OT-Biking with Dogs

[crazycanuck]

Hey,

We're looking at adopting a dog (since you can't take a cat mtn biking) from a local & well known/reputable dog refuge in the near future. http://www.dogshome.org.au/home.htm

Just wondering if anyone takes their dog mtn biking/running with them? If so, what type of dog do you have?

We'd like one that we can take mtn biking with us & am wondering what suggestions you have. Any websites you can recommend would be great too.

Thanks
c

[DeniseGoldberg]

I don't have any personal experience biking with a dog, but there are several authors over on crazyguyonabike who tour with their dogs. Here are links to a couple of journals - in my experience all 3 of the authors respond to messages posted in their guestbooks, so you could ask questions of them directly. And I'm assuming that their touring experience will translate easily into day trips with a dog.

Scott & Jodi Wayland have a dog that is a mix of Australian cattle dog and border collie. Their story of touring with Django is in their journalNo Doggie Left Behind Trike Tour 2004 (http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/journal/nodoggieleftbehind2004).

Hank Raines has done several tours with his Jack Russell terriers. He also did one tour where he started out without a dog but adopted a stray along the way. Since he has several journals to choose from, I'd recommend starting from his author page (http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/Airwick).

Jenia Ciomek is about to set out on a mountain bike tour with Lucy (her Jack Russell terrier). Her journal is at Lucy Skirts Zion (http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/journal/Lucy).

--- Denise

[AuntieK]

Okay, I road bike, but have thought many times of taking my dog with me--she so badly could use the exercize. I have never done it for two reasons:
1) If I had her on a leash she would pull me over,
2) If she wasn't on a leash, she would run away and never return!
Hope you find a good dog that would be happy to go with you!

[oxysback]

My daughter would love to have a dog big enough to bike with, but sadly, our pug just isn't up to the challenge...hehe :)

We see a guy every year that does the Seattle to Portland with his dog in a baby-carrier-like backpack. And that makes me smile :D

[Lenusik]

Oh, this is so much fun. Dogs are great! We have three boys and they are all different. I could recommend anybody to adopt a Rottweiler, but I guess that won't fly very wel.. I just love my Rottie. He is wonderful, well-trained and strong dog. I could take him for a bike ride without a leash. He would stay with me all the way. He is mama's boy and like to keep an eye on me. But AZ leash laws are tough.
We also have two wonderful mutts. One is more like a sporting dog. Perfect for mountain biking and can run for a while. He is only 55 pounds which makes it easier to control him on the leash. The third guy is a bit too small and he is an escape artist too.
So, my recommendation is middle size sporting dog.
Here are my boys: Big Nelson, Ramble (laying), and little Cooper

[farrellcollie]

ARe you looking to have the dog run beside you or ride on bike with you? Some considerations -
dog's personality and what it was bred to do:
my current old rough collie will not run unless she has a specific purpose such as sheep or snacks- she never has - I have rollerbladed with the other dogs but not her - she would not go even as a young dog -running for the sake of running was never her idea of a good time; my hound dog mix would run all day; my other rough collie loved to rollerblade with me for to to three miles; my husky mix would run all day - but would kill little creatures if off leash - high prey drive; collie mix pup will run some but doesn't want to for more than a couple of miles. Breeds such as some hounds, sled dogs, dalmations(run along carriage) were bred to run; etc. I know and see people who run a lot with their boxers, border collies, australian shepards and cattle dogs.


dog's physical attributes: smushed in faces cannot breathe as well (pugs, bulldogs, etc); too small - can't keep up, too large - how to get them to car if injured on trail etc

[chickwhorips]

i run with my two dogs all the time. when i don't feel like running with them i take them out quick for a spin on the bike. they love it. they actually go and chase ground squirels while i putter along.

i dont have any leash laws here and they go freely. they know the routine if theres a car. if they are near me they stop and sit. if they are way off the road i let them be. everyone around here knows my two dogs and slow down whenever they see me out, if i have the dogs or not.

my big one has rottie (along with mastiff, great dane, and ridegeback) in her (i love them!) she's a moma's girl too and sticks pretty close. the smaller one is mexican (no clue what's in her, just was a mexican dog on a couch).

