Walking dog while on a bike?

Discussion in 'Labrador Training' started by Maddison, Nov 6, 2016.

  1. Maddison

    Maddison Registered Users

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    I have recently seen a lot of people in my neihborhood riding a bike while thier dog walks/jogs alongside them. In theory this seems like a great idea since I know my dog would LOVE to run along with me, but how do you safely train this? Or is there a way to safely train this?
     
  2. Jes72

    Jes72 Registered Users

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    I understand the temptation to take your dog for a quick walk while you are on a bike. But to my mind thus is rather a lazy option, your dog has to run twice as fast while you are doing half the amount of exercise. For me part of the point of having a dog is going for a brisk long walk engaging with my dog.

    I've seen all sorts where we walk. The worst was a man in a bike holding on to his fog on a lead. Homer was off lead and ran over, running after her. The mans dog tripped over on to her back but the man kept on riding dragging his dog behind him completely not aware, with H still following. I shouted and ran after him, eventually he stopped. Once he stopped and I cought up to him and cought Homer and told him how he'd been dragging his dog on her back for the last 20m with my dog chasing her he replied that she was on heat! I had no more words left to say right then!

    But then a bike is certainly a better option than your dogs running after you in a car, which I've seen too.
     
  3. Naya

    Naya Registered Users

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    Ive seen a few recently. One poor dog was on a slip lead attached to the handle bars and was being dragged along as he was trying to have a poo. I stopped and told the woman and all I got was a few abusive words!!
    I have seen some dogs run off lead next to their owners on a bike ....... Wouldn't have a clue where to start though!
     
  4. Snowshoe

    Snowshoe Registered Users

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    I don't bother walking my dog while I bike because I have to pedal so slowly. But I have taken the dog with me when I bike. BUT, the dog is off leash most of the time, on soft, sandy, packed forest trails. I certainly don't go fast all the time but my dogs used to run with me so a run while I bike is no difference. We stop for a rest, a swim, to pick berries, to take photos. I did train the dog to walk beside the bike, much the same as heeling, for the short part it takes us to get to the bush. I have the leash coiled ready to drop if I have to but I never had to drop it. You can get special springer things to attach the dog to the bike. I am careful with my method, a friend when we were teenagers was dragged off her bike when her Basset Hound took off after a cat. She was badly scraped up as it was on a paved road and she's lucky neither of them was hit or more badly injured
     
  5. snowbunny

    snowbunny Registered Users

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    A friend of mine sometimes takes her dog with her when she goes out on her bike. It's not a regular thing, but if she's cycling to the local shop, for example, she figures the dog may as well go along with her.
    I have no idea how you go about training it. I can only think of all the awful things that could happen, to both myself and the dog, so I wouldn't entertain it, personally.

    I would also be worried about the impact on the dog's joints, as the pace won't be a natural one. Also, dog walks aren't all about exercise, they're about giving the dog the opportunity to sniff, to play games with you etc. I don't think it's an appropriate way to exercise a dog.
     
  6. pedrolo

    pedrolo Registered Users

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    It is no a unusual way to walk the dog, BUT some considerations have to be made...

    1- No speed, no long distance. (as far as we would go on a confort zone, it is imperative to adapt pace and distance to our dog's), think it is a walk for YOUR DOG, not for yourself.
    2- Progresive training. Do not start with long distance.
    3- Use some "dog bike stick" (I really do not know his name in english), it is a kind of stick which is adapted to the seat's tube, it has a spring to allow some movement, the leash goes on the end, so your four legged friend goes to some distance from the bike. And some movement will not cause an accident as far as it is not attached to the handlebar.

    https://www.google.com/imgres?imgur...pbQAhVIChoKHQcbD-YQMwgfKAIwAg&iact=mrc&uact=8

    4- No handlebar and leash... you could get injuried by some movement.
    6- Start walking along with the bike and the dog.
    7- When she has learnt to walk besides you and bike, teach her to turn, first one side, after the other.
    8- It's time to mount the bike, and go some meters ahead...
    9- after that start to make circles so the dog get used to it, circles to one side, to the other and, 8 figures, so she is used to turn left and right....
    10- go to short ride...
    11- enjoy your dog :)

    Obviously, use reinforcement, to each stage, if you are used to clicker training, use it.

    It's safe an fun.

    Best regards...
     
  7. Maddison

    Maddison Registered Users

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    That's just it, I wouldn't use it as a way to exercise her regularly, but sometimes I will go for a quick ride in the evening and the little loop around my neighborhood is fairly short takes me only 10-15 minutes at a moderate pace so I thought it would be nice for her to be able to come with.
     
  8. QuinnM15

    QuinnM15 Registered Users

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    We have a green bar thing for the bike that keeps the leash from getting tangled - we haven't used it as keeping up with a bike isn't something I expect of a pup until fully grown, so we will start training Quinn in the Spring when she around a year and a half old. It takes a ton of training - like above, if your dog takes off after anything, you will get pulled off your bike. We will do so with clicker training, very slowly, incrementally. It may or may not work...we won't push it.

    We also have a dog trailer that we tow...Quinn in theory would have to run/jog very little distance and then rest in the trailer. All of this is so we can take her with us on long, half day bike rides instead of leaving her home. I would never bike with a dog on streets or busy paths - too many risks.
     
  9. SwampDonkey

    SwampDonkey Registered Users

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    Not for :eek:me can you imagine all the trouble I get in with a dog and a bike?
     
  10. Emily

    Emily Registered Users

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    I know of a few people that have done endurance testing with their dogs so that requires the dog to run with a bike. I think this gives some guidance about how to get started https://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&...ggzMAQ&usg=AFQjCNEAmyemPB6_A_iTDx74JfLav9FeeA

    But the main part about getting started is:

    "If your dog has never run beside a bike before, start at the very beginning to avoid frightening
    your dog. First walk beside your bike with the bike on your right side and your dog on your
    left. When your dog is completely comfortable with this, walk your dog with the bike
    between you and your dog. Use treats if necessary to reassure your dog and teach him to
    associate good things with the pushbike. Don’t get on and ride with your dog until you are
    sure he/she is completely comfortable with the bike.
    Anxiety can be one reason dogs pull when beside the bike. Condition your dog so that he/she
    is completely comfortable and relaxed running beside the bike."
     
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  11. Maddison

    Maddison Registered Users

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    Reporting back after testing a few things. Larks is not at all afraid of the bike and walked nicely with her on the left side of the bike and me walking/pushing the bike on the right side. Went to the next step and got on the bike but left her off leash in my drive and had her walk next to me riding it! All successful so far, but we will continue slowly!
     

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