Our buddies love us and we love them. As avid cyclists and dog lovers, tours with furry companions are not only a perfect good-mood remedy, but at the same time we fulfil the justified demand of our fuzzy friends by giving them plenty of exercise.
Just when spring is calling, we can hardly wait to plan extensive tours with our fur noses, but every experienced person knows what preparations and, above all, knowledge are needed. Why? Well, so that the best possible conditions are created to prevent the great joy from falling by the wayside. Only our experience guarantees a smooth enjoyment as well as that much appreciated routine during the preparations and ultimately the tour itself.
Anyone who goes about it too carelessly can experience situations that make for anything but a good mood. We don't want to have to watch speeding cyclists dragging exhausted balls of fur behind them, nor do we want to see a screaming animal-human-metal construct rolling across an intersection.
Our furry noses are still a little overwhelmed at the beginning, after all they can't take zigzag courses next to the bike, but have to show more consideration and circumspection - and four-legged friends can learn this surprisingly well. They just need a little help at first.
From beginner to fun-holder in no time!
Breed-specific problems spoil the long races for some dogs and turn cycling tours into exertions. What can then happen to them are heat strokes or other overstraining, which can seriously endanger the health of our pets. Puppies are also to be spared and as little "life beginners" are not suitable tour companions, unless they accompany you in a basket ... Are you now disappointed and think to yourself: "Crap, then I can completely forget about touring with my pug!"
We can comfort you, because unsuitable breeds are not exclusion criteria, after all, the market has long since adapted to all needs. So if you don't want to miss your Chihuahua or Affenpinscher during your bike tours, bike baskets or trailers are a good option. Occasional breaks will give your pet the exercise he needs, as he won't want to spend hours in a trailer or basket. Always keep an eye on the sun, too. If the temperature is too high, it is important to consider whether long tours make sense at all or whether your West Highland Terrier could suffer from sunstroke in the rattan convertible.
The predestined
Because we at MHW only want the best for you and your four-legged friend, we start from the very beginning and discuss the most important questions, such as...
Which dog breeds are suitable at all?
In general, medium-sized four-legged friends who like to run are particularly happy to go on long walks, such as Eurasiers, hunting dogs, huskies and large poodles. If you are not sure, have your dog's health checked again by a vet. Only a healthy dog can enjoy extensive running. Even for all long-legged sportsmen, if you overdo it, they will run until they are completely exhausted. Therefore, we - should we be part of the "team of beginners" - have to take it slowly, test the possibilities and thus train our pets before we start demanding or extensive tours.
When you go for a walk, or if you have already taken your Buddy for a longer hike, you could see how he is doing. Does he listen to you or does he still chase everything that moves in the bushes or on the field without a leash? If he doesn't seem to have had enough even after demanding hiking tours, there's probably nothing standing in the way of biking with a dog. But does your dog even know about bicycles, or are two-wheelers a completely new discovery for him? Then familiarise him with them first.
A bike like this rattles and rings, and your dog has to get used to the pedalling movements and the occasional lurch. Why not pack a few treats and start off in a relaxed way? At best, you know routes where leashes are not required. These are suitable for the first few practice sessions.
First of all, introduce your little beginner to the unfamiliar vehicle, let him sniff everything and show him what can move on it. Sit on it and ride slowly while he watches you. If your four-legged friend knows commands like "heel" and "stop", you have a big advantage!
Push your bike and let him run along on the leash, watch your dog. If he is anxious, give him a little more time. If your companion is impetuous, slow him down a bit. Stay calm and relaxed, don't expect too much. Your darling must first understand what you actually want from him. It is very useful to announce every change of direction with commands like "Right!" or "Left! If the first dry runs go well, you can try a jumper. Attach your dog to it and lead the bike, talk to your pup in a reassuring way, praise him.
This is already the beginning! If everything works well, your four-legged friend no longer shows any fear and behaves obediently, you can already sit on the bike and after further practice you can start with short distances. Condition training is also recommended. Gradually extend the distances.
Also take something with you that he likes so that your companion always associates a lot of positive things with biking. Targeted rewards motivate your dog to do better. Observe how your dog behaves during the ride. Does he already seem exhausted or is he still highly motivated? These should be your criteria for planning the tour and never your own demands.
Note: Most of the time we cycle on hard surfaces, but they are not very suitable for dogs' paws. In summer, asphalt heats up a lot and paw pads get sore. Watch out for burns and abrasions, avoid gravel roads and other sharp stones or even broken glass. Always check your companion's paws to make sure everything is OK, plan breaks at streams or other watering holes on your routes and cycle mainly along wide fields and meadows.
Our tips
- Even if your four-legged friend is fit: If in doubt, take a trailer with you anyway. That way, nothing will ever slow you down and you will always have a clear conscience and a happy companion.
- Don't forget to bring enough fluids for your buddy as well as small snacks, depending on how long you are travelling.
- Unfortunately, the weather doesn't dance to our tune, but there is a good solution for that too, for example dog baskets with rain covers.
A lot can happen if you don't have your little racing machine under control. These bundles of energy quickly pulled you off the saddle with a jerk and thus into dangerous situations. So first of all, make sure you have not only the stamina, but also his obedience. If you feel comfortable with these two criteria in mind, it only remains to consider what equipment should support you on your tours.
