Question about riding with my small dog
 

She's a fox terrier mix, less than 20 pounds and loves to be taken to dog parks so she can run. I would rather bike but the two parks near me are about 3 or 4 miles away. I don't want to make her walk all that way with me on the bike, especially in the kind of traffic that we could encounter.
So I was looking at maybe putting her in some sort of trailer, but with animals it's a hit or miss what works. I realize that what works for someone else might not work for me or my dog's feisty-ness but anyone with experience and suggestions would help.

I'm currently considering a Schwinn Kid Trailer like Tom Stormcrowe has.
http://www.amazon.com/Schwinn-Bicycl.../dp/B003EESOFW

I'm riding a Jamis Coda and will be on paved roads.

Thanks

First question is whether she freaks out when put in any kind of enclosure. If you don't know the answer, I'd be hesitant to buy a trailer just assuming it would work. You can explain things to a kid, but not to a dog.

We've got a couple of dogs around that size. They can physically ride in a large basket or the cargo trike, they're just not smart enough to know not to bail out over the front, either.

Actually, she does get a little freaked out when confined but she also gets used to stuff real fast so I'm sure I can work with her on that. I just wasn't sure if there was something that worked better for pets than a kid trailer.

Actually, this quote is what got me thinking the most. Might not be the best idea to take her down a busy road when I can't express the dangers to her. Maybe I'll reconsider the whole thing.

A dog must be held in somehow. A running cat or another dog might get your dog very excited. A dog car seat belt belt harness with a carabiner under the belly to somethinig in the bottom of a basket can keep the dog in, but allow him to move around a little. A restraint to the collar is either too short for comfort or too long letting the dog over the edge a little. We have a couple thousand miles on this set up. This coming summer will be year six. The short legs of a corgi make this harness work perfectly, the more normal legs of another breed might be harder to get things just right.

http://img392.imageshack.us/img392/5...rrowtocet3.jpg

http://img58.imageshack.us/img58/4069/hpim9123aav0.jpg

You have a couple options options. The dog-backpack carrier used in conjunction with a harness sounds like the best solution for you & her. A good one will have a loop/restraint that can snap to your dog's harness. It's a pain to get her loaded and on your back without help, but it's probably more secure than strapping her to the bike.

http://www.dogcarrierbackpacks.com/w...gybackpack.jpg

Take a look at Beastriders.com. They make high-end, heavy-duty stuff for getting dogs on motorcycles. Even if their stuff doesn't work for you, you can still get some ideas.
I stitched a tall-walled cat bed to an old magnetic pad from a used-up motorcycle tank bag, and my dog has ridden more than 70,000 miles with me, (around-town miles, seldom on the freeway).
http://www.calamarichris.com/images/...lcurve1opt.jpg

And of course your dog is a perfect excuse to get yourself a new bike. (It's not really selfish if you're doing it for the sake of your dog, right?) I got my dog a Globe Live 3 last year and I love it. (I mean she loves it, heh heh.)

http://www.calamarichris.com/images/101007-live3ang.jpg http://www.calamarichris.com/images/...live3kitch.jpg
And the bed was purely an accidental color-match, but it looks like OEM equipment for the bike.

These are some really cool options to consider. And awesome pics. Thanks guys.
Question for Calimarichris: So you don't strap your dog in the bed? Or are we just not seeing the harness?

Thanks for the compliment. No straps necessary. Going around corners on a motorcycle is different from a car; you don't get sloshed from side-to-side because the net force is always down. (Notice how my dog's head is squished down in the above photo.) When we were exiting the corner, her head popped right back up.

http://www.calamarichris.com/images/...lcurve2opt.jpg

She's ridden more than 70K miles with me and has never gotten hurt. Safety is pretty much an illusion in traffic, no matter what vehicle you're in, but I honestly feel safer with her on the motorcycle than on my bicycle.

Can't help but think of Clark Griswold with your dog...

musikguy: Oh, you can't think I'd do this on purpose? Look... I tied him to the rear rack while I was packing the panniers. It was very confusing. I must have forgot. I'm very sorry, I feel terrible.

Bicycle Cop: How do you think that little dog feels?

musikguy: Look, I told you I was sorry. It really was an accident.

Bicycle Cop:Well, I guess I can buy that, sir. But it is a shame. I had a pooch like this when I was a kid.
[both musikguy and the bicycle cop sorrowfully look at the empty road behind them]

Bicycle Cop:Poor little guy. Probably kept up with you for a mile or so.
[tearing up]

Bicycle Cop:Tough little mutt...

Hahahaha!!! FUNNY

I should change my screenname to "DOGKILLER!"

My Pomeranian rides in an Outward Hound Legs Out chest carrier. Let's just say that she likes to ride up front.

I actually wouldn't mind putting my dog in some sort of backpack (or frontpack) because I could feel her on me and I wouldn't be looking back every 2 seconds to make sure she was still there. I don't think she would take to it very calmly though. Pilot: how did your dog take to the chest carrier the first couple of times?

If it's going to be hot weather you need the dog in front for the air flow.

It is Texas. Summer is the best 9 months of the year.

She took to her first carrier well. (She outgrew that one, and we got the legs out carrier. Think of a baby carrier, with a cut out for the dog's tail bones). It took a few more rides before she was comfortable with the Doggles.:innocent:

I tow my 14-lb Havanese with me almost everywhere in a converted Bell child's trailer that we found on Craigslist. The seats were removed and the bottom half of a plastic Vari-kennel functions as the floor and side lining. We put a thick dog blanket inside for padding. He took to the trailer right away and has been an excellent little traveler since. His 'sister' however is a high strung Pug mix that loves to ride, but she will jump out at the slightest provocation. So, because this trailer is not a dog-specific trailer with a zip up enclosure, she is tethered inside with a harness and short lead to keep her from escaping.

Our local park is 2-1/2 miles away and we take them to the park this way.

Here is a short video of Pepper riding in his "chariot". He loves to go for bike rides and will load himself into the trailer when he sees me pull my bike out. He doesn't want to be left behind ;)

If your TFT takes to cycling and you find her weight too much for a front basket or on your body, you might want to consider a rear rack basket with harness or a pet-specific trailer like Croozer, DoggyRide, or Burley Tail Wagon, etc.

If you introduce her to riding gradually, around the block, the neighborhood on quieter streets, etc., I think she would love it!

Another vote for a chest carrier, (so long as you aren't riding on a fairly racy bike.)
http://www.calamarichris.com/images/...ngbudride1.jpg

For easiness, you might take a comfortably large backpack and put the dog in it. I have one from GW Bass that is about 6"x9"x17". It has a drawstring and flap at the top. I used it when my JRT was injured and needed to go to the vet. I put it on backwards so the pouch was in front of me and loaded the dog in. He loved the idea that now he was getting the "big dog" view as we went down the street. He was able to perch his front paws on the top of the bag, but its softness made it hard for him to climb out. Admittedly, I was walking, but it might also work cycling.

The only problem was that when he saw the vet's office, he was not pleased. :lol: