Riding with a dog [Archive]

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BestMate

07-28-06, 06:34 AM

vtjim

07-28-06, 08:22 AM

(In Before The "Accident Waiting To Happen" Post!) :D

I use something called a Springer. http://www.springerusa.com/

I mount it on rider's right so the dog can run off the pavement on my right side. Don't run the dog on pavement for very long. It's hard on paw pads. Check your dog's pads frequently anyway. Some dogs have soft, easily worn pads.

If you really don't want the dog next to you, I used to use a long-ish leash attached under my handlebars via thick bungee shock cord. My dog was very trustworthy though, and didn't try to yank me in random directions. Be very careful if you do this! You don't want the dog yanking you into a tree or getting the leash tangled in the wheel.

Any way you do it, it's important to use common sense, for everyone's safety. Be careful!

Our dog absolutely loves running with me. She barks like crazy when I get the harness out. Oh that's another thing, use a harness, NOT a collar.

masiman

07-28-06, 08:51 AM

There are a number of trailer manufacturers that have pet carrying options. I have never seen one in use but they do exist.

Wike: http://www.wicycle.com/dog.htm
Cycletote: http://www.cycletote.com/doggy_tote.html
Simple model: http://www.pawshop.com/dobitrsh6.html

Nice writeup: http://www.experienceplus.com/reading_room/archives/2005/07/im_a_dog_but_i.html

I thought Chariot had a utility option for pets but I could not find it on their site (www.chariotcarriers.com)

MichaelW

07-28-06, 10:35 AM

basil make dog baskets but no weight specifications.
You can get a wicker basket custom made (http://homepage.ntlworld.com/hembrow/bicycle.html)for your bike or trailer system
A US source (http://www.cynthiastwigs.com/)for dogs up to 20lbs

2manybikes

07-28-06, 06:02 PM

This guy is 25 lbs. He is held in by a four point harness clipped to his leash. He can't jump out. It works great.

slowandsteady

07-29-06, 09:15 PM

Definitely don't have the dog running along side. Other than the fact that they will run themselves to death, they also have a tendency to cross in front of you to chase that fuzzy little squirrel. I should know. It happened to me the ONE time I tried to walk my dog beside me on a bike. Squirrel crossed my path, dog crossed my path. I hit my dog, and flipped over the handlebars. My wheel was so bent I had to walk home. I was bloodied. Dog was fine. Squirrel got away. I was 15 at the time, so I chalk it up to being stupid and young. Get a basket and a harness. Much safer that way.

dschl

07-29-06, 10:22 PM

I'll second the "not running alongside" recommendation. As a teenager I tried that once. The first block went okay, and then in the middle of the second block, when the dog (a 70 lb Samoyed) suddenly stopped to go pee, I went over the handlebars.

Walk the dog instead. Safest of all. Think of it as crosstraining.

BestMate

07-31-06, 07:52 PM

Thank you everyone for taking the time to help me find solutions to my doggy problem! I just hate to leave my best friend at home. From looking at the sites and seeing what's out there (which would have taken me a week if ever I did find them! ) I am beginning to think about making something. I liked the harness idea - hadn't thought of that! Thanks again!
BestMate

sdixon747

07-31-06, 10:12 PM

I just bought one of these. http://www.hunterk9.com/site/870877/product/EDGETRAIL1
A bit expensive, but it may be what you are looking for.

Steve

maximusvt

08-02-06, 08:19 AM

Why is it that the people who alway tell you not to try something new (i.e. ride with a dog alongside) are the ones who tried it once, failed, and never tried it again to see if there was a better way?

Did you ever fall down when you were learning to ride? Did you never get on a bike again because of it?

My friend has a big dog who loves to run with us while we ride. He did a 15 mile ride with us once, through the woods, down the BP and back through town. That was definitely pushing him, but he loved it. Of course, he is an extremely well behaved dog and if your dog isn't one who can behave while riding, there are a lot of disasters that can happen. Some dogs are definitely not right to ride with but some are great.

The feeling of having a dog pull you across the grass at 20mph is elating!

vtjim

08-02-06, 10:01 AM

Why is it that the people who alway tell you not to try something new (i.e. ride with a dog alongside) are the ones who tried it once, failed, and never tried it again to see if there was a better way?

That's usually how it is with "riding with a dog" threads here. My 45-pound BlackDog runs alongside me for 5 to 10 miles at a stretch, and loves it. We go through woods, fields, and on the MUP (dog right-side off pavement) and never have any problems.

I passed some people on the MUP once and my wife (riding behind me) heard a woman say, "Oh that poor dog!" :D :D :rolleyes: Like I was dragging our dog along against her will.

Some dogs don't work well for riding. Some do. Your mileage may vary, etc etc.

BestMate

08-02-06, 06:22 PM

Hey Steve!
I was looking at that trailor. Looks prety good! It says that it folds. Small, or barley? Also, I wanted to know how it attaches. It is a nice size, and the wheels are actually smaller than my bikes. (which are 16") Are you happy with it?
-Best Mate-

landrover4

08-08-06, 04:38 AM

that is an adorable trailer. really nice. i suppose you could put your groceries in there too.

