So, after the Walk/Run/Cycle event with the Dogs of Instagram Singapore, I started thinking, what are the knowledge gaps that we have that we should have taken the time to educate ourselves on before we start cycling with dog.
1. Do you know how to Cycle?
I do but I’m not good enough to have dog by my side as I cycle. If you are like me, don’t fret, besides the bicycle, there are other more stable options like the tricycle and the fliker scooter. Read more about them here.
2. Is your dog old enough and big enough to run with your bicycle?
The Dog Outdoors cautions that your dog should be at least a year old and more than 11kg at least to start running alongside your bicycle.
It also helps to be aware of your dog’s physical condition, by consulting with your vet. Some dogs may be more susceptible to leg or joint problems common to their particular breed, so pounding on the hard pavement for long distances may not be such a good idea.
Dogs with slight builds will be able to bike for longer distances than heavier or more muscular breeds so keep this in mind when deciding how far to bike your pup. Breeds such as Bulldogs and Pugs that have flat faces are not designed for distance running because they can become overheated very quickly. They also don’t move air in and out as efficiently as other breeds. Breeds with long bodies or short legs also aren’t designed for distance running and this should be taken into consideration.
– the dog outdoors
According to VIN (Veterinary Information Network), there is no hard and fast rule, but they recommend:
“waiting until these dogs are 12-15 months old [will] allow the owner to enjoy many more years of exercising with their pets by allowing adequate skeletal development.”
The PetMD article How much exercise is too much for my puppy explains,
…there is evidence to support that there is an increase in the severity and incidence of elbow dysplasia and OCD ( Osteochondritis Dessicans) in dogs who experienced “forced exercise” before their growth plates closed… OCD is basically growth abnormalities in the cartilage that can cause lameness.
Forced exercise is defined as “anything beyond what the dog would engage in with dogs of the same age.” Gentle play time with other like aged puppies? A-OK. Running around with adult dogs, meanwhile, is bad (the puppy will overdo it trying to keep up with the big guys). Fence-running, excessive ball/stick/Frisbee chasing, and jogging with the owner are considered “forced exercise,” too.
So human beware, if your puppy is not old enough, you probably need to lay off repetitions of activities that are highly physical.
But you know what, there’s no need to get disheartened that puppy can’t yet join your favourite sport activity. Dr Marty Becker on Vetstreet says,
Even if running has to wait a bit, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be doing anything with your puppy now. Use the next few months to make sure your pet is well socialized. Introduce her to any situation that’s likely to pop up when you’re running; make sure she’s comfortable around people of all ages, bicycles, strollers, cars and noisy motorcycles. Free exercise on soft surfaces — such as play with another dog on grass — is also great for youngsters. Get your pup into a training class now so she’ll learn how to walk — and later run — on lead without dislocating your shoulder or pulling you off-stride.
In fact, you can use this time to start training your puppy to learn to walk on a loose leash, to heel and also to get used to moving along with the bicycle.
The best way to introduce biking to your dog is to start by attaching your dog to the bicycle leash and walking alongside your bike on the opposite side of your dog. The idea is to let them get comfortable with the bike and realize it is no different than taking a normal walk. Once they have going straight down, practice turning left and right and then u-turn to either side. – thedogoutdoors.com
3. Preparing dog to run alongside the bicycle
Donna took to running nicely alongside the scooter we had pretty quickly, within one hour of being introduced to it. Training her on loose leash walking and heel exercises in the last year and a half definitely helped.
But if she didn’t, I probably would have to repeat the same exercise as described above with her. And…
Once your dog seems confident, hop on your bike and ride slowly at first practicing the same maneuvers. It is best to begin in an area with few distractions so that your dog will focus on you. I suggest biking at a trotting pace. They should never be falling behind so make sure you are riding at your dog’s own pace. If your dog gets nervous and freezes up DO NOT attempt to keep pulling them along. Immediately stop and start walking next to the bike again. We do not recommend biking in areas with heavy traffic.
