More Information About The Bike Tow Leash:The 1-Running-Dog Bike Tow Leash® dog bicycle attachment was invented by entrepreneur, Mike Leon who is well versed in both dog behavior and engineering. Leon - a former airline equipment engineer - put 6 years into developing the perfect dog bike leash. The flexible yet resilient materials on the Bike Tow Leash are unlike any other dog bike leash on the market. The patented flexible mast of the Bike Tow Leash encourages the dog to stay away from the pedals, while allowing them to pull you along or fall back when navigating through tight spaces. It really takes seeing the Bike Tow Leash in action to understand how it works. Check out the videos tab above.
Mike has become a good friend of ours over the past year since we began selling the Bike Tow Leash. He and his family are just all around good people. Mike has always had a soft spot in his heart for dogs and he clearly engineered this bike leash system with their utmost safety in mind as well as that of the rider. Read more of Mike's story below.
Mike's Story (as told by Mike):My name is Mike Leon, mechanical engineer, avid bike rider, service dog trainer and inventor of the 1-Running-Dog Bike Tow Leash.
After the 9-11 terrorist attacks, my family and I started raising service dog puppies for individuals with disabilities as a way of giving back to our community and country. In honor of those lost, we named our first puppy Tribute.
Raising service dog puppies is a wonderful volunteer opportunity, which ultimately provides companion animals to individuals who suffer from seizures, or who have mobility, vision or hearing impairments. As trainers, we raise, train and socialize puppies until they are ready for graduate school. For socialization, we take the puppies, in a service cape, to stores, restaurants, schools, theme parks, etc., to expose them to a variety of situations. This ensures that there will be no unpleasant surprises once they have been assigned to a client who is depending on them to remain calm and alert at all times.
At about 6 months of age, Tribute, now a tall long-legged black Labrador, had more energy than I did when we went out walking or running. With all her puppy energy, we needed to make sure Tribute exercised strenuously before we went out to eat. Since bad behavior is often a result of a lack of exercise and dogs in training are supposed to lie down and sleep under the table, not stand and upset dinner.
As the saying goes, necessity is the mother of invention. As a result of Tribute's need for speed, and my more limited energy levels, I got the idea to combine the fun of biking (for me) with the fun of running (for Tribute).
Given my understanding of both physics and dog behavior, and for both my safety and the dog's safety, I knew better than to attempt riding Tribute with a regular leash. (Much later I did attempt riding with a regular leash, made it less than a mile, and still have the scars!)
I set out to make a device which would make biking with a dog pleasurable and fun while eliminating these safety concerns for both rider and dog.
The very first prototype worked, and Tribute and other dogs loved it! So did I. For once I could keep up with her! While riding, I said to Tribute, “Your are one Running Dog!” The name stuck. But, more importantly, the 1-Running-Dog:
- prevented the dog from tipping the bike
- satisfied each of my safety concerns
- could be installed quickly without tools
- and fit my bicycle
Since my career as Airline Equipment product development engineer ended after 9-11, and the BTL worked so well, I used my time to refine, test and patent the Bike Tow Leash.
Many design changes have been made from 1000's of miles use over 6 years. Now added benefits of the 1-Running-Dog BTL are:
- “Gently guides and trains dog into HEEL POSITION”
- “Communicates Bike direction changes”
- “Provides a barrier between dog & bike”
- “Allows dog to efficiently propel the bike as a Paw + Pedal Hybrid Bicycle”
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American Pet Association Product Review!
- Approval Status - APA 5 Star Approved
- Testing Results - As advertised, a strong and useful product.
- Recommendation - Very well thought out and innovative product. Obviously a lot of effort has gone into designing this product. Very safe, the safest bike leash we have seen.
Testers all thought it worked even better than expected. Received the highest tester reviews. Absolutely fantastic for mobility devices (wheelchairs and scooters).
- APA Advice - Riding with your dog, when handled responsibly, can be a great activity for you and your dog. This product is the only such device we have considered approving and it exceeded our expectations.
We will say it again, most of the time we all breeze over or ignore instructions. With this product, take time to read every word and adhere to the warnings. Your dog deserves it!
- Approval ID# - 32919
- http://www.apaapproved.com/
Customer Reviews
"Hi Scott & Jenny,
Just want to let you know I got my second BTL today. We have 2 Dobermans that travel with us all over. This is great for exercise when they can't go off leash. My boy Duke is REALLY into this.He's six and after doing a 4 to 6 mile hike off leash everyday he still full of energy so this is great. My girl Jade is eight so where going slower with her. I can appreciate buying from you,my husband & I have our own wood working business. Will sent picture soon. Thank you,P.S. I have 3 spinal fusions and I was leery on getting this but I can't believe how safe I feel on this....
-Karen E.
"Scott,
I absolutely love love love the bike tow leash I ordered from you! I did a lot of research and greatly appreciate your email responses to all of my questions.
As others have indicated, 1st time with my 50 pound black lab mix and we both did GREAT. I love that I can give her the exercise she so needs and desires. She loves running alongside me. The very first ride she tried to run to greet a neighbor's dog (which is what I was worried about). True to all happy customer comments, I didn't feel at all shaky with balance on my bike. This weekend I hope to bring her to a bike trail in town. I imagine we will do fine.
Thanks again for offering and recommending such a great product. It is a bit expensive, but worth it!! - Lisa
"Dear Scott: When I got home from town this afternoon, your package was waiting on my front porch. Couldn't wait to try it with "Nita" We just got back from our 1st ride together...she took to it soooo fast!! and we both (or, at least, I) had so much fun. Nita is stretched out flat on my cool tile cooling off and drinking water.
I'm so glad I paid the extra money for the Tow Leash because of the low attatchment and the way the leash flexes. I feel really safe. The leash will not attach on the right-hand side of my bike because of interfering with the chain in the higher gears. That is the only "down" side.
Thank you so much for the very prompt shipping...we are raring to go!! Carol
PS: Nita is a "yes" dog. That means that 2 other dogs said "yes"!!! She is Lab/Husky X Border Collie/Heeler. She is medium size and weighs about 40 pounds...8 months old. (Yes, we will go slowly and short distances until she is older). I want this to be fun for her, too!
Best Wishes to you and your wife." Carol
"Hi Scott! I just tried out my 1-Running-Dog leash for the first time, and wow! It was awesome. My 1-year-old- Plott Hound/Pit Bull took to it right away, and we cruised around the neighborhood happily on this spring day. We even got some admiring glances and waves. I love it! Thank you so much for a great product. Best, - Patty
"Scott,
Received the Bike Tow Leash and absolutely LOVE it. Dog tested, dog approved and I have the photos of Beau and Morgan, two very happy clients, to prove it. If you receive an influx of orders from Southwestern Michigan, you know why...I sent them to you! Best regards" - Christine
"I just wanted to thank you for sending the dog tow leash so quickly. My husband hooked it to my bike last night and my dog Brody and I have already tried it out. Initially, we had a small issue with turns BUT quickly discovered that my husband hooked the leash on upside down so during the turn Brody was able to cross over the back tire. Fortunately, we quickly figured it out and it has been a smooth ride since! :) Thank you for carrying such a quality product. Please thank the inventor also.
Kind Regards,"
- Dawn
“Good evening,
I just wanted you to know that I used my bike tow leash this evening on my two dogs. One is a Weimaraner and he did great. He weighs 90 pounds and I could barely feel him pulling me at all. He is the one that I bought it for since he is so full of energy. I used it with our lab as well and while on the ride she pulled toward a runner passing by and I had no trouble at all controlling the bike. Great product and it was a great investment for my dogs health as well as my own. I will tell all my dog owning friends about it. Thanks!” -Sandra
"Hi Scott
I just received my Dog Bike Tow Leash. This is the coolest thing ever and I am SO excited and happy! We have a standard poodle that loves to run, and I took him out yesterday for the test run. It was great. I have to confess that I've taken him out several times with his regular leash, and even though he is not a puller, I knew that this was a really stupid thing to do. Luckily we survived long enough to find this product. I used to say to my husband that there should be something like this, and I'd even asked at a few pet stores that knew of nothing. I can't recall how I learned of the BTL, but you should definitely get the word out to the dog world that this is available. I look forward to many wonderful rides with my dog...money well spent.
