The weather is nice and you want to enjoy the day with your dog? Don’t want a simple ride? Don’t want to throw his ball 50 times in a row? Want a change? Ride a bike together!
BIKE? DOG? IS THAT COMPATIBLE?
Cyclists who have already had their calves pinched on their bikes are not uncommon… Before you ride your “little one,” make sure your dog is not allergic to cycling. If in the presence of a bike, he barks, rushes at it, tries to bite the front tire to prevent you from moving forward or grabbing your pants… this is a typical case of big allergy!
Where did she come from? It is very likely that your dog has not been around a bike from an early age. It is very important, in the socialization phase of the world around it, to quickly put it in contact with a bicycle. It’ll save him allergies! Before starting the ride, you’ll have to make sure your dog likes bikes.
WHY RIDE A BIKE WITH YOUR DOG?
This is an opportunity to combine outing and sport for both of you. You can share your passion for cycling with your dog. Sports dogs who need to work out will love to run alongside you. The less sporty will also be able to accompany you during your outing. It will be all the more sporty for you 😉 I tell you everything, a little later in this article.
It is also the possibility to do a few more kilometers. Be careful, for your dog, running alongside you for several kilometers requires a minimum of training! If the latter is not used to it, plan for the first short outings and ride at the speed. As you train, you can increase the distance or pace if your dog enjoys cycling.
CYCLING WITH YOUR DOG FREE
The easiest way to ride a bike with your dog is to let him run freely by your side. This means riding a bike in a safe place, without the risk of running into a car for example and that your dog has a great reminder and obeys your orders.
Musher often accompanies me on the loose. She’s a hell of a foodie: she never misses something cracra that hangs on the way. Not easy to intervene from my bike. By the time I turn around, pedal, get off my bike and try to put it down as little savagely as possible, the cracra thing is often already swallowed! I taught him to always stay to my left at my height, as for walking on a leash.
So if we come across a car, I get to the left of the road and am therefore between it and the car. It’s safer. It also prevents accidents because if your dog passes in front of your bike, you have to have very good reflexes to brake in time and not buffer it (very very dangerous and traumatic for him).
When braking in an emergency type, be careful not to “sun” over your bike. Musher also learned hitchhiking, left, right and in your place. Basic orders that allow us to share a good time together (which she learned through cani-cross).
CYCLING WITH YOUR DOG TIED UP
Do you ride a bike in a place with a bit of traffic or passers-by? There is a very simple solution to keep your dog safe: the 30-degree pull bar and its line of stroke. Behind this strange name is a clever tool that connects your dog to the bike. No way to wrap the leash on your wrist; at the slightest deviation from your dog, it’s the guaranteed fall! (and I know the case well, believe me) The kit keeps your dog on the left (or right side of your bike) depending on your choice.
It is a rigid fastening bar attached to which is connected a short leash. So attached, your dog will not be able to pass behind your bike or in front, it avoids falls or accidents. Your dog must be equipped with a harness. It is impossible to tie it by his collar. If your dog pulls, if it deviates from its trajectory, if it stops abruptly, the collar could be foreign and seriously injure.
I have not tested this 30-degree pull bar and its line with Musher. This accessory is perfect for dogs who love towing. This is not the case with Musher! Your dog will only be well positioned to run and he may get hurt. If he has the “will to go” as the mushers say (not my dog, but sled dog drivers!), better to go to the cani-vtt with him. The hook system is at the front of the bike. It’s designed for.
If your dog is like Musher, choose the Pet Ego kit. In general, it attaches very easily to the bike. During a test with Musher, I placed it under my saddle, in 4 key laps of 12 it was installed. For those who do not have a toolbox, it can be complicated because there is no tool provided in the kit.
In the cardboard, there are 4 screws, the fastening bar on which is connected a short adjustable leash and a piece of rubber to ensure better grip between the bar and the saddle rod. I fixed the bar perpendicular to my bike but it bothered me; my left leg was rubbing on it.
So I slightly oriented it towards the back of the bike. I opted for a first walk on slopes between the vines… The idea was average. I didn’t anticipate that the bike – the kit – Musher; we were quite wide and therefore needed wide paths. Musher does not tow so this kit played its role perfectly.
FOR A SUCCESSFUL BIKE RIDE
Cycling is good but it’s a minimum… Remember to take a bowl and water for your dog in your dog travel bag. Be careful, if he runs a lot, give him small sips even if he has a huge thirst. Large dogs are prone to stomach reversal. A large amount of water ingested before, during or just after a lot of effort can have serious consequences.
Your dog has the right to drink and needs to drink but not three liters if he has made an intense effort! Also pay attention to the floors of your course: run on bitumen, it heats the pads quickly! Of course, go with your emergency kit and a bike repair kit… 😉 Also remember to take equipment in case of a breakdown on the bike side.
And if you prefer to keep your feet on the ground, many sports are to discover: Cani-cross or cani-trail – run with your dog, Test the water ride with your dog! … I’m sure one of them fits you! Find more topics on thepawcollar.com