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Biking with an Afghan hound

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Biking with an Afghan hound

Old 05-08-15, 03:27 AM
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Originally Posted by DBrown9383
Our afghan hound reminds us of a greyhound. Very similar bone structure and speed but the Afghan has long hair and running in the ditches would mean hours of grooming after the run/ride. There are lots of retired racing Greyhound available for adoption. Neat idea... I hope I don't get a bad rap here for starting and continuing this thread. We love our dog and if he can safely go with when I ride my new bike (which I also love) we both benefit. Of course these are just local neighborhood rides that don't put us near traffic or other hazards.
Hmmm, is it like a Persian Cat?

Anyway, try the shock collar. Once the dog figures it out, the beep is usually plenty to get their attention.

Jogging with the dog would be nice, but for some of the faster dog species, they could probably run you into the ground and then some.

That is a good point about busy roads. I had thought of taking the hypothetical greyhound towards the city, but perhaps it would be best just to take it on the local country roads.

Here was an interesting chain about a dog and a cargo bike. Of course, many people also carry their dogs in trailers. Perhaps you could let it run where it is safe to run, and ride where running isn't safe or practical.

https://www.bikeforums.net/utility-cy...argo-bike.html

Anyway, even with the leash (or the spring loaded leash), you and your dog will eventually discover the limits. As in the clips with the cargo bike, if you're not going too fast, you can always stop. Just keep the leash loose, so you can always drop it in an emergency.
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Old 05-08-15, 04:17 AM
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Old 05-08-15, 07:59 AM
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Originally Posted by DBrown9383
Although most of the replies have been negative, I really enjoyed your post. Question; how long of a lead do you use?
I use a 6' leash with a gentle leader, which I strongly recommend. It does take your 4-legged friend a little time to get used to it, but my Henri never takes the slack out of the leash. He has had other dogs, rabbits, and squirrels try to distract him, and he doesn't take the bait. He is very focused on me and the bike and even turning with him is a breeze. I do talk to him some during the run, but i talk to him all the time. We have a one word command he learned at a young age to never disobey, and that word is "back". I have never used it on the bike, never had to. We average 6-7 mph, on a 3-5 mile run. There are risks we all take whenever we ride, so I don't dwell on the negative, just the positive. i also ride a motorcycle, and accept the inherent risks that go along with it.
Just my .02.
I say if you and your hound enjoy it together, why not?
A wise man once said something like, "You can get busy living, or get busy trying not to die." I prefer the former.

Last edited by on2wheelsks; 05-08-15 at 08:17 AM.
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Old 05-08-15, 08:18 AM
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When I used to run with my sister's weimaraners, they were always extremely well behaved. They pull like nothing else when you'd walk with them, but they'd run right beside me the entire time. They were different dogs on runs than they were on walks. On walks they'd definitely go after/lunge after smaller dogs in fences and any sort of animal that they see, but on runs they'd just happily trot along, ignoring everything. With that said, I'd be nervous biking with dogs. I'd be afraid to run over them or the lease or have them both pull me in the same direction. I'd feel a bit safer on a bigger/slower bike like a mountain or cruiser bike.

EDIT: With that said, with a bit of training, biking with a dog could be a lot of fun. You could train the dog to uh... assist you up the hills. haha
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Old 05-08-15, 08:38 AM
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Originally Posted by on2wheelsks
I use a 6' leash with a gentle leader, which I strongly recommend. It does take your 4-legged friend a little time to get used to it, but my Henri never takes the slack out of the leash. He has had other dogs, rabbits, and squirrels try to distract him, and he doesn't take the bait. He is very focused on me and the bike and even turning with him is a breeze. I do talk to him some during the run, but i talk to him all the time. We have a one word command he learned at a young age to never disobey, and that word is "back". I have never used it on the bike, never had to. We average 6-7 mph, on a 3-5 mile run. There are risks we all take whenever we ride, so I don't dwell on the negative, just the positive. i also ride a motorcycle, and accept the inherent risks that go along with it.
Just my .02.
I say if you and your hound enjoy it together, why not?
A wise man once said something like, "You can get busy living, or get busy trying not to die." I prefer the former.
Well, we are in the minority here, that's for sure. I have also noticed my hound is much more focused when on a trot with me and the bike. He seems bored on a walk and much more likely to do anything for sport when there's nothing to focus on. We have not come across any significant distractions yet so that will be the true test. Afghan hounds are sight hounds and will give chase to just about anything but our guy is pretty mellow although I did see him chase down and catch a rabbit 2 years ago. I could not believe it.
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Old 05-08-15, 09:33 AM
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There is the issue of injuring others too, should your dog do the unexpected. And you'd surely be liable for those injuries.