[velogirl]

I think there was an article in the most recent Bicycling Mag about which breeds are best for cycling (seriously).

Here's my experience.

I've got a Cavalier. She's got long hair. She loves to run single-track with me when I'm mtn biking. I dont' take her very often because with long hair (and the weeds on CA single-track), she's a disaster when we're finished and I have to cut weeds out of her coat. But, she loves it and would run herself into the ground if I let her.

Good caution -- dogs don't have the same control mechanisms we do. When we're tired, we stop. Dogs don't do this, so you have to make sure not to exhaust your dog. Build up her endurance the same way you'd build yours.

Now, totally unrelated to mtn biking, she loves to ride on my touring bike with me. Someday I'll get a pic. She sits in a crate on the back and we ride to the park and to the bike shop where I work. Need to find a little helmet for her!

[MomOnBike]

Minority voice here. I've ridden with a Doberman on leash.

Vrka & I loved it, but I don't think I'd try the experiment with just any dog. Obviously, the dog has to be able and willing to Go Places beside the bike. The dog also has to be well enough trained to not be (too much of) a hazard. Vrka was both long-legged and the most trainable dog I've ever known. My current mini Dachshund is not a good candidate.

Here's what I did: I trained her to heel on the wrong (right) side. No, it wasn't on purpose, it just sort of happened, but it worked out well because I then had me between the dog and traffic when she was on heel. No darting out in front of a semi. (Yes we rode for a short way on a highway.)

I bought a harness for her so that she could pull me up hills without strangling herself (I was much thinner then). I think it took twice before she knew what the harness meant. There is nothing like a Doberman grin when you are about to do something they love. I already had a long leather leash.

I think I was more unsure on the initial ride than the dog. I just got her, me and the bike in position, said "Heel" and off we went. It really was no big deal. The cue for her to enjoy herself and run ahead was "OK." If I needed her beside me, I'd tell her to Heel and she'd drop back beside me. As I said, a well-trained dog makes this possible.

No, this wasn't Serious Bike Training. We didn't set any land speed records, but we had a great time. We took breaks to play in the river (she'd retrieve skipping rocks from the bottom), share picnics, all that.

Mountain biking would have been more interesting with that dog. I had to keep in visual contact with her, as she was really bad at placing sounds. I'd call her, and she'd start running to meet me in the wrong direction. This was often a problem. :rolleyes:

So yes, biking with your dog is possible, but you really need the right dog.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I am a cat person myself. Though I've had and loved both dobermans and pugs. I never let them out un-leashed.
I feel I should say this, though it might not be popular amongst dog lovers- if I were riding my bike and I saw a dog (especially a rottweiller), off-leash, even near its owner, it would be very unpleasant for me. Many dogs hate bikers, and I would be depending completely on a stranger to control their off-leash dog. I would have NO way of knowing whether the dog was friendly or unpredictable, or whether the owner was responsible. That's a creepy feeling.
There is a boxer chained in the front yard of a house I pass regularly on my FAVORITE beautiful bike ride. He barks, snarls, and leaps into mid air against his chain and leather collar when we pass. Yes, he is chained up- but I live in fear that his collar or chain will snap one day while I'm passing. Many people have had bad experiences with dog attacks, and are justifiably fearful of loose dogs.
I think when we are in public places we should take other people's feelings into account as well as just our own pleasure. People like to feel safe on public roads and trails, in public parks, etc.

[chickwhorips]

I feel I should say this, though it might not be popular amongst dog lovers- if I were riding my bike and I saw a dog (especially a rottweiller), off-leash, even near its owner, it would be very unpleasant for me. Many dogs hate bikers, and I would be depending completely on a stranger to control their off-leash dog. I would have NO way of knowing whether the dog was friendly or unpredictable, or whether the owner was responsible. That's a creepy feeling.

good point. when i had peanut (big one) in the phoenix i would hike with her on a leash. even though she was a puppy she was big and lots of people thought she was mean because her tail is docked. it was nice for me because people left me alone while i was hiking.

most poeple (the responsible types anyhow) that have their dogs out with them they know their pet is trustworthy.

