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.

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.

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.

--- 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

[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