Thanks again" - Roberta
“Oh My Dog! We tried the new leash today and it was spectacular. Took my three dogs for a walk and had no problem at all. If one of them is on the leash, the other stay close at hand. If they pull ahead at all, it is like a tow on the bike. I have not ridden my bike much in the last year because I walk the dogs while my husband rides his bike. I think I will start riding a lot more now.” – Lynda
“Hello,
I just received my Bike Tow Leash today, and wanted to tell you how happy I am with it! It's a little long-winded and I apologize, but I wanted to share my excitement! I have a beagle (Max) that needs a LOT of exercise to wear him out every day. I've taken him on 8-mile walks, 12-mile hikes, and tried biking with him (it was a disaster!) and he wears out a little but is ready to go again in just a short time. I put the BTL on right out of the box with no problems (I have an older Schwinn Frontier). I used a harness rather than just hooking it to his collar because he likes to pull quite a bit. We were cruising in no time and I swear I could see Max smiling running down the road! I know that sounds stupid but he really was! We had to stop to put air in the bike tires, and explained to 3 people at the gas station what we had. They asked all kinds of questions and I said "Honestly this is the first time we've used it." They couldn't believe that! Another lady pulled right up beside us AS she was driving down the road to give us kudos and tell us what a "cute" thing that was. I felt in control the whole time, and suggested maybe she pull over and I would tell her all about it. :) I live in a really small town. And now, we are home, and I have a zonked out beagle under my feet as I type. Thanks for the great product, the great website, all the work you guys put in, and I look forward to being a customer again in the future!
P.S. Max had to help open the box and I couldn't understand why. Then I noticed you had stuck a treat in the corner. He loved it! Thanks!” – Nicki
“Just wanted to let you know that my tow leash arrived yesterday. I am thoroughly impressed at how fast it arrived at my house!! I got off work at 1 am this morning and immediately hooked it up to my bike. I have a 1 1/2 year old female pitbull who is nothing but energy. I hooked her up and away we went! She immediately took to the leash and did great!!! This is an awesome product and would recommend it to anyone!! I will be ordering the houndabout very soon for my beagle so he can ride along with us!! Thanks again!!” - Kristi
“The bike tow leash is amazing! I use the ruff wear harness and like you said just make sure she isn't positioned too far forward. I didn't realize I should close the screen door on the trailer one morning after riding over wet cut grass. My chihuahua became a mud flap. Lol... Nevertheless, he had a ball. Thanks again for such an incredible web site. I look forward to finding as many activities as I can for my dogs. I just signed up for a group that does pack walks.
I will keep you posted. Thanks again. You're more than happy customer,” -Tom
"Hi Scott,
Back in February, I spoke to you inquiring about putting two dogs on a tow leash, for which you did not have experience with. I apologize for taking so long to back to you. I have a 4yo sheltie and a 9mo blue italian greyhound. I was able to put both of them on the tow leash using a coupler. It does not matter which dog is on the inside or outside, as the coupler allows them to switch with no issues. The tow leash is one of the best things I have ever purchased. I am having so much fun with them dog biking. Hope you find this helpful and maybe able to share it with others.
Thank you," - Melinda
"We were at Ventura beach today riding bikes with tow leash we got stopped a dozen times about the tow leash it works great! Thank you Kim"
"I have to say I am so grateful to have found this product. First of all the videos sure helped in me deciding to splurge on this purchase. the amount of information and all the reviews were so helpful.
I just adopted a Pit bull mix from our local humane society. I just loved her immediately but quickly learned that several walks each day was not enough for this high energy girl.
being able to bike with her twice a day and see how much she enjoys running has been a blessing. I cant run or jog with her due to hip pain but biking is easy on my joints and it wears her out.
today she even lunged while i was slowing for a turn and the bike never wavered.
i cant thank you enough for this" - Laura
"I just wanted to let you know I love this product. So much I have posted it on my facebook site and sent a link to your site for a friend of mine who has a dog that needs exercise.