DnvrFox

08-09-06, 06:38 AM

Hello!
I am wanting to take my dog riding with me. Because of the foot and car traffic I don't think running along side is an option. I did find a front basket but it only goes to 14 lbs. (My dog is 17+) I should mention that I ride a Downtube Mini,(Folder) or I will when it gets here in a couple of days. I know there are other dedicated dog owners out there! What do you do? We are already practising sitting in a tote bag just in case I have to rig something!
Thanks,
-S-

Yes, that is a great decision. Having a dog running while biking is a sure invitation to a disaster for some other bicycler. Some day that leash will get on the wrong side of the MUP or whatever, and will be the chain of death for someone else coming the other direction. I have seen it happen. I shudder whenever I see someone coming at me with a dog running besides them. As a rider I have NO CLUE as to what control the other bicycler has over that dog.

Re Cycle

08-09-06, 08:15 AM

Depends on the dog's temperment and physical characteristics. Some dogs are suitable for biking alongside, others are not. I have three very gun-ho brittanys. These dogs can run for miles on end, no problemo. They are great companions for ultra-marathoners, if you know what I mean. Anyway, I bike them on a regular basis with a simple leash held underneath my palm. I fold the leash in a simple way--usually 2-3 folds under my palm. That way, if the dog pulls, the leash automatically extends some distance, which gives me time to take the defensie maneuaver, ie BRAKE FAST. Because brittanys are hunting dogs, their favorite roadside attraction is birds which makes them stop and point. The folded leash has always worked. Once there was a squirrel or something and the dog pulled real fast out to the left. That pulled my shoulder some, but not much.

Now, I also "train the dogs" to ride. One of the things I do is insist they are in the heel position as we ride. At the beginning of each ride, they are so exuberant that it takes a few good yanks on the leash to remind them. I also stop the bike completely, so that they learn--if they pull, no biking. I start again. If they pull, we stop again, etc. They catch on real quick and get into heel. After a few miles, they fall into stride and are less gun-ho. The ride then becomes very enjoyable.

Long story short--take the time to teach your dog and you will have a safer experience.

As for routes--I only have biked my dogs on gravel roads, using my fat tire bikes. The mountain bike and its upright position is much more stable for this project. I do not bike a dog on a city traffic street, though if I lived in a quiet neighborhood, I probably would. I live near the city center, so that is not an option.

chipcom

08-09-06, 08:24 AM

I just bought one of these. http://www.hunterk9.com/site/870877/product/EDGETRAIL1
A bit expensive, but it may be what you are looking for.

+1 I looked at a lot of trailers before picking this one for my Pugle.

dylandom

09-01-06, 08:04 PM

i have some kinda of doggie bookbag. i forget the name. it carries up to 25lbs. and it has padded shoulders and a waist strap and i can strapp my dog inside. the bottom opens up so u can place the bag on the ground while u place ur dog inside .my dog loves it. i usually ride in heavy traffic with her in it from manhattan to queens. if i find the name, i'll tell u

chephy

09-01-06, 08:21 PM

Why is it that the people who alway tell you not to try something new (i.e. ride with a dog alongside) are the ones who tried it once, failed, and never tried it again to see if there was a better way? I second the question.

I volunteer with a Humane Society. There is a canine services department; they (among a multitude of other things) talk to people who come in adopt a dog and teach them what they need to know about dogs. They may spend several long sessions with a person who came to adopt one of the more challenging dogs.

Now, my province has a pit bull ban (don't ask me what I think about it if you don't like obscenities). Pit bulls already in the province are ok to keep, but they are supposed to be leashed and muzzled in public. Failure to comply results in euthanizing the dog (more obscenities). Consequently, a lot of dogs in the Humane Society these days are pit bulls - since lots of people give them up nowdays and nobody wants to adopt them.

Anyway - whenever there is someone wanting to adopt a pit bull, the canine services staff is generally very happy with that. One thing I heard was a suggestion that the dog runs alongside a bike - since in this genocidic province the dog may no longer run free - and it still needs exercise, you know! AFAIK they give detailed instructions on how to make that work. I wouldn't think that the generally very responsible k9 services folks would try to set people up for an accident! Those people know a great deal about dogs (and enough about biking to realize that an unruly dog next to a bike can cause a great deal of mess). In fact, the dogs undergo a lot of training, and with proper training this CAN be a safe and fun activity for the dog and the biker.

However, lots of people will say it's crazy, because they are ignorant and/or because they have a dog and don't know how to control it. Same sort of thing as "biking in traffic is insanely dangerous" from ignorant motorists...

chephy

09-01-06, 08:26 PM

Yes, that is a great decision. Having a dog running while biking is a sure invitation to a disaster for some other bicycler. Some day that leash will get on the wrong side of the MUP or whatever, and will be the chain of death for someone else coming the other direction. I have seen it happen. I shudder whenever I see someone coming at me with a dog running besides them. As a rider I have NO CLUE as to what control the other bicycler has over that dog. Riding a bicycle in traffic is a recipe for disaster. I congratulate all those folks who choose to be reasonable and drive everywhere: that's a safe and efficient ways to get places! Those bikers do crazy things all the time, make me so nervous whenever I drive! It's an accident waiting to happen; I've seen it happen! I shudder when I see a cyclist on the road - I have no idea what crazy move he's gonna pull next! And he is always in my f****ing way too! :p

ken cummings

09-02-06, 11:04 PM

Some ten years ago my family and I met a woman in Jackson Hole, Wyoming with her golden retriever in a trailer. My sister had spotted her days earlier in the Red Rock Desert to the south east. She had started in Key West and was headed to Fairbanks. Trailers certainly work for dogs. She was making spare change along the way by selling decorated leashes and collars signed Coast to Coast by Dog. I do not have a dog so I got a collar in my wife's size :D .

2manybikes

09-03-06, 08:14 AM