Can I bike with my dog?

[Anna]

I want to make sure that Buck gets the physical activity he needs.  I've been trying to run next to him so that he gets more exercise.  But even at my top speed - he looks like one of those horse that trot.  he doesn't even have to actually run to keep up with me. 

First off - it's a little embarrassing.  and I'm sure we look ridiculous. Short middle aged woman with a sweaty red face running as if her life depended on it and this little white puff ball - cantering delicately next to her looking around, leisurely enjoying the view.

Second - my two kids are on their bike - a mile ahead of me goofing around.

 

Then I got the ideal today.  Is there some type of device - like a pole that you attached to the bike where you can then hook a short leash - so that the pup can run next to you- while you bike?

 

I know I can't just get on a bike and hold the leash.  B/c there have been many times - when I am running and all of a sudden - he veers into me. 

 

what do you guys think?

 

 

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

I would think it has everything to do with how well trained your dog is. I saw a guy rollerblading with his dog and when he saw sophie he bee-lined for her pulling the guy with him. He had a hard time gaining control. I was worried he was going to fall.

 

My puppy is 7 months and I won't take her jogging with me, even though I am the world's slowest jogger (more like a jog-walk-jog-walk kind of deal). They say it's not good for their growing bones, so I'm waiting until next spring. An hour at the dog park after work is pretty much all she needs to keep her exercised and happy. And at the dog park you can socialize and don't have to run :o)

[Anna]

hmmmm - I thought of the pole - so that he can't veer in front of me.  But I didn't think about - him stopping or running too quick ahead of me.  

see - this is why - I ask you guys first before I go out and buy some new contraption.

 

But - I really will look into that walkydog - when he gets older and not be so distracted by everything.

[Melody & Bruin]

I have seen it done, but I would be wearing ALL of my husband's hockey equipment!

[Stella]

We have a K9-bike jogger - it is the same as the Walkydog.  (There is another bike attachment made by a company called Springer.)  The K9-bike jogger prevents your dog from cutting in front of you or getting under the tyres.  It has a spring inside which gives the dog a bit of leaway, but doesn't allow them to pull you over.  As long as you are 40 pounds heavier than the dog they can't pull you over - according to the website!! 

 

We use it with both of our dogs, but only after they were obediance trained to respond to the commands "lets go", "stop", "left", "right", "easy" (slow down), and "hurry" (go faster) in order to make it safe for all of us.

 

As the others have said, you should not run a puppy that is still growing on hard surfaces, or for any prologued period of time even on a soft surface.  Playing fetch is a better way of burning off their energy and it allows the puppy to stop whenever they are tired.

[Anna]

yeah - I knew there would be someone here - who uses one of  those things.

 

I won't use it on a puppy.

but at what age - can the pup go out for a good long run?

[Stella]

I think you are supposed to wait until their growth plates are closed/ they have stopped growing, which will depend on the size of the dog.  Smaller dogs reach their adult size faster than larger ones.  I know our trainer where we used to live wouldn't let them jump anything higher then their elbow until they were 18 months to 2 years old, depending on the size of the dog, for the same reason. 

 

I'm sure there are others on here who will be able to give you a less vague answer than that!!  We did used to run our older LD around a grass sports field when he got to be around 9  months old because he was a real handfull and we had to get the energy out of him somehow!!  Hopefully, he won't have any long-term ill effects from that.

[jbarrett]

I've trained my 1 1/2 year old to bike with me. He is very smart and we never had a bad instance more than once. I feel very confident in Max when he's next to me on the bike. I hold the leash with 2 fingers, as he is way too big to let control the bike. When we first start out after about 3 blocks I will stop and let him do his thing if he needs to. This was a lesson hard learned! He never (almost never) comes off the leash even when he's had a dog with his nose in Max's privates. When he started at 5 months he had very tender feet and it was slow and steady with training. We can now bike 2 times a week and he is very eager to go. He can't handle the IL heat and humidity so this is a Spring / Fall activity for us. Max can go flat out for 1/8th of a mile and we keep this as a treat for obvious safety concerns. I did go to the Vet to make sure I was not pushing anything and everything checked OK. I have had to call the taxi (my wife) on 2 occasions as he picked something up from the road and had a small amount of blood in his fur. Better safe than sorry. Overall we have great fun with it!

[Anna]

So - you don't use a bar or anything?  you are steering your bike with one hand and holding the leash with the other?   your pup has never dashed in front of you?  he's is very well trained.

Buck has dashed in front of me - while we walk - so he is definetly not ready for it yet. 

I live in IL too - and I agree the humidity was awful the past couple of days.  and the rain.   I have a soggy towel right by the door - at all times - to dry his paws.

 

when you say - "flat out" are you saying at top speed?  hmmmm the experts here say not to go at top speed til almost 2. 

 

I'm with you too - my pup does seem to need more exercise.  that's why I thought of the bike bar thingy.  But I don't want my pup to  have joint issues later in life.   I feel pretty limited in - the type of exercise he can do.  (he is not allowed upstairs - do going up and down the stairs is not available to us)

[jbarrett]

 

Sorry for the slow response...The very first time I tried it he was about 5 months old. During this trial he went in front of the tire and was bumped by the bike. That was the only time he tried to get in front of the front tire. Training him on the bike was the same as when we train on the leash, if he pulls I stop. He's pretty smart and picks up on the fact if he wants to keep moving he mustn't pull.  Last week we rode and a squirrel got caught up in his squirrel business and we were within 10 feet before he scampered off. Max thought of breaking loose but a friendly "hurumpff" and he stayed in place. We also biked down into a motorcycle rally for a CAN YOU SEE ME NOW RALLY. Max was a great hit with the riders and loved the attention. The thing to remember about going out either on a leash or a bike is it should always be a good experience for your pet...Jeff B.