I have a 7 month old German Shorthaired Pointer who by nature needs a lot of exercise. I dislike running but love biking so I had to give this a try! I am not a biker in spandex, but your normal trail rider. So I purchased this and I must say it is wonderful! I finally have someone to go biking with me and her schedule always works with mine!! She does just wonderful with it. I do use a harness on her and not her collar. Do not hesitate to purchase this product! It is so easy to install on the bike! It is not at all unstable if the dog pulls! I cannot say enough good things about this product." - Shannon
"I just wanted to let you know how impressed I am with your product! My lab is 75 pounds of hyper-active, non-stop insanity! Walking him, let alone riding with him, usually proves to be difficult at best and down right frustrating at worst. Within 10 mintues of clipping him to your Dog Bike Tow he was running next to my bike and having the time of his life, as was I! even with distractions, such as ducks, other dogs, and cats I was easily able to keep riding. Several times I thought he had gotten loose as I couldn't even feel him pulling! Rarely do I feel I'm able to give him adequate excercise but he gets plenty now. He was down right worn out when we got home and was ALMOST calm! Thanks!" - Mike
"We decided to purchase the 1-Running-Dog Bike Tow Leash, despite our slight reservations about the cost. We tend to spend alot of money on pet items, and find some are just not as useful as we hoped they'd be. We are happy to report that this is, hands down, the best investment we have made for our dog! We are so pleased with it... and trust us, it is worth every penny! It arrived quickly with easy installation instructions, and we couldn't wait to try it out! Our super high energy dog, Duke, took to it so fast he was trotting along-side within minutes. There is no way for him to get caught up in the bike, or pull the bike off course, and he absolutely love love loves it!!! Thanks so much from all of us! Eric, Janet, & Duke =)"
"Thanks Scott! I just have to tell you how EXCITED I am about the bike tow leash! I used it yesterday for the first time and again tonight. OMG!!! I couldn't even believe I was biking with my 90 lb lab, Blu, along side as I couldn't even tell he was there. My 64 lb lab, Ruby, was a bit more unruly & tried to veer to the left to go after a cat and quickly corrected herself. I BARELY felt it. This is by far the best invention yet!!! I'm telling everyone I know about it! This is the most ingenious idea that makes exercising my dogs so much fun and safe for me as well. I'm 55 years old, a self-employed hair stylist and the way things were going with Blu practically pulling me off my bike, I took the risk of injury and being out of work. He is just so strong that I had to stop biking with him cause I was afraid he'd take off leaving me behind in a pile. LOL So now we have resumed our favorite activity and WE couldn't be happier!!!" - Lenora
"I just want to say i am a very very happy customer in regards to your products i take both my dogs out for a bike ride one on each side of my bike. i really enjoy bike riding with my dogs. i use the Bike Tow Leash on my german shepheard and the and the walky dog leash on my schnoodle mix and they love it. my schnoodle mix helped me train my german shepheard to go on bike rides, my schnoodle mis is an expert when it comes to bike riding. Once again thanks for your outstanding bike riding items and i really recommend your products to who ever wants to go bike riding with their dogs, it has been alot easier for me i take my dogs for a bike ride and then i go for my walk.
once again thank you very much -carlos"
"Blu (my chocy lab male) and Ruby, (yellow female) thank you SO much cause now we have a blast riding instead of having a frustrating experience!
Best wishes and keep up the good work!!!
Warm Regards,
Lenora Magrone and Blu and Ruby, too!"
"Hi there............
Just wanted to drop you a quick note to let you know how much I enjoyed your website and the product videos.
I am always interested in supporting small businesses as I find the customer service to be outstanding. Today I purchased a tow leash and the boots that were presented in your videos. I am a skeptic by nature, and seeing is believing for me. I am very appreciative to have had the videos as "proof" and this is what sealed the deal for me. Thanks very much for your product offering (we are extremely excited about the tow leash) and ease of transaction. "Smokey" our 1 yr old pitbull will greatly benefit from the extra exercise that the bike tow leash will provide, as we were unable to adequately tucker him out on our 2 mile walks. Thanks again and best wishes for a blossoming business!