I've seen these used ... there are other designs as well that might be just the ticket.

https://www.amazon.com/SunLite-Bicycl...bike+tow+leash
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Old 05-08-15, 10:24 AM
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Originally Posted by donheff
You should read up on this topic. I have heard numerous times that most dog breeds are not adapted to long runs and should not be taken jogging or bike riding. You may be stressing your dog's joints unless it is one of the breeds that can tolerate the activity.
=
+1 . I do not believe any dog breed can run for miles without seriously hurt themselves . Afghan hound and Grey hound can run at a very fast speed but not for long .
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Old 05-08-15, 12:39 PM
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Originally Posted by donheff
You should read up on this topic. I have heard numerous times that most dog breeds are not adapted to long runs and should not be taken jogging or bike riding. You may be stressing your dog's joints unless it is one of the breeds that can tolerate the activity.
Originally Posted by mapeiboy
=
+1 . I do not believe any dog breed can run for miles without seriously hurt themselves . Afghan hound and Grey hound can run at a very fast speed but not for long .
Dogs don't sweat like humans. They get rid of heat by sweating through their pads and primarily by panting. There are lots of instances of dog deaths from overheating through exercise. Almost all dog breeds are built to sprint and then sniff around, sprint and then sniff around etc... They are not built for long distance continuous running. I would not do this without consulting with a vet first. The questions to ask are (1) is this ok to do? and (2) if it is ok, how do I condition my dog so that they can safely do this?

Originally Posted by CliffordK
Mom uses an electronic collar (audible & shock) when taking her dog with her on the horse. She considers it to be an "electronic leash".

Apparently he is extremely well behaved when he has the collar on. And he still likes it because he knows he can have fun.

What it will do is get his attention away from the rabbit or squirrel.
Originally Posted by CliffordK
Hmmm, is it like a Persian Cat?

Anyway, try the shock collar. Once the dog figures it out, the beep is usually plenty to get their attention.

Jogging with the dog would be nice, but for some of the faster dog species, they could probably run you into the ground and then some.
Having successfully trained a number of dogs with electronic collars, I can tell you that this will not work unless you train the dog and train yourself. Done right and it's possible your dog will never need to be on a leash (like mine). Done wrong and you can destroy the dog's spirit and confidence while accomplishing nothing positive in their behavior.

It's not like you have an electronic remote for the dog or something. Electronic collars are serious training tools. You can also completely wreck a dog using a shock collar if they don't understand the stimulation or if you improperly apply it. As with training a dog with a leash, it's not so much about training the dog as it is training the owner/handler. They are for communication with the dog, not for punishment. If you dog is not properly trained on a collar and it sees a rabbit that it wants to chase and you have not trained it not to chase it, you're going to get pulled off your bike no matter what AND you'll probably wind up giving the dog a very painful shocking that it won't understand because you didn't understand how to use the collar - nobody wins in that scenario. Electronic collars won't work unless you're both trained in how to use them.

So basically, this is a bad idea for all the reasons above. There are plenty of ways for the cyclist and the dog to get seriously hurt with the bike that would not have happened if the whole thing wasn't attempted.

Go find out from afghan trainers how to properly exercise your dog. This isn't a new issue for afghans.


