Cycling with Dogs Tips - Exercise [discussion]
I have a high-energy dog who doesn't enjoy toys (not even ball! Oh, how she doth hurt me!) We tried dog parks, but she tends to fun-suck and upset other dogs, so we often leave when others arrive. I started biking with her about a year ago, and it's been a fantastic way for her to take a godDAMNED chill pill and still leave me some evening cuddle time if she's in a generous mood.
I just thought I would write out what I learned so far, hear some tips back, and maybe help out some others in the same situation. Maybe some of these things are obvious, but I'm generally a slow to learn.
- Wear a helmet.
- Strap the leash to the bar under YOUR seat, not the handle bars. I started on the handle bars and it gave my pup way too much control over the bike. If she saw a rabbit, I would be seeing a ditch seconds later. Strapping to the seat bar puts your weight on the dog's leverage.
- Don't use a collar, use a harness. A harness is less likely to restrict their breathing, and if they like to pull you every once and a while for a nice joyride, it won't hurt their neck. A brightly colored harness is best.
- Make sure the leash does not extend past the center of your front wheel. I do not have a special attachment, I just use a short leash. You want enough slack for the dog to have side space, but not so much they can get in front of your tire. If they get too close to you, push them gently away with your feet. You might run your dog over at some point. It's not a great feeling, but if you're paying attention there's a better chance no lasting harm will occur. They learn to respect the wheel, hopefully. Which leads to:
- See the hazards before your dog. I am constantly scanning 20-30 feet ahead in bushes, shade, or trees for things my dog wants to chase or go r/publicfreak on. If they see it before you do, they will blast off and if you're off center (turning, standing, whatever) can make you crash. My dog is about 40 lbs, I'm 150 lbs, and she's almost wrecked me a few times. If you see something your dog will react to, slow down and grab the leash with your hand. Or a good "leave it!" before they see it can help tear their attention away. Also, watch for potholes/ grates/ divets in your dog's path and pull them to safety before they have a chance to not see it.
- Plenty of breaks and water. I bring collapsible a water bowl/ cup and enough water for both of us in an insulated bottle. I do not let my dog drink all she wants until we're home, because too much water will just slosh around in there and possibly make her vomit. I often pour cool water over her head and throat when I think she's too warm but shouldn't drink more. Frequent potty stops are important too!
- WEAR A HELMET.
- Distance depends. Muscular dogs (pitties, boxers, greyhounds) are sprinters and overheat pretty quick. Labradors, retrievers, collies are generally higher energy and could go longer, or they might be less inclined to let you know when its time to stop. Just pay attention to your dog. My heeler/ lab mix tops out at four miles, but that's after months of slowly increasing distance.
- Don't pull your dog. If they aren't keeping up... don't force them to. It can lead to injury. Also you dog not liking bike rides. Which is a darn shame.
- Announce "left" and "right" to your dog with all turns. They pick it up eventually. Helps if you have something sudden to avoid, your dog can react with you. This is easier for them if you:
- Keep your dog on the same side of your bike every ride. They learn quicker, and it means your eyes can mostly scan one side of the path for doggie distractions. I keep my dog on the right, so I am riding on pavement and she gets the grass median to run on. Softer for her paws. When we're on the road, she is in between me and the curb, because there is no guarantee driver's will see her.
- Paw injury. I check paws after every week to look for wear and tear (pad discoloration, redness, torn nail, matted toe hair). If you're dog is mostly running on pavement, you might want to purchase paw balm for them. If you live in colder climates and intend to run them over winter, get paw balm for the sidewalk salts so your pup can avoid the nasty chemicals when they clean themselves. Be careful to consider hot pavement and debris on the path. Cycling during or shortly after rain events can be harsher on the paws if they're on pavement. Also, keep them off recently treated grass.
- Wear a helmet. You will not see everything. I missed a fence stake sticking out of someone's yard, couldn't brake in time. My dog went right, I went left. We wrapped around that stake cartoon style, and I was thrown off head first my bike into the yard. I could have landed on the fire hydrant a foot away. Wear a helmet.
- What I keep in my bike bag: Poop bags, antiseptic, bandages, collapsible bowl, bike repair kit, maybe a few little treats.
That is my general list of what works for me. It took a few weeks of training before my dog really understood what the heck was going on, so keep it slow at first. You're learning too-- train yourself to see the hazards. Anyone else who has some input, or maybe good improvements for me to make, let me know!
Submitted June 18, 2019 at 08:50PM by schishkaboob
via reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/DOG/comments/c2bl50/cycling_with_dogs_tips_exercise_discussion/?utm_source=ifttt
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