Dog in a trailer

[DebW]

I saw something unusual yesterday. A cyclist pulling a trailer with a dog in it. The trailer was like a garden cart, and the dog was standing up inside it. There was nothing to keep the dog from jumping out if he wanted to (there were rails about 18 inches high all around). Anybody here carry their dog in a bike trailer?

[DeniseGoldberg]

That's something that has always made me nervous - but there are a number of people who tour with their dogs. They must be more well-behaved than the dogs that I've known! Some dogs seem to be quite happy sitting in a basket or a trailer...

If you're interested, here's a link to biking (touring) journals where the rider was accompanied by one (or two) dogs: http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/journal/categories/?category_id=275.

[Lise]

I've also seen dogs in those "bugger" things they put kids in behind bikes.

[Trek420]

I've seen that too. I would love to be able to ride with my dog, good training for me too with the extra 55 lbs. I would have to get some kind of harness for her too in case she sees a rabbit or chipmunk and :eek:

[mimitabby]

we were on a ride last year where a man had his Briard in a trailer. Now a briard is a big dog, at least as big as a lab; maybe bigger. Apparently the dog got out and ran up hills with him (on command)
sounds like a big hassle to me; but a lot of dogs just want to be with you!

[KnottedYet]

I've used some links from the forums to look at trailers I could put my dog's crate on. He wouldn't stay still on a trailer without being inside something. (either a kiddie trailer or his crate)

I've seen folks with dogs in the kiddie trailers. Looks like fun.

[SadieKate]

There is someone here in town with a little square flat bed trailer, no rails or sides, on which ride 3 small Husky-looking dogs. The dogs look to be about 20 lbs a piece and are sitting or lying down very calmly watching the world go by (about 20+ mph down a freeway overpass) as if all dogs get such royal treatment.

[Lenusik]

I think that having a dog in a trailer is better then making it run in unsafe places. The other day a saw a guy riding on a heavily traveled road. It has a huge bike lane but there is plenty of traffic. His dog was running 20 yards behind him. I really hoped that this animal was well trained.

On the other hand, I could have my Rottweiler pull a cart or me on my bike. :p

[velogirl]

My dog (20-pound Cavalier) has ridden with me since I got her (she's 2 1/2 now). At first, she fit in my jersey pocket. Then I got a front back-pack -- problem with this is I had to splay my legs to pedal. Then we progressed to a basket on the handlebars. This was great, but she got a little big for that (and it affected my steering). Then, I got a B.O.B trailer. I put her bed in the trailer (and leashed her in). But, I didn't like having such a long extension behind me that I couldn't see (so I've got a B.O.B. for sale if anyone's interested).

The final (and current) solution is a milk crate zip tied to the back rack on my Rivendell Atlantis (my touring bike). It ain't pretty, but it's functional. At the bike show in January, I met a builder who makes custom racks and baskets -- Ahearne. He said he could make something for Julie (which would look better on a Rivendell than a milk crate).

BTW, we only ride to the park and the bike shop where I work and occassionally to the dog park. Since I work at a bike shop and bring my dog to work, I wanted a solution where I didn't have to drive.

With every option I just listed, our first few rides were to to park to play. This reinforced a positive experience for her -- getting on the bike means we're going to have fun!

[bikerHen]

We take our dogs for a ride every once and a while. We bought a cheap kiddie trailer. DH took the kid seats out and put in a flat floor. We got harnesses for the dogs and clip them in with a double leash thing. They each take a side to hang out of and just love to feel the wind in their faces. :D But pulling 40 pounds of dog is quite a load so we don't take them too often. :rolleyes: bikerHen

[KnottedYet]

I've got a little longing in my greedy soul for this trailer:
http://www.burley.com/products/trailers/defaultedbb.html?p=Nomad&i=5

If I took the top cover off, I could strap on the dog crate.

Then, when I win the lottery and decide to bike around the world I can just put the cover back on and carry all my goodies.

