Touring with a puppy
 

My wife and I have been planning a biking from Portland to San Fran in mid June. Both of us are in good shape. Very excited about this trip. Not planning on doing more than 50 miles a day. Taking it easy when we want and just enjoying the ride. Recently a puppy was thrown into the mix. We would love to have this dog! I am just very nervous about bringing it on our trip. I would tow in behind. I am not worried about the weight with it being a puppy and all (10 lbs).

Any advice on touring with a dog in general? Bad Idea?

Any specific advice about doing the Pacific Coast with a dog?

Thoughts ideas?

Here's a great source. He's a member of the forums here too....although I imagine he's out on a good tour right now. But check this out...
http://worldsbetweenlines.com/2013/0...legged-friend/

It had specifics. now, I just tried to go and look again myself and it is a big 404. Not sure what happened but he tours with his dog, Avenue. Okay, after further reading. His site got hacked and he lost content. Still...search the forums for any posted by him during his bike touring. He has info about what he packed for his dog.

Do a search on dog friendly towns on the Pacific. I know there are a ton of dog friendly areas in New England and I have toured around with my dogs long ago. One thing I did bring was copies of his records to put in a waterproof folder and stash away. just recent shots, up to date info, etc. With a puppy....is he house trained? etc? I would imagine lots of short breaks to let him run around a bit and burn off steam. I use a modified Burley and my dog is small that I take now. He's 14 pounds. I have a huge dog bed in the trailer and he just chills out. I do keep the screen closed but the mesh is secure and gives him the air that he enjoys. Just be sure he is secure inside and has no intentions to hope out. My burley has strong velcro at the bottom and loops that tighten down as well so I don't have those worries.

Hope it helps a little. good luck and be very safe!

I don't think I'd tow a 20 lb trailer to carry a 10 lb dog. Or were you're planning to tow the trailer anyway?

Puppies can be trained. If it were me, I'd try to train Puppy to use something like a BuddyRider.

OMG! That is the best thing I have ever seen! I have only had larger dogs, but that thing makes me want to get a small dog just to carry him on my bike. I would expect athletic small dogs like terriers and the like can get out and run when you are going slower - up hills and whatnot.

Yeah, that's my thinking as well. With some obvious exceptions, small dogs are usually more active and athletic than large ones. We have mini schnauzers, who even with no regular exercise can run at normal bicycling speeds for a mile or two without slowing down. Alas we didn't get them as puppies, so I'm skeptical of training them to sit still on the bike. I'm pretty sure on a tour one of our dogs would be happy to run up a hill, then rest on the bike until the next one.

Years ago my friend's mom was ill and her bichon-frisé (or something similar) had to go outside. So I took it for a gentle jog around the block - I am not an efficient runner so couldn't have been going too fast. When we got back my friend's mom was furious because the dog was panting - she thought that exercise was bad for the dog.

A few times we went over to visit, brining our lab X with us. And we got there by bike, dog running beside us happily the whole way. She thought that was the most cruel thing she could imagine.

I've occasionally seen locals (presumably shorter rides) on the bike path with small dogs in baskets or trailers & the dogs seem to be enjoying themselves. Portland-SF presumably is not scorching hot. Plus, 50 miles/day gives lots of time for the dog to take breaks. I heartily recommend watching the Dog Whisperer show for anyone with a new dog. Cesar says to take puppies for a long walk before introducing them to their new house or first car ride--it makes the dogs calmer. Probably would help before 1st bike ride too.

I once went on 3-day car trip with a 10-week old puppy who didn't have any problems during the ride. OTOH if there's friends/relatives who could board your puppy it would simplify things a lot.

A great deal depends on the dog.

I've run my cattle dog mutts twenty miles at a time off the leash alongside legal highways, at "heel" next to the bike. Some dogs will do that, cattle dogs (AKA blue heelers) are purpose-bred working dogs and take to that sort of thing naturally, with many other dogs I wouldn't have a prayer.