Little helpers of the modern bicycle industry
The bicycle industry now offers many helpful supports at a reasonable price. Attaching a leash to the handlebars would be grossly negligent; serious falls are inevitable. We therefore recommend a so-called "jumper". This stable bicycle mount with a spring is designed to prevent the leash from getting tangled in the spokes and also ensures a minimum distance between the bike and the dog. The suspension dampens abrupt movements. You can expect to pay around 40 euros for this, but don't go for cheap products. You will quickly notice the difference between devices costing less than 40 euros and more expensive versions. These mounts are now available on all known sales platforms.
Furthermore, various baskets are available for small dogs. Make sure to use a special basket that is suitable for dog transport, i.e. has a device for a chest harness or collar so that you can leash your dog to the basket. For medium-sized dogs, you should choose a different transport option than that on a front carrier, as the weight at the front of the handlebars considerably impairs your manoeuvring. In this case, transport in a basket on the rear carrier is a good option, or you can use a trailer or cargo bike. One more hint: Puppies are especially popular for transport in the front, as owners can hardly get enough of the cuddly bundles. However, this also unintentionally guarantees an increased potential for distraction ...
Trailer
Ha, I'll just take my trailer that I used to chauffeur my kids in ... Was that your first thought? Dog trailers, however, differ considerably from the usual children's trailers: on the one hand, they are smaller and less, on the other hand, they are specially designed for transporting four-legged friends, which includes practical devices for leashing as well as storage space. Extra-deep entrances and particularly stable floor plates for heavy dogs are sometimes offered. Since large dogs can quickly weigh over 50 kilos, the weight must be taken into account.
Transport or cargo bike
Here you will find variants that come without a transport tray, but with a sturdy frame and luggage racks at the front and/or rear. These variants are followed by those with a practical transport tray. You can find more details in our overview of advisors on the subject of cargo bikes.
Which fuzzy one would you like?
Are you a passionate biker and still looking for a suitable biker buddy? We will be happy to give you helpful tips on the typical dog breeds that could be suitable for you:
Huskies love to run and are able to adapt to temperatures within the mild latitudes. However, in midsummer you should take it easy on your buddy, who can never take off his tailor-made winter jumper. If you live in northern climes, however, your new companion will be unreservedly happy about the upcoming tours! Huskies (Siberian Huskies) are long-distance runners who are happy to cover 40 kilometres, and even demand a lot of exercise. During your tours, keep an approximate average speed between 15-20 km/h maximum.
Jack Russell Terriers - they may be small, but they are true bundles of energy, originally bred for endurance running. They are not suitable for hour-long tours, but for the daily extensive walk. They are also quite versatile and love action. We also like to see these fidgety elbows digging excitedly and disappearing somewhere in the bushes, which makes it clear that you have to have your "Jackie" well under control if you let him run along next to the bike ...
English Pointer is a breed of hunting dog. It is essential to get their hunting instinct under control, otherwise your bike tours will quickly turn into frustrating mini disasters. But if you achieve your training goal, you can be happy about the perfect teamwork par excellence. In addition, the genetic make-up of this breed allows for a very high level of endurance.
The dutiful Australian Cattle Dog is also quite a versatile companion, who adds an extra dimension to the characteristics of a Jack Russell Terrier. Mountain biking, hiking or climbing tours may gladly be counted among his fun areas of use. Due to his alertness, his almost tireless endurance gives us real pleasure.
Border Collies are not only extremely popular because of their patient disposition and agility. They also love maximum physical exercise, in addition to sufficient rest. These loyal companions are always willing to learn, but in return they demand consistency from their owner. If you are willing to invest more time and passion than others in raising your dog, you are in the right place with this demanding breed and will be rewarded accordingly!
Australian Shepherds are, so to speak, the intelligent twin brothers of Border Collies. In addition, they are very caring and particularly empathetic.
Not every dog is suitable as a trail companion - The summary
Your Buddy must be healthy, have no joint problems or even struggle with cardiovascular concerns. If such health facts are ignored, there is a risk of cardiovascular failure and/or severe pain. If you own a rather heavy dog, please do not do cycling tours to him. They will challenge his health far more than you want. Some hounds may appear to be very athletic, but please be aware of any breed-specific problems. An example is the German Shepherd. As many breeders overdo it with the "smart" sloping hips, these dogs often suffer from severe hip pain due to the so-called hip dysplasia. Likewise, all short-nosed and very small breeds find any enduring exertion torturous. For example, they overheat very quickly and can hardly breathe. The same applies to overweight and very strong breeds such as bulldogs.
Puppies have no place next to a bicycle. Even with young animals, you should set the bar at the very bottom, if at all. At the earliest, you can try your first dry runs from 15 or even better 17 months. What also counts is your age. We do not recommend bicycle tours with dogs for senior citizens. Falls usually lead to far worse injuries than with younger cyclists.
If you follow all these tips and frame them under your individual conditions and those of your companion, nothing can really go wrong! In this case, we wish you lots of fun and, above all, wonderful experiences during your tours. And if there are any questions left unanswered, you will certainly find the answers on our advisor page - or just give us a call!
