Carrying a small dog
 

Just got a dachshund puppy and want a way to carry her on trips to the store and parks or just around the neighborhood. Fully grown will be 7-8 lbs. I have a Topeak MTX rack on several bikes which will work with a rear basket, so that is a good possibility. Topeak also makes a front basket that would be nice to keep an eye on the pup. However, I was thinking a front basket would be rougher on bumps than a rear basket. What have you used that works well and is easily removed?

https://www.rei.com/product/780119/t...tx-basket-rear

My friends w/ small dogs that take them on bike use front baskets. You can keep your eye on your pup while young and interact with your dog while riding. Racktime products are well designed and good values. Owned by same parent company as Tubus. Most of your bikes have midpoint brazeons and cushy tires. Snapit adapter lets you easily remove the entire basket quickly and attaches securely. You can use a small blanket and have room for toys. Make it puppy friendly, maybe add some flowers....

My dog is a female Redbone Coonhound. She weighs about 75lbs and has to run beside me in low traffic situations. On the leash in trafficy situations. She used to ride in a Burley kids trailer when a pup, but no way am I lugging 100lbs behind me so that she can have a free ride.

Racktime Baskithttps://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...985a4ac290.jpg


Racktime Topit Front Rack
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...0834497238.jpg

I carried a dog, my pregnant partner and often picnic stuff in a Christiania box bike (classic) and couldn't recommend it more. However, that was in Copenhagen and the bicycle infrastructure might/might not be adequate for that solution depending on your locale.

I wouldn't recommend a dog in a simple basket as the restricted space wouldn't allow them to move adequately to ensure they arrive happily.

I find it easier to keep the front a little more bump free because I can thread the front wheel around bumps and potholes better than I can the back wheel.

I'd much prefer to have the dog in front to keep an eye on him and you can communicate with him better.

My chihuahua rides in a fabric lined front basket just a bit larger than she, but she loves riding there. I agree with others who say it is best for them to ride in front where you can see them. There are larger front baskets for bigger dogs such as the Basil Pasja, but my chi fits in the standard small front basket 10x10x15.

Sound like the front is better. The Racktime looks nice, but having to mount a front rack is not ideal. Any good baskets that mount to the bars only or is that not stable enough? BTW, here’s a picture of the pup, all 3 pounds of her.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...7aa9c7f9c.jpeg

I use both a sling and a cycling specific foam bed secured to the rear rack. Here's a pic of me using both simultaneously to take them to the dogpark... Jack, in the sling, is 11 lbs, and Murphy, 28 lbs, is secured at multiple points, in the rear. https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...411908dbb9.jpg

Wow. Nice photos guys. I must admit that I've never seen dogs in baskets where I live. I see a ton of dogs but mostly walking only.

Thanks for showing me that it's possible should I get a dogs again.

I've seen quite a lot of small dogs in baskets, mostly front, but some in the rear. A lot of cyclists with dog trailers as well.

I probably see 50 dogs / weekend being walked along the seafront but never in a bike going to/fro the seafront. Sometimes in a pram/stroller. The island is small though, so most people just walk with dogs to the seafront. Haven't seen a single trailer on the island, even though I see probably 100-200 cyclists/weekend. I think the space is way too tight and the steps everywhere probably prevent it.

It is good to know that dogs can go in baskets though for future reference should I move again.

Tried the sling last night for a short ride to a restaurant and it worked, but was kind of hard to pedal. I can definitely say that a front basket would be the best option, because the pup needs to be watched. Should she be clipped in or just sitting there?

My thought is to train the pup while young to just sit and stay there. Even if clipped in and dog jumps out, just dragging along.
Thinking train early to stay in when told is best way forward. Your dog should stay in the basket even if you get off bike or run in to the store.
Also, start training street smarts and boundaries around streets and traffic immediately.
Lots of walks on the sidewalk with correction and lots of praise for doing what is expected.
Dog (or person) doesn't know what it doesn't know.....

Our weiner dog mix fell out of a milk crate on the back of my bike, also out of a car once. I'd like to give him credit for jumping but he was really just trying to see further. Other than that incident, it worked ok. I haven't ridden with him in a long time... I guess not since having kids.

Yeah, my pic was a little misleading. When I'm pedaling, the sling is turned around and the pup is kind of leaning on my back. I'm considering just using a backpack instead.

IT PUTS THE DOG IN THE BASKET OR IT GETS THE HOSE

or wait, is that not quite how the quote went?

I'm too scared to ride with my dog. If I need a helmet when I ride, what's to protect him in the event of a fall or crash? He's only 6 pounds so plenty small enough but maybe I'm too paranoid?

They just bounce.

My one dog freaked once & jumped out of a tricycle. The other jumped out of my pick-up. Both were tied in & got dragged until it was safe to address the situation. Dogs bodies are made of rubber & their noggins are made of rocks. But it only takes once & they'll learn pretty quick.

I probably seem pretty terrible, but life happens & they were wearing harnesses, leashed & buckled in. So it's not like I didn't do my due dilligence.

Don't be scared. Have fun. Riding with your dogs is a blast for them...and you.

You and I are clearly on completely different levels when it comes to care for our dogs.

Well, I tend to treat my dogs as people. My dogs are too smart for their own good. One is a hound/beagle, but the really smart one is a husky/shepherd/cattle dog. He knows left, right, cross, stop, in, out, up, off, back, how to open doors, operate light switches, open drawers, sit, stay, speak, quiet, shake, and how to read the minute hand on the clock for dinner (which is always a thing week or 2 for daylight saving time...& he'll look at me, then the clock & back) Among other things he knows which "thing" to do outside when commanded. They do things like ask to go outside & sit at the car door. Or hop in the bath tub when grubby & wait for you to turn on the water or hop in the tricycle basket with their leash. Of course, who could forget the difference between breaksast, supper, dinner, & treat? They'll prompt bed time at 8:30pm & get you up for work at 4:30am if the alarm fails. They know the driver seat is mine & to only enter the car through the hatchback. They self arrange sharing of the front passenger seat on a per stop basis, (when I had 3 dogs they would rotate) & they know I am the first one out of the car and to not come near my lap while I drive.

They have a pretty impressive vocabulary & range of learned behaviours when you think about it. I go to friends houses & meet their dogs...Well, they're "nice."

No worries. Dogs are fun. I've had many. As long as they know with out any doubt you are in charge, consistant, loving...They feel secure & needed, there's no end to their capacity. I think a lot of "pet" owners sell them short, but that's none of my business really.

Dogs are relationships.

My coworker uses a dog carrier backpack.

There's a guy here (and I can't ever remember his name when this comes up) who carries his dog Bailey in a trailer. Bailey seems to like it too, and is safely contained in the trailer. Bailey's driver is mentioned on his avatar, I hope he sees this.

It's @2manybikes

He's in the basket of the adult upright trike. He is always wearing a harness and clipped in the middle of his chest on the harness to a ring in the middle of the basket. He can't get out. Any dog should be strapped into whatever basket they are in. I will now try to find some good photos of the trike.

Also ~ Jingles the dachshund rides in his dog specific wicker basket with a cage type top cover on the back of his drivers recumbent trike.I'll come back here later, I'll see if I can find those photos too.. Google "Dog bicycle basket.https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...31f4cf2942.jpg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...11c73d1730.jpg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...11f684d994.jpg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...864f7cffa4.jpg
or other close wording, the basket was bought on line.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...bd0cc99044.jpg


More recent photos...food, water, coffee, tools, leash, jacket, etc. Below is thehttps://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...5c2f282c04.jpg
current set up. Water right, loading ramp folded left. I can't pick him up I have a bad back.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...e1d5bf8438.jpg

That's what I meant, somehow I remembered you using a trailer.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...27383a786e.jpg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...4eadbea439.jpg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...db24dc275b.jpg
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