cycling with dogs

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meerkat70
meerkat70 Posts: 4,605 Member
edited December 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
Just wondering if anyone cycles with their hound, and if so how you do it safely?

The dog I'm thinking of is very fit and healthy - good hips, runs with me already and is full of beans. She's nearly 2.

Opinions welcome - my biggest concern here is I don't want to hurt my dog!

Replies

  • roodledoodle
    roodledoodle Posts: 183
    Hi there,

    Here are a few tips for running with your dogs:

    You can use a springer or a bike jour attachment - the springer will allow your dog to run alongside your bike and the bike jour attachment will allow it to run in front of the bike. If you have a lead attached to the collar and hold the lead this can be unsafe for both you and your dog.

    Put your dog in a harness to run it - attaching a lead to the collar can be dangerous because the dog will be pulling on its neck.

    Make sure the temperature isn't too warm otherwise the dog can easily overheat. And take a backback with a little bit of water for your dog too if you're going any distance.

    If you can avoid running on busy roads then do so.

    I race huskies in harness and a lot of my friends bike jour with the dogs - it's fantastic exercise for you both and the dogs absolutely love it - just make sure it's safe for you both and enjoy!
  • goodasgoldilox165
    goodasgoldilox165 Posts: 333 Member
    We cycle off-road with ours (so no lead) and she loves it. (I'm very slow, so when with me she tends to run ahead and look back over her shoulder - tongue lolling in a laugh -all encouragement and enthusiasm!) Take plenty for dogs to drink though- all that tongue-lolling laughter makes a great thirst; if your waterways are as dry as ours- there isn't much 'wild' water available at the moment.

    Bikejoring looks like a brilliant idea
  • FORIANN
    FORIANN Posts: 273 Member
    My dog still uses training wheels.
  • roodledoodle
    roodledoodle Posts: 183
    My dog still uses training wheels.

    Never heard of this, what is it please? Just curious! thanks
  • sarafil
    sarafil Posts: 506 Member
    My husband bikes with our dog, but he doesn't take her too far....she's only a year and a half and FULL of energy, but we wouldn't take her out longer than a few miles at a time. It's pretty fast running for her, and we don't want injury. She loves it, though!
  • meerkat70
    meerkat70 Posts: 4,605 Member
    thanks these are really helpful suggestions.
  • meerkat70
    meerkat70 Posts: 4,605 Member
    My dog still uses training wheels.

    Never heard of this, what is it please? Just curious! thanks

    i think they were joking.
  • FORIANN
    FORIANN Posts: 273 Member
    My dog still uses training wheels.

    Never heard of this, what is it please? Just curious! thanks

    i think they were joking.

    This is not a joke. My dog rides his bike to and from the park twice a day....he hasn't been doing it very long and it was not easy to convince him to overcome his own perceived limitations, but I think by July we'll be able to take to training wheels off and he'll be good to go. He still doesn't wear his helmet consistently and I worry he's going to get hurt.
  • tabulator32
    tabulator32 Posts: 701 Member
    My dog still uses training wheels.

    Never heard of this, what is it please? Just curious! thanks

    i think they were joking.

    This is not a joke. My dog rides his bike to and from the park twice a day....he hasn't been doing it very long and it was not easy to convince him to overcome his own perceived limitations, but I think by July we'll be able to take to training wheels off and he'll be good to go. He still doesn't wear his helmet consistently and I worry he's going to get hurt.

    Pics or it didn't happen.

    :bigsmile:
  • meerkat70
    meerkat70 Posts: 4,605 Member
    My dog still uses training wheels.

    Never heard of this, what is it please? Just curious! thanks

    i think they were joking.

    This is not a joke. My dog rides his bike to and from the park twice a day....he hasn't been doing it very long and it was not easy to convince him to overcome his own perceived limitations, but I think by July we'll be able to take to training wheels off and he'll be good to go. He still doesn't wear his helmet consistently and I worry he's going to get hurt.

    Pics or it didn't happen.

    :bigsmile:

    Bless, that's incredibly cute! I'd love to see pics.
  • FORIANN
    FORIANN Posts: 273 Member
    My dog still uses training wheels.

    Never heard of this, what is it please? Just curious! thanks

    i think they were joking.

    This is not a joke. My dog rides his bike to and from the park twice a day....he hasn't been doing it very long and it was not easy to convince him to overcome his own perceived limitations, but I think by July we'll be able to take to training wheels off and he'll be good to go. He still doesn't wear his helmet consistently and I worry he's going to get hurt.

    Pics or it didn't happen.

    :bigsmile:

    Bless, that's incredibly cute! I'd love to see pics.

    Couple of problems with this, chiefly that after my dog spent several years working with an Aborigine tribe he adopted the belief that taking a photo of someone would steal their soul. Personally, I think it's ridiculous, but far be it from me to disrespect his belief system. I'm trying to reason with him, but he's pretty stubborn and even if I make the most rational case imaginable for a position he opposes then he just ends up peeing in the living room floor.
  • goodasgoldilox165
    goodasgoldilox165 Posts: 333 Member
    Ah yes! A general attack on the floor ends many a reasoned argument:smile:
  • meerkat70
    meerkat70 Posts: 4,605 Member
    Sigh. I was doing so well being skeptical...

    (*must read more carefully*)
  • roodledoodle
    roodledoodle Posts: 183
    My dog still uses training wheels.

    Never heard of this, what is it please? Just curious! thanks

    i think they were joking.

    This is not a joke. My dog rides his bike to and from the park twice a day....he hasn't been doing it very long and it was not easy to convince him to overcome his own perceived limitations, but I think by July we'll be able to take to training wheels off and he'll be good to go. He still doesn't wear his helmet consistently and I worry he's going to get hurt.

    Pics or it didn't happen.

    :bigsmile:

    Bless, that's incredibly cute! I'd love to see pics.

    Couple of problems with this, chiefly that after my dog spent several years working with an Aborigine tribe he adopted the belief that taking a photo of someone would steal their soul. Personally, I think it's ridiculous, but far be it from me to disrespect his belief system. I'm trying to reason with him, but he's pretty stubborn and even if I make the most rational case imaginable for a position he opposes then he just ends up peeing in the living room floor.

    Ha ha! yes very good! I actually originally thought you had one of those big wheels that dogs jump into and run on - like a big hamster's wheel!
  • meerkat70
    meerkat70 Posts: 4,605 Member
    I've just ordered a springer. Wow, but they're pricey!
  • roodledoodle
    roodledoodle Posts: 183
    I've just ordered a springer. Wow, but they're pricey!

    Your dog will love you for it though :wink:
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