Hints / tips for cycling with your dog

[chqshaitan]

No , it means you can get away from it faster.

haha

 

[Robson3022]

I suspect you have got confused and taken the conversation/thread out of context.

When I was referring to cycling with the dog in the opening post, i did not mean literally, with him attached to the bike.

It was from the point of view, that he would be off lead and i would be riding around on my bike, as opposed to walking around.

Initially I would try this in a safe open area(aka park), and see how he gets on and take it from there.

I would honestly have him attached and train him that way. If not hes just going to run around like crazy and more than likely get in your way when you least expect it. If you have him attached its a more predictable and probably easier to teach him to respect the big moving bit of metal with his owner plonked on top.

 

[chqshaitan]

I would honestly have him attached and train him that way. If not hes just going to run around like crazy and more than likely get in your way when you least expect it. If you have him attached its a more predictable and probably easier to teach him to respect the big moving bit of metal with his owner plonked on top.

Yea, that is another option, my first thoughts are to see what he is like when off lead and I am on the bike. Fortunately one of the parks near me is open with a large path going around the field.

 

[Crackle]

Attach to train him to run with the bike, dis-attach to train him to stay out the way and come to heel. Now I know most of the brain of a Springer is taken up entirely by excitement and they permanently look like they are running about inside a tumble-dryer but they can be trained and trained well, I've seen them at dog shows doing retrieves and agility, so persist.

 

[chqshaitan]

Attach to train him to run with the bike, dis-attach to train him to stay out the way and come to heel. Now I know most of the brain of a Springer is taken up entirely by excitement and they permanently look like they are running about inside a tumble-dryer but they can be trained and trained well, I've seen them at dog shows doing retrieves and agility, so persist.

haha tumble dryer quote is so apt. He is very well trained(other half took him weekly to a local dog training school), so he is pretty good. He aint like some dogs i see out and about, who are let of the lead and then do their own thing.

 

[Lee_M]

The OP currently takes him to " a local park" , does that sound like a responsible dog owner to you?
Can you think of anything worse than a dog , owned by a non resposnsible owner, following or attached to a bike?

Have I missed something?
Why is he irresponsible for taking his dog to a local park?

 

[Kins]

I have ridden with the two family sheep dogs that are very energetic and do 10 mile walks like it was a trip to the shop and back. Both are well trained and are let off constantly except when there are roads about. They have learnt to stay away from bikes from walking down the cycle path often and me calling them to heel, wait etc and now when I take them with the bike they know what to do and what not to do 99% of the time. Mine like to keep me in sight so won't stray far unless of course they see rabbits then the gloves are off!

You can't legislate for other fools though and most of them are on other bikes.

I would go somewhere more quiet first few times and see how they cope as it might take them a few trips to get used to you moving so fast.

 

[chqshaitan]

I have ridden with the two family sheep dogs that are very energetic and do 10 mile walks like it was a trip to the shop and back. Both are well trained and are let off constantly except when there are roads about. They have learnt to stay away from bikes from walking down the cycle path often and me calling them to heel, wait etc and now when I take them with the bike they know what to do and what not to do 99% of the time. Mine like to keep me in sight so won't stray far unless of course they see rabbits then the gloves are off!

You can't legislate for other fools though and most of them are on other bikes.

I would go somewhere more quiet first few times and see how they cope as it might take them a few trips to get used to you moving so fast.

Thanks for the advice bud. I plan on cycling around the path which has wide open areas, will be interesting to see how he handles me going at a faster than then him. knowing the wee competitive mutt, he is liable to try and outrun me haha

 

[Alan57]

My 2 cents worth . I have a dog that I take for long walks on the moors . I cycle regularly as it`s my main mode of transport , one of the tracks I use is frequented by walkers with dogs ,cyclists ,kids etc , i`ve come across at least 4 people cycling with dogs on this track. Each of these people have not been in full control of their bike or dog even with a lead , the dogs are generally not alongside the bike and a couple have pulled into my line of travel . A guy 3 days ago had his 2 kids on bikes and him on his with his dog on a lead, his dog was coming straight at me and he made no attempt to pull it over , I had to go on the grass . I don`t like getting into crap with others but I told him he was a ******* idiot and he wasn`t keeping the dog under control.Nobody can control dog and bike 100% , you either concentrate on one or the other . Do yourself ,your dog and others a favour , ride the bike and enjoy, walk the dog and enjoy ,don`t mix the 2.

 

[Sara_H]

The OP currently takes him to " a local park" , does that sound like a responsible dog owner to you?
Can you think of anything worse than a dog , owned by a non resposnsible owner, following or attached to a bike?

Eh? What are you on about? British culture is all about taking the dog to the local park. I can think of many things worse. In fact almost everything is worse than taking the dog to the park.

 

[Kins]

Nobody can control dog and bike 100% , you either concentrate on one or the other . Do yourself ,your dog and others a favour , ride the bike and enjoy, walk the dog and enjoy ,don`t mix the 2.

Really depends how well trained your dogs are. Mine, when called to heel, will walk either side of me (or the bike) about 12 inches behind my legs and won't move till released. I wouldn't advocate going along busy paths/ lanes though, as the more people the more chance of an idiot.

I take the opposite view, and have had the dogs called to heel walking in a straight line up one side of a path and numerous times have had cyclists or pedestrians suddenly decide he/she wants to ride/walk up my side or start wandering all over the path so I don't know where they are going.

Eh? What are you on about? British culture is all about taking the dog to the local park. I can think of many things worse. In fact almost everything is worse than taking the dog to the park.

Really depends what you mean by park. My local park is couple hundred acres and covers 2 sides of a valley.

 

[PK99]

just be careful and wary of other people , i got thrown from bike once when a walked dog was allowed to stray right in front of my path i had no option other than swerve or hit the dog , i swerved took a tumble on to the grass and cracked my helmet wide open (good job i was wearing one) only to be told i shouldnt be riding on the joint cyclepath/ pavement by dogs owner

My wife was brought of by a dog not on a lead on a Bridle way, only to be told by the indignant owner "Dogs have right of way".

 

[Lee_M]

My wife was brought of by a dog not on a lead on a Bridle way, only to be told by the indignant owner "Dogs have right of way".

don't bame the dog blame the twat!

 

[chqshaitan]

My wife was brought of by a dog not on a lead on a Bridle way, only to be told by the indignant owner "Dogs have right of way".

Gotta agree with Lee_M, no reason for a dog which is not under control besides laziness on the owners part for not putting the time and effort in to train his mutt.

My springer was taken to dog training classes once a week(and we re-inforced the training away from class) from 16 weeks old.

Now he is a very well trained dog. He can do emergency stops, downs etc.

I have a similar view to training dogs as a bringing up kids, if you dont put the effort in and persevere , then they develop into out of control beasties

 

[Lee_M]

having said the above, my dog is far from perfect - when she was younger she had far too much energy to listen, but she has the basics

more importantly, she has no interest in other dogs, she has no interest in other people, and she doesnt like pushbikes (since I accidentally clobbered her with mine when she was youn) so she doesn go near anyone else, and is on the lead whenever we are in shared spaces

TBH though now shes old (14) its all I can do to drag her out of her bed in the morning!