Shade

Shade is a 12 year old black lab who resides in Redmond, WA. She is the dog who got it all started and she is also our ‘test dog’. After 4 years she still rides in the same original trailer. The reason for not upgrading to newer versions is that quality endurance is part of the testing process.

Almost a daily trip to the off leash area in the Marymoor Park. The distance from home to the park is a nice bike ride, but too far for a dog to run along the bike with a Springer or WalkyDog. Riding instead of running is far more convenient, so she can still enjoy running and socializing with other dogs in the park. Fetching balls from other dogs out of the water, getting sniffled by male buddies, and receiving interesting comments on her DoggyRide. Since she is getting older the competitiveness fades, but the excitement about riding in the trailer is still there. The stroller kit was designed way ahead for her older days, but she refuses to sit in the trailer for a stroll. In her view the trailer was designed for bike rides or is it the same human form of denial of aging… A photoshoot with the stroller on Alki in front of the Seattle skyline (with overcast skies) turned into a hilarious experience as she attempted to jump out several times.

We test the endurance of our trailers by testing equipment to meet ASTM standards, but still there is the field testing. The field testing is needed to discover wear on parts that are excluded by the standard types of mechanical tests. Coming week we test a new hitch and I hope Shade is prepared for around 100 miles over 5 days. Not only the Snoqualmie Valley, John Wayne Pioneer and the Burke Gilman trail will be test ground, but also rough mountain biking terrain. When the route differs Shade gets these questioning eyes, like where we are heading today? She is good rider, always lies down, except for the last mile to the park and once the route is unknown she lies down and watches around. For her it has become a crucial part of the outdoors experience.