J.
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Old 05-08-15, 05:59 PM
  #34  
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Dogs and bikes don't mix!
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Old 05-09-15, 02:04 AM
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I have no intention of ever using a shock collar and never did, or said I did. These are SHORT rides we go on in a small neighborhood at trotting speeds, no sprinting. I would never run a dog, ANY dog to exhaustion or even close to it. When he goes to the dog park he is 100% exhausted after several sprints on his own and we call it a day. He's barely panting on the bike rides and I would never take him on a hot muggy day. Again, we are NOT riding on MUPS or in traffic or around other cyclists or dogs. The risk is mine to take. The dog is enjoying the jaunts and is now excited when I head to the bike. I'm not an idiot and the dogs safety comes above mine. This is my 4th Afghan hound, I know the breed well. I thank those who have posted positive remarks and useful tips and also take into consideration the overwhelming disapproval posts. I did not start the thread to ask for permission or to get a pat on the back. I only wanted to see if others were doing it and if they would share any techniques to minimize risk. I am new here and can't help feeling like I'm being ganged up on. I don't want cycling enemies so I will no longer post to this thread. If the moderators would like to delete it that might be best so I can start over and not post about the dog and the bike ever again. I do think the video of the cargo bike and the 12 year old dog was touching. I am only trying to improve my dogs quality of life as well as my own fully realizing the risks.. I'm sorry I offended some members and will keep my dog/bike stories to myself from now on so I have to retract my previous post where I said I would tell the story if anything went wrong. Most seem convinced the dog and I are doomed so we'll just leave it at that
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Old 05-09-15, 08:14 AM
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Sorry for all the negativity.

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Old 05-09-15, 09:04 AM
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Originally Posted by DBrown9383
I have no intention of ever using a shock collar and never did, or said I did. These are SHORT rides we go on in a small neighborhood at trotting speeds, no sprinting. I would never run a dog, ANY dog to exhaustion or even close to it. When he goes to the dog park he is 100% exhausted after several sprints on his own and we call it a day. He's barely panting on the bike rides and I would never take him on a hot muggy day. Again, we are NOT riding on MUPS or in traffic or around other cyclists or dogs. The risk is mine to take. The dog is enjoying the jaunts and is now excited when I head to the bike. I'm not an idiot and the dogs safety comes above mine. This is my 4th Afghan hound, I know the breed well. I thank those who have posted positive remarks and useful tips and also take into consideration the overwhelming disapproval posts. I did not start the thread to ask for permission or to get a pat on the back. I only wanted to see if others were doing it and if they would share any techniques to minimize risk. I am new here and can't help feeling like I'm being ganged up on. I don't want cycling enemies so I will no longer post to this thread. If the moderators would like to delete it that might be best so I can start over and not post about the dog and the bike ever again. I do think the video of the cargo bike and the 12 year old dog was touching. I am only trying to improve my dogs quality of life as well as my own fully realizing the risks.. I'm sorry I offended some members and will keep my dog/bike stories to myself from now on so I have to retract my previous post where I said I would tell the story if anything went wrong. Most seem convinced the dog and I are doomed so we'll just leave it at that
DBrown, don't let the negativity get you down. I posted a thread in the Bike forum family section, I think, a few years back about my bike rides with my dog, and I don't remember it getting so political. My dog would start a major revolt against me if I cut him out of my rides completely, he can be a handful without exercise. I also take the weather into account when we go, he lasts much longer on a cool\cold weather run, compared to a warm day. On hot days a walk is fine for him. Bottom line, you know what is best for you and your dog. Enjoy the things you like together!
Pat
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Old 05-09-15, 09:51 AM
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Foster Smith, a Wisconsin pet supply, has an attachment for riding with a dog. It connects to the seat post. It will keep you dog away from the wheels and I think easier to control.
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Old 05-10-15, 10:38 AM
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It seems you are merely doing the bicycling version of Skijouring. It is a wonderful opportunity for mutual training and companionship. I don't see it a lot with bicycles. But, I do see it.

Certainly there are risks. There are risks to most everything. To me, it is a life well lived that is important.
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