But as far as bicycle touring, search on "dog touring" on crazyguyonabike.com: Bicycle Touring: A place for bicycle tourists and their journals and you'll get tour journals like this....

https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/...id=103299&v=Ct

I will say that, based on my experience with dogs anywhere, a great deal of your time and attention will be devoted to supervising the dog, for better or worse.

Mike

Heh, was taking my Black Lab/Corgi for a slow jog on the bike path, 29° C, & some fussbudget claimed I was killing the dog. Previous dog lived to age 17. My friends' flat-nosed Shih Tzu likes walks/jogs too. Sure, it's wise to avoid extreme heat & sun & adjust for breed capabilities. But after all, lots of dogs live in hot countries.

Don't forget puppies are babies, they need frequent attention, are emotionally and physically ungrown, have a very short cycle of eat/play/sleep, may cry, may puke, pee, and poo in the worst places, etc. This is all normal and not to be feared.

Breed is one factor and a major one at that, but not the only one. Like humans, individual dogs vary widely in ability even within the same breed. Also like humans, dogs need to train to achieve a given level of fitness. It would be a bad idea to take a couch potato dog for a 20 mile run without starting out with shorter easier runs.

Granted dogs seem to train to a level of fitness faster and more easily than we do. Adapting to heat is a different matter. My dogs all have seemed to be slower in acclimating to hot weather than I am. They usually take a week or so longer than I do to get used to Summer heat than I do.

Good point. Another consequence of this is that since this is a puppy, any notion of it running alongside should be dismissed. Most advice I have heard is that puppies should have no forced exercise before 8-14 months of age depending breed. Forced exercise being defined as any exercise where they are not free to stop at any point. Puppies play hard, but in short bursts.

Also, people forget that a lot of the small 'froo froo' dogs are descended from terriers and the like - real working dogs bred for pest control, among other things. I think dogs feel 'discomfort', like when they are running and it is hot, but their discomfort is far outweighed by the gratification they get from running (or walking or swimming) with their pack. It is for this reason that we need to be careful with them as they will run themselves to death to please their master, but we also need to acknowledge they are animals designed to be robust and strong in harsh conditions.

Are you planning to camp? If so, there could be issues like the pet-friendliness of campgrounds (relevant to motels also), noise, the need for a leash and leaving the pup unattended.

One thing to keep in mind, the trip will be the puppy's trip, not your trip. And that could be a very good thing.

You don't mention the puppy's actual age. Is it fully vaccinated yet? Bringing along a copy of the pup's shot record is a very good idea, as well as making sure it's microchipped and that chip is registered to you with your cell phone #. Also, be sure his/her collar has your cell phone # so, heaven forbid, if the pup were lost anyone finding it can actually reach you. My 14-lb dog rides in a basket on my handlebars. His harness vest is tethered to the basket so he cannot jump or fall out. You will want to make sure that whatever your pup rides in has a tether as well, to keep it secure & safe while you're in traffic.

If your pup is less than 5-months old I strongly recommend that you do not walk it in areas with high dog traffic (designated dog potty areas in rest stops, dog parks, dog runs, etc.). Warm weather means parvo will be on the rise and puppies are especially susceptible to this very fatal disease. It's just a precaution, but a good one. Walking your pup off the walkways or just out of human-oriented areas will be safer than the dog-designated spots. We brought home a 9-week old golden retriever from OR to SoCal and managed just fine by avoiding the dog potty areas.

Be sure to pack toys & supplies for your pup, too! A first aid kit wouldn't be bad, either.

You will need to be ready to stop and walk or exercise the pup as often as it needs. Be aware that, depending on the pup's breed and the weather, you may have to stop and give it adequate shade/water/cooling down time. Dogs perspire via panting and via sweat glands near their foot pads so if it's really hot and humid your puppy will need some help staying cool.

It would be a huge help to you guys if you acclimate your pup to his trailer or whatever BEFORE the trip.

I'm not trying to dissuade you from taking the puppy, but if you're going to take him it'll be much more fun for all of you if you're prepared. My little Havanese will be going with us on the road and I'm looking forward to it!