Taking the dogs along?
02-05-13, 08:40 PM
#1
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Taking the dogs along?
My wife thinks it would be fun to take our dogs: 23 & 10 lb. Schnauzers biking with us. Before I make the dog trailer purchase, I was wondering if any tandem owners here pull their pets. I would like to hear your pros & cons. Of course there is the additional weight plus extra water. I’m guessing about 50lbs.
How much did the extra weight slow you down? Too much effort and advise leaving the dogs behind?
How much did the extra weight slow you down? Too much effort and advise leaving the dogs behind?
02-05-13, 09:18 PM
#2
Rod & Judy
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Depends on the hills! We take camping gear and it slows us down, maybe 2 to 3 mph, but lots more on hills
R&J
R&J
02-05-13, 09:28 PM
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cyclepath
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see avatar....
Crash, a male is around 25 lbs and Sadee, his sister, around 12. Crash spends much of the time running instead (he much prefers that) while Sadee is content to ride.
btw, that's a $100 Nashbar trailer, one of the best purchases of any kind I've ever made. Heck of a deal.
Crash, a male is around 25 lbs and Sadee, his sister, around 12. Crash spends much of the time running instead (he much prefers that) while Sadee is content to ride.
btw, that's a $100 Nashbar trailer, one of the best purchases of any kind I've ever made. Heck of a deal.
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Last edited by daredevil; 02-05-13 at 09:32 PM.
02-05-13, 09:28 PM
#4
The Recumbent Quant
There are a lot of people who go riding with their dogs and in these cases, the dogs love it. I sometimes pull a trailer by myself with my two kids (~100 lbs). You've got two people pulling. Go buy the trailer and have fun. 
02-05-13, 09:44 PM
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I would love to take our dogs but we have a male malamute weighing 90 and a female husky weighing 50. Add a trailer to that...... well on second thought, maybe I will let the dogs pull ME!
02-05-13, 10:35 PM
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My wife and I will put our 12lb Schnauzer in our Burley Nomad trailer. He loves it. BUT and this is vital and surprisingly not mentioned, he won't jump out! This is for 2 reasons: first, we have a halter that we leash to the cross bar and second, he did once, and got dragged for a few feet until I could stop my 1/2 bike. He learned his lesson quick!
02-06-13, 12:05 AM
#7
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We put our 14 lb. Westie Lily in a basket I've attached to the rack using zip ties. We took Lily on our urban tandem ride to the coffee shop, and then rode home to go on a longer ride on our other tandem.
Snowy, our 27 lb Westie died last year. When we had both, we towed them in a BoB trailer, that I had padded with a camping foam mattress. Here we took them to a dog park, which they really enjoyed. A BoB trailer works pretty well for at least a medium sized dog. If not used for canine carriage, it can be used for touring, shopping, etc.
Snowy, our 27 lb Westie died last year. When we had both, we towed them in a BoB trailer, that I had padded with a camping foam mattress. Here we took them to a dog park, which they really enjoyed. A BoB trailer works pretty well for at least a medium sized dog. If not used for canine carriage, it can be used for touring, shopping, etc.
02-06-13, 10:16 AM
#8
Half Fast
Sometimes we carry our two small dogs (about 13lbs each) in the one-child trailer that we tow with our tandem. One of our dogs will do anything for fun, and she enjoys the ride. Our other dog is apprehensive about everything and has a hard time relaxing. Doggie treats help, but it's still a challenge. We harness them to be sure they won't get out, because sometimes we ride on busy city streets.
Towing the trailer is a little like towing a parachute. It slows us from our typical 20mph cruise down to 16mph or so. We adjust our riding attitude, and then we're OK.
Overall, we like the trailer. We carry the dogs, our toddler grandson and groceries in it. When we're not using it, the wheels come off easily, and it folds into a fairly small package that we store in the garage.
Have fun!
Towing the trailer is a little like towing a parachute. It slows us from our typical 20mph cruise down to 16mph or so. We adjust our riding attitude, and then we're OK.
Overall, we like the trailer. We carry the dogs, our toddler grandson and groceries in it. When we're not using it, the wheels come off easily, and it folds into a fairly small package that we store in the garage.
Have fun!
02-06-13, 10:26 AM
#9
Half Fast
Last edited by mwandaw; 02-08-13 at 11:07 AM.
02-07-13, 10:35 AM
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Have seen a few dogs in trailers; wonder what happens if a rabbit/cat/dog shows up?
02-07-13, 06:20 PM
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It's quite easy to harness them in the trailer.
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"Without music, life would be a mistake."
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02-12-13, 01:58 PM
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we bought a used burley delight from a thrift store for $20. i gutted the child seat and threw in a cushioned doggie bed. we put our 55lb boxer in it and she loves it!
there was a learning curve. she wasn't too sure about the trailer at first but she warmed up pretty quick once she figured out how to jump in and out.
you do get a lot of looks when people realize what's in the trailer.
there was a learning curve. she wasn't too sure about the trailer at first but she warmed up pretty quick once she figured out how to jump in and out.
you do get a lot of looks when people realize what's in the trailer.
02-13-13, 01:07 PM
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We bought a pooch carrier like the type you would use to carry pet on an airplane. A little cutting here and there on the bottom and with some bungies it fits perfectly on the rear rack. We found dog bed that just fits inside that improves comfort for the dog. He is not wild about riding there, but does not complain. When we stop in a nice park there are always plenty of squirrels to chase in compensation.
02-17-13, 11:04 PM
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Has anyone tried the dog walker that attaches to a seat post as a means to give the dog the exercise instead of the people? https://www.amazon.com/Springer-Bicyc...cle+dog+walker They are designed to have a breakaway link in case you split opposite sides of a pole, and supposedly the dog cannot affect your steering if attached to the back. I have not tried but have been curious for the past year or so about these. Our mutt weight 100 lbs, so she is staying at home unless she is on her own power...
