Cycling with a dog in a dog-carrier

[KarenFWL]

Hi everyone! New to the forum, not had a dog since I was a teenager, but always wanted one and hoping to have a rescue dog at some point in the next year or so. Currently working through my life to check a dog fits in it!

Mostly it will work really well, but one concern is cycling. I cycle a couple of miles to work, and my partner and I like to go on longer rides in our free time. I'd like to have a dog who can trot alongside the bike some of the time (we used to do this very happily with a friend's cocker spaniel and have read a fair bit about this) and also just about small enough to travel on a carrier on the bike, for longer distances or when it gets older...

Does anyone have any current tips? - what's the biggest dog realistically for a carrier? (ideally not a trailer, just a rack carrier or basket) What sorts of distances can you do with your dog in a carrier? Any recommended carrier types or things to look out for/avoid? What are the chances of a dog just not getting used to a carrier despite hefty training efforts? Are there breeds of dog that would be more or less happy with this, or is it down to the individual mutt? Given I will have a rescue dog, is there a good age range?

I'd be grateful for any advice!

 

[JoanneF]

I had a basket for my dog like this.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Trixie-281...for+a+bike&qid=1609888818&sr=8-8&tag=mh0a9-21

My dog outgrew it at about 6 kilos.

 

[KarenFWL]

Thanks Joanne! I'd probably need something bigger than that then... did your dog get used to it easily?

 

[JoanneF]

Thanks Joanne! I'd probably need something bigger than that then... did your dog get used to it easily?

Reasonably well. Us, not so much. We decided we are not cyclists!

 

[excuseme]

I used to run my first Cocker alongside my bicycle to and from work sometimes.
She also learnt to get up on my lap and put her front feet on the handlebars when required. (always with a lead attached)
She also learnt to ride on my motorbike to and from work. She would happily get into a secure strong bag that I would securely zip up and tie the top so that only her head was free, the bag strap went over my head and she rested on the petrol tank in front of me.
For cold days I had knitted her a hat to keep her head warm!

I don't think I would get away with any of that these days.
That was in the "Good old days"

 

[Hemlock]

Assuming you are in UK, check the legal aspects. I'm not up to date (and I don't cycle) but there are restrictions/bans on having dogs loose on the roads, and used to be the same on dogs being led from a bicycle. You are okay off road but of course you have to get there first.

 

[JudyN]

Also bear in mind the risks, both physically and mentally, of overwalking a young dog. The best walks involve a lot of sniffing and mooching as well as walking/trotting/running.

 

[excuseme]

@Hemlock
Yes, UK
As mentioned, that was in the good old days.
No such thing as MOTs and you could get away with a warning from the local copper for having NO tax or insurance (not me but the boyfriend at the time)
.

 

[KarenFWL]

I used to run my first Cocker alongside my bicycle to and from work sometimes.
She also learnt to get up on my lap and put her front feet on the handlebars when required. (always with a lead attached)
She also learnt to ride on my motorbike to and from work. She would happily get into a secure strong bag that I would securely zip up and tie the top so that only her head was free, the bag strap went over my head and she rested on the petrol tank in front of me.
For cold days I had knitted her a hat to keep her head warm!

I don't think I would get away with any of that these days.
That was in the "Good old days"

How lovely! Envious of the good old days - sounds fun. Seen people doing this in Italy and Croatia too (in the more recent good old days when we could travel!). But gives me hope that my future rescue dog can learn the necessary tricks...

 

[KarenFWL]

Also bear in mind the risks, both physically and mentally, of overwalking a young dog. The best walks involve a lot of sniffing and mooching as well as walking/trotting/running.

That's a really good point for a dog-newbie, thank you. Definitely want to make sure the dog enjoys the day out too, otherwise why have it. I love seeing a nose taking it all in at one end and a tail thrashing about at the other.