ss6@sdcc15.UUCP (Mark Laxer) (01/16/88)
Hi! Two summers ago, I bicycled from Boston to Berkeley with my Siberian
Husky pup--Nunatak. She ran 7-8 miles per day, but mostly she sat
contentedly in a trailer which I pulled.
Isn't the dog supposed to be pulling you, midwesterners asked, suppressing
gaffaws. I agree--the dog should earn her keep. However, I believe it
would be both inefficient and dangerous for her to pull anything except a
sled across a snow-field...
Therefore, I am researching the idea of building an apparatus which I call a
DogPed, or a Doggie Powered Vehicle (DPV). Naturally, it will be attached
to a Human Powered Vehicle (HPV).
If you have any suggestions how I might go about designing and interfacing
the components of this hybrid contraption, or if you have ideas about how I
SHOULDN'T configure it, I heartily welcome your response.
Thank you,
Mark Laxer
ss6@sdcc15%sdcsvax
1237 Camino Del Mar, #C-256
Del Mar, CA 92014
USAking@kestrel.ARPA (Dick King) (01/19/88)
In article <434@sdcc15.UUCP> ss6@sdcc15.UUCP (Mark Laxer) writes:
Path: kestrel!labrea!jade!ucbvax!sdcsvax!sdcc6!sdcc19!sdcc15!ss6
From: ss6@sdcc15.UUCP (Mark Laxer)
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles,sci.misc,misc.wanted,misc.misc
Keywords: vehicle design mechanical engineering doggie
Date: 16 Jan 88 00:25:03 GMT
Organization: University of California, San Diego
Lines: 27
Xref: kestrel rec.bicycles:2771 sci.misc:746 misc.wanted:2617 misc.misc:2834
Hi! Two summers ago, I bicycled from Boston to Berkeley with my Siberian
Husky pup--Nunatak. She ran 7-8 miles per day, but mostly she sat
contentedly in a trailer which I pulled.
Isn't the dog supposed to be pulling you, midwesterners asked, suppressing
gaffaws. I agree--the dog should earn her keep. However, I believe it
would be both inefficient and dangerous for her to pull anything except a
sled across a snow-field...
Therefore, I am researching the idea of building an apparatus which I call a
DogPed, or a Doggie Powered Vehicle (DPV). Naturally, it will be attached
to a Human Powered Vehicle (HPV).
I would suggest not asking a Husky to work hard during the summer,
either in Boston or in Berkeley.
Thank you,
Mark Laxer
ss6@sdcc15%sdcsvax
1237 Camino Del Mar, #C-256
Del Mar, CA 92014
USA
-dkwiz@xroads.UUCP (Mike Carter) (01/19/88)
The club that I am currently a member with owns several such appartus.
We use WOlf Hybrids for this task. ALthough your idea has been used before,
I might point out a few items of concern to you before endevoring the task.
(1) Dogs to be used for any kind of pulling are taught very very early
and are exercised ** EVERY ** day for this task, otherwise muscles
not conditioned will either cause severe stress on the animal or
end up in pulled muscles and torn ligaments.
Unconditioned animals have frequently died !
(2) Manufacture or purchase some foot pads or "Doggie Boots", otherwise
asphalt or gravel will and can permanently injure the animals pads.
Once the pads have been worn down (very quickly on asphalt with
no load to pull as it is) bleeding and infection can set in quickly
as the pads literally wear out to the bone.
(3) Untrained animals love to chase cats. I found this out by riding the
bike while exercising our female turbo-charger, "Tundra". She decided
the cat was more important than my skin and pulled a quick and
accelerated 90 degree turn...right in front of me. Guess where I went.
(4) Cars etc can spook the animal if untrained into a suicidal dodge.
I'm not attempting to persuade you not to do this...just to inform you that
if you have any rudementary love for your pet, these are the facts and
hazards before you. I suggest getting a puppie and a lengthy source of
books on dog sledding before torturing your husky.
-Mike