For a weekly bike ride or for a short bike ride, you may want to bring your dog. Basket, trailer or adapted leash: it is advisable to find out so that this practice is risk-free for both of you.
How to ride a bike with your dog? Should you place your animal in a trailer or a basket? Is there any risk if the dog’s leash is attached to the handlebars of my bike? Before taking your dog on a joyful bike ride, here are the right questions to ask yourself.
Precaution to take: does this dog like cycling?
Not all dogs enjoy cycling with their owners in the same way. Before considering walking your pet, analyze its behavior around the bicycle. If he starts biting the tires, pulling up your pants, or trying to flip the bike over, your dog is expressing fear or rejection of that object. You can always try to get him used to it, but better not to insist.
If the dog is at best enthusiastic, at worst indifferent, he is fit to make the trip. Finally, you have to make sure that this dog obeys the finger and the eye, especially when you shout “At the foot!”
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What breed of dog is suitable for cycling?
As we have just mentioned, not all dogs are lovers of the practice. If this taste can vary from one animal to another, we can nevertheless say that certain breeds are not at all suitable for cycling. According to Josera, a pet food company, the following breeds can’t stand running next to a bike:
Conversely, these dog breeds are very adept at following a bike:
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Bike and dog: the basket solution
The dog basket is a practical and secure solution for transporting your dog on a bicycle. Whether it is placed at the front or at the back, it must be firmly fixed. The best is to choose a model with a protective grid. Fabric baskets specially designed for transporting animals can meet your needs just as much.
In general, a dog basket supports between 10 and 15kg. It is therefore inconceivable to transport a Newfoundland or a Great Dane, but small dogs are fond of these comfortable trips.
Put your dog in a bike trailer
The dog bike trailer is very comfortable for the animal. Alternative to the basket, it accommodates animals from 30 to 40 kg, which allows transporting a medium-sized dog (Boxer, Labrador, Dalmatian, etc.).
To tow a trailer with the strength of your thighs, you need to have a good pedal stroke or own an electric bike. The trailer is not incompatible with letting your dog run alongside you. It can serve as a resting place after a tiring run.
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Keeping your dog on a leash while cycling, is it recommended?
One of the sensitive points of the canine bike ride is the case of the leash. Authorized, it remains nonetheless dangerous. Indeed, if the dog makes the slightest deviation, it risks dragging the bike and thus causing it to fall. In addition, attaching a dog by its collar can be risky: a sudden stop, for example, can cause it to be strangled. It is therefore recommended to use the harness instead.
The best solution, if you want your dog to run alongside you, is to invest in a side pull-up bar. Placed on the right or left of the bike, it is connected to a short leash which allows the dog to run “in the right place”. This tool is often used in connection with mountain biking.
Can you cycle with a dog without a leash?
It is possible to ride a bike with an unrestrained dog, but not anywhere. The path or road taken must be perfectly secure. This implies that there are no cars: a country lane forbidden to cars, a forest route…
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Be careful, it is forbidden and risky to let your dog run freely in urban spaces. Never take it on cycle paths or “greenways”, and other shared areas. The risk of accident is great for him and for other users.
Before getting on your bike: some advice
For your dog, running to keep up with the bike is very taxing. It is imperative to take breaks regularly and that the duration of the walk is not too long. Avoid going out if the advertised temperatures are too high. If the route chosen includes a water point, it will be a great pleasure for your animal. This does not dispense with providing a sufficient quantity of water for it to drink. Finally, adapt your speed so that the effort is not too great for him.
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How long to cycle with a dog?
To start, get him used to following the bike for about ten minutes. Thereafter, it is advisable to take nice breaks at least every half hour.
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