how to get the dog to ride in a bike trailer?

I bought a used bike trailer for a really great price. I thought I would take the dog for a ride since he will get in any car with anyone. I have really only tried to have him sit in it once, but he didn't seem very happy with being zipped in. If I don't zip him in he could get out in traffic or some other unsafe place. It's a trailer for kids, not dogs specifically, but I looked online at the Burley dog trailer and it does seem to have a raised edge on it, where a dog might be able to sit inside without having to be zipped up. The dog seems to like small spaces, but not that one exactly. I know he won't get any exercise with me doing all the pedaling work, but I thought it would be fun. But if I can't get him to do this I should re-sell the trailer to some deserving parents of small children instead of hoarding it for myself!

Does he have a car harness? At least you could leave the zipper open then.

I might have to look into that. I'm assuming a pet store might have something like that. I think if he would get to the point where we were moving down the road he'd really like it.

When I taught my dogs to ride in the Radio Flyer wagon, it took a LOT of practice.

I would work in small steps with lots of treats (my dogs were used to clicker training).

I would make the trailer the most reinforcing place in the universe, with toys and treats and attention for staying put. I'd also make sure you travel to happy, fun places and events in the trailer, at least at first.

I just went through this, it's been a process.

What worked best was eating and sleeping in it on HER terms, without the wheels on so it didn't move. Short rides at first, all strapped and zipped in (safety first), then gradually increasing the duration and exposure.

I made her go through the trailer (using treats), just walking in and walking out (ours is a doggie model, so you can actually go through it). We did that a bunch. I left the trailer where she normally sleeps, and she'd choose not to sleep in it, but at least it was nearby. On calm mornings (i.e. nobody else around), I'd eat my breakfast as she ate hers, but I'd put her bowl in the (no wheels) trailer so she'd have to go inside. After a while, I put her dog bed in it at work, and she chose to sleep in it (reluctantly, after the hard ground got old ;)).

Interspersed, I would take her in the trailer, with the wheels on, for short trips - either hand towing her or with the bike. She would whine, I would tell her to be quiet, and when she got out she would be super anxious. It was only after continued exposure that she finally started to adapt. We rode to work a couple of times (6 miles, she normally goes to work in the car every day) fully enclosed, then we did a 2-person ride where she got to poke her head out (still strapped in with a short leash). After that, she could ride on her own with me and her head poked out, but not always without whining and complaining.

At this point, I can take her on rides myself, she is far less anxious about getting in (it still requires a treat), she gets in and lies down without immediately trying to get right back out, she does not whine when we travel, and she is way way less anxious when we get finished. She will whine sometimes if someone else rides with us. :p My goal is to get to the point where she can get in without treats, and I can let her out to run and trust she'll actually get back in. I have hope for us. ;)

Good luck! It doesn't happen overnight, but she certainly loves the smells and people we see on the trails.

I'm all for coating the entire inside of the trailer in peanut butter. Puppy won't even notice he's going for a ride :-)

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Originally Posted by FlyingScot

I'm all for coating the entire inside of the trailer in peanut butter. Puppy won't even notice he's going for a ride :-)

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Ha! That's what I was thinking as I scrolled through the post before I replied. I read that somewhere for the bath as well. Spread peanut butter on the shower tub wall.

Can't say that I have ever tried to get my dog to do this. But I have seen people with pups riding happy like this. Where there's a will, there's a way.

Good Luck.:)

I'm afraid I'd have the husband after the peanut butter and we'd never get started on our ride!:D