cycling with dogs - do you do it?

frivolous_fay

My friend takes her KCS with her when they ride - he sits in the basket when he gets tired. Shame a trailer would be so expensive... perhaps an ordinary, cheaper trailer could be adapted?

Kimberley

Frugalista wrote: »

We bought attachments for the bikes called "Springer Bicycle Joggers" which make it so much easier - keeping the dog in the correct position, preventing them "cutting across" your path and leaving your hands free to control the bike.
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Where did you buy yours? I have looked on Google and I can't find any in the UK.

DKLS

My neighbour two doors down cycles daily with his malamute cycling for 15 miles a day cruel my arris, before he did this the dog was bored and would regularly chew furniture etc, since the cycling started all unwanted behaviour has ceased.

Lish_2

I used to take my boxer when I went cycling and had her on the lead until we got to and from the cycle track- she loved it!
I was about 15 when I used to do it but she started when she was young so was pretty happy! The only thing was though when she used to take a dump.... she never learned to wait until she was off the lead and twice she stopped and I went straight over the handle bars! haha.
I was only about 7 stone then and my boxer probably weighed more than i did lol.

Go for it! You know your dog better than anyone and if he/she didnt want to do it- you would certainly be able to tell!

skipsmum

We take ours cycling (if we drive out somewhere), she loves it. I make frequent stops but she just runs between me and the kids then. We hired one of those dog trailers in the new forest but she didn't like it and it was heavy to pull. Shes got bootees for walking on rough ground - they are good for protecting the pads.
I also take her horse riding, she happily runs alongside and if we have to go on a road I reach down and grab her and stick her on the saddle!

Frugalista

Kimberley wrote: »

Where did you buy yours? I have looked on Google and I can't find any in the UK.

We got both of them in the UK at different times. I think one came from a stand at Crufts (quite a few years ago) and I can't remember where we got the other one :think:. I will ask OH if he remembers when he gets home - I may be some time though .

Are you genuinely wanting to get one then - or are you just curious?? I'm only asking before I go digging around trying to find all my old Crufts catalogues and checking all the lists of stallholders .

rubytuesday

I read the same question in the Pet Section in the Independent and her answer was you shouldn't make your dog, ever cycle or jog alongside you as they will just keep going and going to keep up with you, even when they should naturally have stopped. ( Does that make sense) ?

foreign_correspondent

rubytuesday wrote: »

I read the same question in the Pet Section in the Independent and her answer was you shouldn't make your dog, ever cycle or jog alongside you as they will just keep going and going to keep up with you, even when they should naturally have stopped. ( Does that make sense) ?

it does make sense, but god knows how they think working dogs cope! I think so long as the dog is fit and healthy (and of a breed that is able and can breath properly - ie. not a pug, bulldog or boxer!) and that you ensure the dog builds up it's fitness gradually, does not overheat, and is not running at full pelt for long periods, it will be fine. I bet more dogs are currently at risk from being under exercised than over!

I think a lot is down to not over doing it, and being aware of the individual dog's limitations and fitness, and weather conditions - cycling with a flat faced, overweight, unfit dog on a hot day is likely to be very dangerous, whilst cycling with a fit collie on a cool day is likely to be a real treat for the dog!

Having said that though, overheating is a real risk for all dogs, and owners should exercise caution in hot weather!!

Raggs_2

Best advice for cooling dogs? My dog suffers in the heat, so he has regular drink stops, no long walks during hot hot weather (I suffer too, so it benefits us both), free reign to lie in puddles (although in summer often there aren't any).

I hose him down at the start of a walk when the weather is hot, and if possible in the middle also (bottles of water on the walk). And soon enough he'll be naked.

But, with all this, overheating is probably the one thing that really concerns me with him, I know he suffers with the heat, though I'm sure he's never suffered heat stroke/exhaustion, I suspect that at times he may be getting closer than I'm comfortable with.

So any secret tips that can help? Diet? Accessories? Techniques?

Pixiechic

I once saw a guy cycling with his dog on a lead, poor dog was actually just being dragged along so yes, I think that that is cruel. But, if you cycle 'with' your dog happily at a decent speed, then it's fine. You sound like you are aware and concerned about your dog enough to know not to drag it along so it sounds fine. Collies do need a lot of exercise and that sounds like a good way to do it!