[wabisabi]

Denise, glad to see you mentioned the crazy guy journal. I have to admit to getting totally addicted to the Airwick, et al, saga! I recently added a fox terrier to our pack and am considering a carrier for her--she is so gung ho about everything.

[TsPoet]

I've got a little longing in my greedy soul for this trailer:
http://www.burley.com/products/trailers/defaultedbb.html?p=Nomad&i=5

If I took the top cover off, I could strap on the dog crate.

Then, when I win the lottery and decide to bike around the world I can just put the cover back on and carry all my goodies.

I've looked into that for Beelzebub. That specific trailer has a canvas floor, you might consider the Burley Flatbed instead, a dog crate would fit on it and be strapped down. It's also cheaper.
(I changed my mind, Bub has earned his name and no one's ankles would be safe with him behind me in a trailer - too bad).

[Tuckervill]

I would LOVE to take my dog Zeke on a bike ride with me. He rides in the front of the kayak when we float. (We don't do whitewater.) What a great idea, a dog in a trailer! He would love that. I would never let him run with me, though. Too much can happen.

My dog Percy (20-year-old Jack Russell) has spent many a mile in a canoe or in my lap on a tube floating down the river. She didn't like the kayak because she couldn't see out or jump out for a swim on occasion.

http://www.geocities.com/tuckervill/zekeinkayak

Karen

[DeniseGoldberg]

Denise, glad to see you mentioned the crazy guy journal. I have to admit to getting totally addicted to the Airwick, et al, saga! I recently added a fox terrier to our pack and am considering a carrier for her--she is so gung ho about everything.

If you got hooked on Hank's tales - have you seen Jenia's journal? She is just getting started with biking - although I'd have to say that she's come a long way in what appears to be a short period of time. She started on what she calls a K-Mart special and has since upgraded to a Cannondale - and her riding companion is her Jack Russell terrier. Her last journal entry is about the 63-mile ride she took on May 14th. Awesome.

Her journal is at http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/journal/bluelightspecial.

[snapdragen]

Wike makes dog-specific trailers http://www.wike.ca/rsdt.htm

:D

[Aggie_Ama]

This is from the MS150 2004. This dog couldn't have been light! I heard he was whimpering by the end of the ride. Probably was a bit too long in the trailer for him. I think someone mentioned seeing this dog again this year.

[thinpaperwings]

I take my Australian Shepherd in a Burley trailer as well as in my kayak with me. He stays put other than one time at a busy intersection he got scared and jumped out, so I grabbed him and walked to the sidewalk. Now if we'll be in loud traffic areas we'll put the cover on it.

My only problem with it is that it makes parking the bikes a *lot* more complicated.

[Fredwina]

In the summer of 2000, I was splitting my time between Tallahassee, Floridia and Richmond, Virginia. There was a ride that year called Bike south, whic was a combo of Bike Florida, BAMA(Alabama), BRAG(Georgia), Cycle South Carolina(which got extended into the other Carolina, and Bike Viriginia. one of the riders who did all 6 states was called the Goat lady, because she brought along her pet goat, which was towed in a burley trailer. I remeber working Bike Florida as a SAG Driiver between Carrabelle and Blountstown in late June. it was extremly hot and humid. To top it off , we had the usual horde of horseflies following us. The goat got transferred to one of the stronger riders in the local club, as the Goat Lady had to be sagged in. Lady and goat did make it all the way to Virginia, though.

[wabisabi]

If you got hooked on Hank's tales - have you seen Jenia's journal?

What a great journal! Thanks for the tip!

(For the sake of the taxpayers of Kaleefornia, I must only look at it at home...much too addictive to look at while at work)

[crazybikinchic]

My husband does not ride, but he goes on all the rally's with me in the car. We bring our dog, and he and my husband wait at the rest stops for me. My dog loves the attention he gets from all the riders