Regards,
Liz Meier and Smokey"
"My purchase arrived and I started using my dog tow right away... It is amazing ... It was the video and the fact that u try the products out that sold me.... I could sell these things by the dozen I love this product .. I have a 1 yr old new skete german shepherd wt high drive. ...she needs to bike to keep her mind right tks - Clarissa"
"I'm the 69 year old small woman who bought the Bike Tow version about a month ago. It is working out just fine. My Golden tried one time to go behind the bike which I corrected immediately and since then it has been smooth biking. She goes willingly, though not as enthusiastically as she does on a regular walk. She of course prefers to smell, stop, & meet other dogs nose to nose/butt. However, the tow gives her the added exercise that she needs. Once I got used to it, I've not felt afraid of falling or being jerked over. I'm very happy with the purchase. I still doubt that I would have bought it however, without the coupon you provided since I continue to think it is overpriced. Thank you for your great customer service. Good luck with your business.
Claudia"
"I am only now able to work back into a vigorous exercise routine, following a car accident in July 2009. I have 3 fabulous dogs--a Shephard/Husky mix (Bingo), a Ridgeback mix (Jake), and a Yellow Beagle (Butterscotch)--all sporting dogs! So needless to say, even though they have a huge back yard to play in, they haven't been adequately exercised for over a year. Bingo is now 99 lbs. (20lbs. overweight), Jake is 68 lbs. (10lbs. overweight) and I'm, well, let me just say overweight! (Butterscotch is holding her own.) Last week I got my bike reconditioned and ordered a Tow Leash. Got the Tow Leash today. What a FANTASTIC invention! Bingo, Jake and Butterscotch LOVED it and adapted to it immediately!!! Each of them got two 10-minute rides today and after the first one couldn't wait for the next round--their tails were wagging like crazy!! The balance provided by the Tow Leash is unbelievable! We had so much fun!! Obviously, I have to get us all back into shape incrementally, but my ultimate goal is to take each of them out for 40 minutes a day. Biking will now be not only our daily exercise, but our daily treat!! I live in a biking and dog city--Seattle--so I'm looking forward to recommending the Tow Leash (and thedogoutdoors.com) to lots of folks! This is so cool!" - Sharon O.
"I received the dog tow leash pretty fast. The instructions on the product itself are way too tiny, but the videos on the site are very helpful. My only complaint is that "the Dog Outdoors" does not offer the 3 color options available on the creator's site. However, I chose to order here because I was more comfortable with their satisfaction guarantee. I love the product - my dog is probably the best testimony you can get. I own an almost 100 lb GSD and she can be very hyper. She is also EXTREMELY strong, even for her breed. She has lunged several times at other dogs, and has yet to unseat myself or my husband from the bicycle (or even come close for that matter). My only complaint about the product is that the connection at the frame is a little too flexible. There have been a few times when I have stopped the bike that my dog has been able to get herself on the right-hand side (she jumps and gets over to the right and it is hard to get her back). As I said, she is very hyper. I think if the product were a bit stiffer at this junction, it would prohibit so much flexibility in the "leash" itself. However, she has not done this while we were in motion, as it is harder for her and the pressure from the stiffness of the leash really encourages the dog to keep moving with you. If you have a large dog, be prepared that they can, in fact, stop the bike even though tipping it over seems nigh impossible. For example, when we are riding in the desert, if my dog decides she has to go to the bathroom, she simply applies her brakes and the bike begins slowing rapidly. A glance back to her tells me why, and I stop. there is no way you are going to stop this with a large dog. However, it does not cause instability in the bike itself - it simply forces you to stop. I don't think you can beat this product for riding a bike with any dog. I believe it is the best and, most importantly, safest device available. - Karen"
"What a great product! My border collie Toby took to it immediately. I love it, and posted a rave review on my Facebook page. If you start shipping to Prescott, Arizona, you\'ll know why! - Toni"
"I just wanted to thank you for recommending the Tow Leash for me and my German Shepherd. It just got delivered last night and I took Lola out for a spin around the block and she LOVED it! And I loved it even more because she didn't pull me off my bike :) The true test of its awesomeness happened this morning though, when a happy little squirrel decided to join us on our ride. I have to say I am amazed at how I didn't even feel the pull on my bike, and I stayed in control the whole time. The bike tow leash is AWESOME. Thank you!"
- Ashley & Lola
"What a great product! It was Toby's
first bike ride, made possible by the Bike Tow Leash. Although the design allows Toby some
flexibility, it pretty much keeps him in a heal potition, and there is
now way we could become entangled. Can't speak for Toby, but I know
Marj and I enjoyed the "Wow!" factor as hikers and bikers got a look
at us. This thing truly exceeded my expectations, and Toby loved it.
If you're thinking of biking with your dog, this is it.
" - Toni & Marj
"This is the best money I've ever spent!
The bike tow leash should be mandatory for anyone with a high-energy dog.
Everyone on the bike paths, being walked by their dog, wants to know where
to get one.Thanks,
Brent"
"It is really amazing how forgiving the Bike Tow Leash is. Once and a while I will have this split second of wondering if my dog is still attached since I can hardly feel any tugging between us." - Lani
"I love the Bike Tow Leash and took the older, more experienced girl out first. It was perfection! I liked the fact that I could use a collar or a harness and it gives the dog a bit more range of motion." - Susan - HI
"Wow, I was surprised with the ease of installing it on my bike. My dog absolutely loved it!!! He didn't want to get back in the car!!! lol I have a husky and had concerns about him pulling me lunging for another dog. It was amazing. My bicycle was stable and I continued to pedal. I couldn't ask for a more perfect experience bicycling with my dog. Thank you so much! Now I don't have to feel guilty when I leave to bike. Now he can go with me!
Thank you for a great product!!! -Anita"
"Thank you so much for the great product and the AMAZINGLY fast shipping. It arrived last night and we have already tested it out. Fenway (the dog) loves it so far!" - Kristin
"Well, today Ranger not only got 5 points toward his advanced Weight Pull titles, he won the Best of Breed Top Ten--the best of the best. I know he would not have gotten this without the conditioning he got by running with my bike. The Bike Tow Leash has made our training easier, safer, and a lot of fun. I get a lot of comments and questions about the BTL while I'm out in the park, and people regularly stop to watch us as we go by." - Amanda
"Hi I recently bought a BTL and I'm finding it to be a truly brilliant piece of kit, Miah (German Shepherd) loves it too. I've only got to put it to the test in the last two weeks between one thing and another, but I intend on using it daily now that I've seen how easy tiring the dog out is with the BTL. I've gotten some strange looks and people asking about it.
Thanking you
Stephen G. Ireland"
"Just got back from a 10-mile ride along the Peavine. It was Toby's
first bike ride, made possible by the Bike Tow Leash. Although the design allows Toby some
flexibility, it pretty much keeps him in a heal potition, and there is
now way we could become entangled. Can't speak for Toby, a..nd I know
Marj and I enjoyed the "Wow!" factor as hikers and bikers got a look
at us. This thing truly exceeded my expectations, and Toby loved it.
If you're thinking of biking with your dog," - Toni
"I LOVE the Bike Tow Leash I bought - it has been a big solution to a big problem I had in getting the energy out of my strong dog who likes to chase cats. It's been life-changing for both me and my dog; I don't think I'll take an more falls with resulting road rash and black eyes. :) I've been telling my friends; it's so great! They were quick to deliver, and the videos on their site were super-helpful to learn more about the product." - Andy
"You may remember that you asked me to let you know how the Bike Tow Leash worked with my recumbent bicycle and if my large, headstrong, and not very well behaved dog would use the BTL. Have you ever heard the expression "Like a duck to water?" Oh my goodness, he LOVES it! He sees me on my bike and can't wait to go for a run. The BTL keeps him away from the wheels and gears of the bike and controls him when he tries to pull in a different direction. My dog follows me no matter which way I turn. My only issue is that he wants to run faster than I can pedal - - - so I may have to add an electric assist to my bike just to keep up with him ;-). We took some pictures, but it was as night and they did not come out very well. We'll try to take some photos this weekend - I will send them to you if you would like." Thanks, - Jack