[SalsaMTB]

No advice on how to train, since my pups aren't allowed off leash in unfenced areas (way too high of prey drive), but here is a link to a thread on mtbr where people posted about training their dogs to run with them on trail rides. It's good reading, and great pictures of cute dogs!! There are links within the thread that are worth clicking on. There are posts, of course, of how you shouldn't do it, just look past those and try to find the useful information you need.

http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=211491&highlight=dogs

This link is one that is part of the one above, but there are a lot of cool pics
http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=176936&highlight=trail+dogs

Hope it helps!

[Lenusik]

good point. when i had peanut (big one) in the phoenix i would hike with her on a leash. even though she was a puppy she was big and lots of people thought she was mean because her tail is docked. it was nice for me because people left me alone while i was hiking.
most poeple (the responsible types anyhow) that have their dogs out with them they know their pet is trustworthy.
Yes, I totally agree. I get different reactions all the time about my Rottie. Some people just love them and know that they are great dogs. Others go by "reputation". I get reactions like: "Oh my God, stay away from me with your killer dog", even though he is on the leash.
Chickwhorips, your dogs are gorgeous!

[chickwhorips]

Chickwhorips, your dogs are gorgeous!

thanks and so are yours! the more puppies the better!

[KnottedYet]

the only dogs I've seen out biking (mind you, this is on roads) are in trailers. Just kid/baby trailers, with a dog in it instead of a child. See that quite a lot.

Or maybe they're just really hairy children...

[Lenusik]

the only dogs I've seen out biking (mind you, this is on roads) are in trailers. Just kid/baby trailers, with a dog in it instead of a child. See that quite a lot.

Or maybe they're just really hairy children...
I cannot stop laughing, this is so funny.
I am planning to have my hairy dog pull my hairly and I will ride along on my bike!

[Trekhawk]

Hey CC - check out the areas you MTB to make sure they dont have any rules regarding dogs. I know some National and State Park areas do not allow dogs.
Also be aware Roos and Dogs dont mix real well so if you mountain bike where there are a lot of Roos you will need to be careful. Roos can do major damage to dogs (I know my sister-in-law is a vet) and it can be pretty nasty.

Good luck with the pooch hunt.:)

[dakay]

I have a dalmatian. Dalmatians are coach dogs and used to run alongside or under coaches. Now we have road trials. See http://www.touchmoon.com/dotters/rd-field.html . Many people who don't have access to a horse bike with their dals to condition them for road trials.

I use a Springer like attachment on my mountain bike to exercise my dog on one of the rail to trails paths.

Kathy in Seattle

[emily_in_nc]

the only dogs I've seen out biking (mind you, this is on roads) are in trailers. Just kid/baby trailers, with a dog in it instead of a child. See that quite a lot.

I saw this tonight for the first time riding on a packed fire road. Way cool! Cute (young - 20s) guy, big trailer, big dog (lab?) taking a spin. My riding buddy and I were trying to estimate the weight he was pulling on this somewhat hilly ride. Lessee, 70 lbs for the dog? 20 lbs (or more??!) for the trailer. Tough!!! I can barely get up those hills just pulling the weight of me and my bike! :D

I did think that he was onto something if he were a single guy trying to meet girls. Dogs are chick magnets, and there were a lot of mountain biking gals out in pairs tonight. My friend and I sure gave him and his pooch plenty of attention when he rolled by going the other way - and I'm married! :p

Emily

[Dogmama]

You need to make sure your dog is fully mature before running him/her long distances. The constant pounding, especially on a hard surface, will cause problems with immature dogs.

Big dogs are often not fully mature until 18-24 months. Smaller dogs mature faster. Be sure to get an OK from your vet before you embark on any plans to bike with your dog.

Oh yeah, and as the collie owner said, some herding dogs don't run beside bikes very well. They are HERDING dogs - so they like to cut in front of you. Hopefully, they won't nip at your tires!

[crazycanuck]

Trekhawk-i thought about the places we ride off road & would hate for the funky dawg to get bitten by a tiger snake, red back or whatever else lurks in the Western Australia bush...:eek:

Thanks ladies for your posts & info. I spoke to a workmate who volunteers at one of the other dog rescue/rehoming places & she suggested we go and speak to them & they'll match us with a dog. It won't be for a few months due to moving house.

c