Dog Biking Tips
Biking with your dog is not something to just pick up and try. Please do your homework and research the proper equipment and process beforehand. This article is a brief overview of what to look for.
Disclaimer during the summer: The hotter it is, the more we need to pay attention to what our pets are telling us. Please limit your biking to the coolest times of the day and for limited distances. For biking on a hard surface, hold the back of your hand on the ground for 7 seconds. In order for it to be cool enough for you dog, you should experience no discomfort. Make sure you have plenty of water for both you and your dog. If your dog’s tongue becomes very wide and curls up at the end, stop immediately. This could be a sign of heat exhaustion. The best way to cool your dog is from the paws up. Spray them with cool water on their paws, legs, belly, and neck; if you don’t see any improvement, call a veterinarian immediately.
Consider discussing with your veterinarian or licensed specialist and purchasing appropriate products before starting to bike with your pet. Dr. Justine A. Lee discusses dangers of running with your dog here.
Assume most bike leashes are made to be used by adults who are experienced and comfortable on a bicycle, and that children should not be on the bike when running with a dog. A general recommendation is that the rider should outweigh the dog by a significant amount. For instance, a 115 lb rider should not bike with a 100 lb dog. The more you outweigh your dog, the more control you will have on the ride. On the flip side, it is recommended dogs be at least 30 lbs to bike with your dog on a bike leash. For dogs under that size, consider a bicycle seat or trailer. Medium to large pets are the best recommended size for bike leashes.
To begin, your dog should be in good health, as this is a serious and more rigorous exercise not made for the following dogs:
- Breeds such as Bulldogs or Pugs that have flat face: they become overheated quickly and don’t move air in and out as efficiently as most other dogs.
- Breeds such as Dachshunds or Corgis that have long bodies and short legs: their bodies are not meant for distance running.
- Small dogs under 30 lbs: even if your dog is high energy, biking alongside you just isn’t a safe activity for animals this small.
- Puppies: your dog should be at least a year old and a minimum of 30 lbs, and be closer to a year and a half for longer distances.Heavier and more muscular breeds will be able to run shorter distances than leaner breeds.
What Equipment Do I Need?
The essentials include a specialty dog bike leash and a bicycle. The best bikes are a cruiser or mountain bike style, as these have wider tires which offer more control.
Some items that we recommend and many bikers find useful, are a harness, pad pad protection, a cooling vest, and a dog bike trailer. Harnesses should be comfortable, non-restrictive, and appropriately sized for your dog. Measure your dog’s chest, neck, and length per the product’s size chart to find the proper size. Paw pad protection can help condition, protect, and make their paw pads more resilient to all types of terrain. Cooling vests should be sized similar to the harnesses, measuring properly and following the products size guidelines. A bike trailer may seem silly for a large dog, but if he gets tired and you want to keep going the trailer is extremely helpful.
Where/How Do I Start?
To begin, introduce your dog just around the bike stationary to its sights and sounds with lost of praise and treats. Move on to attaching them to the bike with the bike leash, walking with them next to the bike, similar to a normal walk. Remember that most leashes allow you to adjust the leash length in order to accommodate socialization with the bike. Practice going straight, turning left and right, and making a u-turn both directions. Once your dog seems comfortable and confident, hop on. Start slow, practicing these same maneuvers. Then get your dog accustomed to biking in an area with very few distractions. Once you feel your dog is comfortable running with the bike and you have full control, try biking in a slightly busier area where you have to share the road at times. Remember to not extend your leash so you are taking up too much room on the road or trail. Slowly build up your dog’s stamina and never push their limits. The best speed is a jogging pace or slower, and if your dog freezes up, stop with him; don’t force it. If he doesn’t continue right away, hop off and walk next to the bike until he is comfortable and confident again. One of the most important rules for biking is to let your DOG set the pace. When sharing the road, a trotting pace is best. Watch for signs of discomfort or exhaustion and stop frequently for water.
As stated before, start slow and short. Just as you need to increase your dog’s comfortability, you also need to increase their stamina the same way. Canine experts generally suggest increasing the distance you travel by 5-10 percent every 4-6 exercise sessions; once you reach 2 miles, it’s recommended to limit biking to every other day for muscle rejuvenation. After each ride, watch your dog’s body language. If after ten minutes they are still panting heavily and laying down, the ride may have been too much that day. Be sure to give them plenty of potty breaks during the ride as well, especially if they are drinking more water than usual. On your breaks, check his dog pads for cuts and scrapes that could cause discomfort or infection. Be mindful of the terrain you are taking your dog on as well. Mixing up between grass and dirt is best, although pavement is the most common and easiest to access.
Remember to respect others on the road and trail and, as always, abide by local laws and wear a helmet as you would without your dog.