone. And that makes their humans happier too.
Kickbike Northwest
425 N 9th St., Cottage Grove
541/942-5307
kickbikenw.com
Wags Dog Emporium
485 Coburg Rd. # G
541/338-8801
wagsdog.com
SAFE FUN WITH YOUR FURRY ONES
Pack along plenty of fresh water in a bowl that can’t be knocked over.
Limit exercise in hot weather. Dogs don’t know how to limit themselves.
Have your dog wear booties if it’s too hot for you to walk barefoot.
Never tie a dog’s leash to a bike or baby stroller.