– thedogoutdoors.com
4. Planning your route
If you are biking for the first time, choose a route that is less busy so that dog gets less distraction. You can also stay focused on making the experience good for the dog, rather than having to worry about on-coming traffic every 10 minutes.
How far should you ride?
According to canine expert Christine Zink, D.V.M., Ph.D, you should gradually increase the distance you travel by 5 to 10 percent every four to six exercise sessions. She recommends that once you reach a distance of 2 miles or 3.2km, you should limit biking to every other day providing a day of rest for rejuvenation of the muscles. Extremely fit dogs can run farther distances per day if the sessions are broken up (less if riding on pavement, which can be tough on the skeletal system). … At the end of your ride, pay attention to how your dog reacts. Are they panting heavily for over 10 minutes and laying down (you probably went too far) or do they seem to be ready for more. – thedogoutdoors.com
5. Gear up
- Water Make sure you bring enough water so the dog stays hydrated and doesn’t over heat. This is especially important to us since Donna is mostly black and heats up really fast in the sun! Our 0.5 Gallon jug served more than one dog with water to spare. No big, we can always pour the extra water over her to cool her off at the end of the ride.
At the end of their research, Miller-Riley concluded, “All in all, Skyler seems to be cooled best by jumping into a body of water or having a gallon jug of water poured over him.
– whole dog journal
Coleman Company 0.5-Gallon Jug, Red
The shape only accomodates dogs with long faces though. :P
Buy on Amazon
- Pawpad protection This is something I haven’t gotten yet. But definitely something I will want to get if I were to take Donna running more regularly. From the event, Lexie had blisters on her paw and Donna’s paw felt rougher as well. I just wish there is Musher’s Secret in Singapore! But since there isn’t I just need to find some time to look for the next best alternative. :P
Buy on Amazon
Musher’s Secret Pet Paw Protection Wax (200 g)
- Proper harness Donna doesn’t pull at all so she won’t make a very good sled dog if we go cycling. That said, I would rather spend the money to get her a proper harness that gives her the right support. This is particularly important for dogs that will bear a burden because I wouldn’t want to risk pressure by the harness straps on her in the wrong places. I would worry that the prolong pressure will give her joints or other parts of her problems through continuous wear.
Web Master Harness, Medium, Red Currant
I’ve seen good reviews on this one, so definitely one I would want to find out more.
Anatomical design provides controlled, comfortable, balanced lifting with good load dispersion
Buy on Amazon
- Dog bike trailer I think this is a great thing to have for, say, human is having fun racing in the wind and not ready to head home but dog is already winded and needing a rest. Let dog ride it out in the trailer while human continues the cycling trip. The other time I think this may be necessary is if dog is just feeling unwell, has cut his paw on a rock and is limping, etc, etc. This is definitely come in handy, particularly if we have cycled a long distance from the car.
For dogs that need a bit more leg room, specialized dog trailers are the most popular choice. A dog trailer is basically a more doggy-fied spin on a child trailer, distinguished by its flat, reinforced base. However unlike child trailers where the child sits strapped up on the axle, a dog sits or lays down differently and can even move around, affecting stability and tip-ability.
Cycling Gypsies has more great advise on choosing a two wheel dog trailer.
Emmadog
In Germany it was a big thing, everyone was doing it. Mom won a bike so she decided to try it our with Katie. The best thing learned was respect for a bike. Mom let Katie tip over the bike (a planned crash) which set Katie up for life. She isn’t scared of bicycles, but she also knows never to get to close or cross in front of one. As for running next to it, Mom didn’t like it at all, so it only lasted a week or two. Some people and dogs love it, but we get plenty of exercise walking and running with Mom instead.
Nature by Dawn
There is a lot of information here to think about. Pierson is probably up for it physically but Maya is not. I can ride a bicycle but do not intend to take up the activity. My dogs do not heel well so they would not be ideal for this activity anyway. Still, excellent info. Thanks for sharing. :)
2 Brown Dawgs
I think biking with any of the brown dawgs would be a disaster…lol.