Does anyone bike ride with their dog?

[Malamum]

I have ordered myself a bicycle springer so I can start bike riding with Indy but I'm not really sure what type of harness I am best to use. Does anyone have any advice?

Thanks

[Guest Anonymous]

I use to go bikejoring with Hazel all the time. I used her cart harness, though we didn't go that often or very far, and it was hooked up so it wouldn't put pressure on the wrong spots and stuff...

[gooeydog]

I sometimes use a bike to exercise our dogs if I don't have much time, or if I just feel like taking them for a run. I don't use anything that attaches to the bike (I just don't like the idea of me not being in control of them in case something would happen, like a dog running up, or them getting spooked over something), but I also usually take them at night, when there are very few people out. Something I can tell you is that if the dog sees something it wants (ie: another dog, cat, bunny, anything they want, but you don't want them bolting after), it's better to speed up than to slow down, as the dog can't run forward at a fast enough speed to keep up with you, and lunge sideways at the same time. No advice on harnesses, I just use flat collars. If you're going to be running him on concrete or pavement, make sure you check his pads every 1/2 mile or so at first, and if you notice even a little wear, head home... all it takes is a little spot for the surface to get worn to start wearing the rest pad down, and it goes very quickly after that.

[Malamum]

K, you've scared me now. What's wrong with the springer?? I thought it was a good idea so he didn't get tangled with the bike :niewiem:

[Malamum]

Oh dear... it's a good thing there are no canals near us :o

Seriously though wouldn't you be more lilely to be pulled just using a leash, since the idea of the spring is to absorb some of the pulling?

[Malamum]

I'll let you know how we go and I will get some pictures once we are experts (you could be waiting a while though) :D

I am just going to start very slowly with it. Since Indy has only just turned 1 I can't do any serious running with him for the next 6 months anyway so I am just going to work with him a little bit at a time and get him used to it. I think my boyfriend can be the guinea pig though - he can be the one to ride the bike to start with in case there are any accidents.

Indy is pretty good on the leash, I have started jogging a little with him and I hold the leash very loosely and he just keeps pace and trots by my side. I can tell he would really like to just run his little ass of though which is why I want to get into biking so we can pick the pace up a little.

[gooeydog]

I don't mean going faster than they can K, just to speed up, keeping them beside you... the momentum of you going forward at a fast speed will be too much for them to get enough momentum to lunge to to side with enough power to pull you over. Of course, you wouldn't want to try this if the distraction was going to be around for a while, but where I take our dogs, it's usually just a momentary distraction. I also say "faster when I speed up, and they get very intent on speeding up, so that may be part of the reason this works for us. The key to it is to speed them up before they see the distraction, and make it a big game, like a race :lol: ... I suppose that it could be considered a distraction in itself :wink:

[sheesh]

Hey Malamum - I have used my Springer since last summer. My 40# cattle mix just loves it. Sorry K - I have never had any problems with it and she LOVES it. Why do you hate the Springer? I am curious.

She pulls me initially for the first 2 minutes of the ride, but then she realizes that we she's doing - and she slows down and the chain attached to her collar becomes slack. It comes with a silly flimsy cord and plastic attachment. I went to the hardware store and exchanged the plastic thing for a carabiner-type hook, and purchased 1 foot of chain, and then another carabiner. Presto! Now attach to collar and you are ready to go. We go fast when I sense she wants to speed up, and then I slow down when I sense she is tired. She absolutely LOVES it. Now instead of "wanna take a walk?" I say "Wanna go biking?" and she FLIPS OUT! :P
So I have nothing but great things to say about the Springer. When she lunges for a squirrel - I barely feel it and am in total control. My only concern for accidents is from cars who don't see us. But I put a little beacon light on her collar so she is VERY visible, even at dusk. If you have any more questions, just write. Good luck!

[Guest Anonymous]

with my german sheperd/chow mix i cycle with out a leash and when he was little i learned i should tell him where we are going. example i was trail riding and we came to a Y in the trail i went right and he went left.
so like Gooeydog said if u speed up say faster or u slow tell him to slow and if your going right say right and so on expecially if u are going to have a lead attached to your dog.
Also they have reflective vest for dogs.

A good way to start is to start with u on roller blades this way u have more control over your dog and he can learn the commands needed to cycle with your dog. This is what i do with my pit and he loves it cause this is when he is allowed to pull as much as he wants thus I'm less tired and him more. I use a harness when i want him to pull (his weight pull harness and his skate harness which fits snug with a strap across the front)and his collar when we walk this way he knows not to pull. If u do this it is important to teach your dog to slow and slow u when u take hold of harness and command. This helps alot when u coming to a street crossing and your being pulled 20mph. But what fun it is. :P

[Malamum]

Thanks for the info Sheesh. Do you use a harness or do you just attach the chain to her standard collar?

Billy-g, I am no where near game enough to try roller blading with Indy. I am not the best roller blader under normal circumstances (I can't stop - I wait till I run out of momentum :oops: ) So I think having a 100 lb Malamute on the end of the leash would be downright suicidal :D

[ellieangel]

So I think having a 100 lb Malamute on the end of the leash would be downright suicidal

Oh Malamum you kill me !!!
The visual image of that is hysterical :roflt: :roflt: :roflt:

[sheesh]

Malamum - I just use a standard collar. But my girl is only 40# - If your baby is a big boy - then I would use a harness for more control.

Let me know how your experience goes with it! It was one of the best doggie investments yet. She gets "doggone" tired within 20 minutes versus a walk where she is strolling and looking at me like "When will we pick up the pace?" :o

Oh by the way - I did go rollerblading with my girl and she did wonderfully. Only once did she try to cross my path - remedy solved by using a 2-foot show lead. I think biking is much funner though!