Hi Smylinacha.  Just wanted to say, we use the walky dog, and we have 2 GSPs.  I run them separately, as well as together sometimes.  We purchased 2 walky dogs.   If you can teach Velvet the "leave it " command, she will probably be okay.   Mine have SUPER high prey drive, and have run after squirrels, dogs, cats, and even frogs.  The leave it command has helped tremendously, as has diffusing the situation BEFORE it escalates to high gear.....and early "leave it" command, righ when those ears perk up, and/or changin course.   I had ONE emergent stop, and that was when I was biking with both of them, and about 15 birds flew away from the grass in someone's yard.  Yep....the leave it command did NOTHING in that instance, and I had to hit the brakes, and jump off my seat, straddling the bike with feet firmly planted on the ground and brakes locked!!  I probably would have been okay, but didn't want to risk it.  Also, I have noticed, if they have been running on a daily basis and getting plenty of exercise, the need to chase is diminished significantly.   It matters tremendoulsy, where along the bike run, a piece of prey is spotted!  In the beginning of the run, its serious!   Near the end, the ears don't even perk up!  We also started biking late at night.   There are fewer critters out, and even if they are out, the dogs don't see them!   Give it a try!  

Lol! Wow Jupiter!  I think I would be scarred for life too if that had happened to me.  I have read all to many reports of dogs getting in front of the front tires and causing problems such as your catastrophy.  Because of that, I will never do Bikjorring!  The dogs pull from in front.  That is far too scary as well!   The key to successfully biking with your dog is to have the proper equipment!  The Walky Dog is VERY safe, and the leash that extends from the WalkyDog if very short.  I have purchased the extension and mine run with the extension as well.  The extension allows them a little more freedom to run a little further from the bike, and allows for greater spring action as well. However, it is NOT long enough to allow them to run in front of the front tire.  If you go to thedogoutdoor.com, you can see video reports and countless, countless positive results.  I was very skeptical at first.  I am super happy that I made the purchase......walking, or even jogging are not enough for our two pistols!   We were having to take them to the dog park daily for 2 hours in the morning, AND come home and walk with them for 2 hours in the evening.   The biking is 20-40 minutes a day total!   I don't have 4 hours a day to spend exercising the dogs!!  Lol!   I'm happy that Max gets enough exercise walking or jogging!  You are lucky!!

 I'm so glad!   I also have to warn you though about ONE more thing I forgot about, and it happens to me on EVERY bike run.....they BOTH decide, at different times when I take them together, and at some point in the journey when I take them separately, that they need to poop.  So, take along poop bags!  It's not too fun to be lit up like neon under a street lamp, when your dog decides "it's TIME".....and there are 2 cars coming......and you have no poop bags!  VERY embarrassing, to say the least!  Also, when they have to stop they give signals.  If I don't pick up on the signal, they WILL go....in the STREET.  You will feel a sudden tug backwards, and it's a hard tug when they put on their brakes. You have to be careful Stella doesn't back up out of her harness, it's that hard.  IF however, you are an astute dog owner....unlike me...you will notice Stella start to use her nose a little, and sort of veer right or left, whichever side the grass is on!  When this happens, LISTEN! Go ahead and pull over and let her do her thing.  This will avoid the scary jolt of her putting the brakes on, it will avoid the tug on her joints as well.  Kaido slammed on his brakes pulled so hard tonight, he has a very small part on his pad that was rubbed of.  Like an abrasion to us.  Now I have to wait to run him!  Hopefully you can learn from all the mistakes I've made with my two.  That's the ONLY reason I've posted this crazy stuff!    Also, pay attention to when she quits running, and moves to a slow trot.  When my two start the slow trot, I give them 10-15 more minutes and we call it good.  Tonight they ran full speed for only 5 minutes, and then went into a lope for a couple of minutes.  The rest of the time was spent at a slow trot.  It was very hot.  I ran Kaido last night for 30 minutes and I think it was too long.  He was still panting about 20 minutes after we got home. I had to wipe him down with cool rags for awhile and feed him ice chips.  So, tonight.....I didn't do that!!     I'm telling you, I have learned SO much with these tow by trial and error.  Learn to read Stella's cues..and she WILL give them.  Come on WINTER!!  MY GSP's NEED TO RUN FOR MORE THAN 20 minutes!!  LOL!   I'm very excited for you.  Just so you know, I have only been biking with the Walky Dog, officially, for 3 weeks.  So, I'm sort of new to this as well.   I know it's a bit expensive, but I REALLY suggest purchasing the Walky dog, the harness, and the harness pads.  Don't start at the local store!  I know I've said it many times.....it's just very important.  Scott's site is SO well laid out, there is even a video on how to measure for the harness, and a special table on the exact length the pads need to be depending on what size, and what type you purchase.  He thought of everything.  I will say, I purchases a large for Maybrie and an extra large for Kaido.  Based on the table, I purchased the protective pads.  They pads were a bit small for Maybries, and a PERFECT for Kaido. I think would have rather purchased 2 larger pads, and cut Maybries to size it better.  However, she has not had ANY more abrasions or problems with rubbing from the harness.  

One more thing.....HAVE FUN, JENA and STELLA!

 Thanks for the link, Jena.  I was unable to locate my post, or the post announcing 2 GSPs...hmmm.   The link took me straight to the home page where it allows you to click on the review stars, or the "see what other customers are saying."     I am really curious. 

This is the very first paragraph....I just copied and pasted from the email I sent Scott.  Let me know if this is it.  If so, I will  ask Scott why I can't see my review!!    Lol!   I wrote a page, but the gist of everything, I have already shared with you.  The first part is the "Kudos" part.....the rest just shares my experience!"   

"We are proud owners of  two 10 month old German Shorthair Pointers, (brother/sister littermates) who by nature MUST run DAILY!    Due to a couple of aggressive encounters at our local dog park, we decided to look for healthier alternatives to aid in energy expenditure.  Walking doesn’t cut it!  My search led me to The Outdoor Dog website, and ultimately to the purchase of 2 Walky Dogs, 2 harnesses, 2 fleece strap protectors,  2 leash extenders, and 2 puppy water bottles!     I am SO thankful for this company’s approach to customer service, both for the ‘peoples and the pups!’  The website and the helpful videos  posted by Scott, greatly aided my shopping endeavor.   The pups  thoroughly enjoy the  biking experience, and it tires them out in half the time the dog park did!     The ordering process was amazing, and Scott was there to help every step of the way via, emails, website videos, testimonials, etc.  GREAT company!    The following offers a synopsis of my journey into the Walky Dog experience…..a  welcomed and new way of living for my family and our beautiful pups!   

 Wow!!  Thanks Jena!  That's the one!  I think I am even more impressed with that company!  I thought for sure they had all the reviews they needed, but he actually posted mine too!  Nice!   Well, Jena, I wish you a Stella many wonderful rides!!   If you live in Texas, and you order from Scott on Friday morning, you will receive the shipment on Monday!  It's SUPER fast!   They ship all orders over 120.00 the same day.   They live in Austin, and we live in Houston.....3 hours away. Oh......and if you live in Texas, the 1 1/2 hour ride I spoke of in the review is WAY too much!!  That's the ride Maybrie collapsed on!  That was a one time deal!  Now that I'm a bit smarter, we bike only 20-30 minutes!!   Enjoy, and don't hesitate to ask if you need any help!  The one single piece of advice I can give is to keep in mind, "The ride is  for and all about Stella!" Don't try to get a great workout for yourself.  It won't happen!   Not initially anyway.  (I'm still waiting!) If I feel I need more, after I cool them off, I go back out on my own for my personal workout!  It's just too hot, and they are not conditioned yet.  They are still pups! 

ENJOY!

Kelly

Yep!  The helmet came in quite handy!   Mine together way  130.   That's what I weigh, but I swear when they give it their all and I'm not prepared, it might as well be 500/130!   I have been going over and over and over in my head how I could have prevented what happened yesterday.  I heard the lady call her dog, my dogs' ears' went up, and they were gone....it was that fast.  I have decided, first of all, to stay off that street!  Second, I think as SOON as I hear someone call a name outside, I will ASSUME the worst is about to happen and just straddle the bike feet planted firmly.....while hollering the "Leave it Command" .....which really doesn't work if the other dog is coming to your dogs....urghhg!   I despise small dogs, (sorry to the blended families out there)!    I have never seen one without "little dog syndrome."    Nevermind that my dogs immediately go into "prey" mode.  GAME ON!   I really do NOT want to wipe out again.  I'm SO sore!   I was supposed to bike with them again tonight....it's just not gonna happen!  

 Heel is hard!   My breeder/trainer lady helped me tremendously.  Mine would walk next to me AFTER a 2 hour dog park trip and a prong collar.  I took her back to my breeder, just to say hello, and while there, asked her the best way to teach "heel."  She asked which one was the biggest issue and we told her Maybrie.  She took Maybrie and within 2 minutes the girl had it DOWN!!   I told her that I gave Maybrie correction after correction, but it did NOTHING!  She told me that was because Maybrie didn't know WHY she was being corrected.  In otherwords, she didn't understand the reason it was important for her to walk at a heel position.    She demonstrated by giving her a tug and pulling her another direction when she wasn't paying attention.  It worked like a charm!  Maybrie started looking at her for direction!  Our breeder would abruptly change directions and if she followed, even if slowly, she received no correction, only praise.  It was amazing!  She is the female version of the "dog whisperer!"     She heels on the bike as well because she has "almost" been run over by the front tire of the bike.    I freaked and slammed the brakes which made a HORRIBLE screeching sound .  It freaked HER out, and she heels now!!   UNLESS a yappy dog runs towards her......then ALL bets are off!     Sorry you have to deal with a crazy snauzer!   We have two yorkies who are ALWAYS off leash and coming into our yard.   My husband says he wishes they would do it one day OURS are off leash!!  Lol!   That day will NEVER happen!     We have too many stray cats, and squirrels and rabbits in our neighborhood......and TOO MANY CARS!  Our house backs up near where two major roads intersect.  We are 3 culdesacs away from disaster if they ever got loose.  

 ooohhh!! LOVE that idea!!  bb gun!!  Ooohhhh.....pellet gun!   My husband has actually used a pellet gun on an aggressive shepherd that kept jumping over our fence when we lived in Colorado.  We called the police and animal control, talked to the neighbors and NOTHING works......finally, my husband decided to take matters into his own hands.  Pellet gun did the trick!  We didn't have other pets to worry about, but we did have a 2 year old that LOVED to go outside.  The yards were separated by only 4 foot chain linked fence and that stupid shephard LOVED to come over into our yard for some crazy reason.   

Did anyone answer your question on biking an 11 month old dog?  My suggestion would be the dog is too young as their growth plates are not closed.  Are you biking them where they run in the grass, pavement, packed dirt?

I would certainly take it easier than say a 2 year old dog.

No doubt you want to burn off the energy, but personally that sounds like too much if they are collapsing as soon as they come in.  Perhaps you should stop and rest half way and get them to drink.

I too do not so much agree about bloat but I don't think that eating the ice cubes really cools them down as it restricts the blood flow in their tounge which is where they release the heat .  That is why the tounge will get larger and more red as the blood is being cooled as it circulates there.

Roz.

 Smylinacha!   You're too funny!!