Riding a bike with a leashed dog

[Delicia 1]

I have a 1.5 year old german shepherd/siberian husky. My normal way of excersizing (long walks or trips to the dog park) her doesn't seem to be enough for her and she still bounds with energy (must be the husky in her). So, I have decided to take her for runs while I ride a bicycle. Having never tried this before and having not been on a bike in quite sometime, I am anxious about the injury potential. You see, my little energy ball (well, not so little, she is 60 lbs) also thinks she is the great small animal huntress and is easily distracted by birds, cats, other dogs, and rabbits (of which there are plenty where I plan to take her running) and I am near-certain that she will spot something moving and think she should head that way and pull me right off the bike.

Anyone ever trained a dog to run nicely next to a bike while leashed?

[Flames9_RN 358]

Sounds like an accident waiting to happen!! I have a small dog --30lbs and dont think i would ever consider it!! She tends to wonder whern I take her out for a run with me!

[shawna7 4]

I have a 1.5 year old german shepherd/siberian husky. My normal way of excersizing (long walks or trips to the dog park) her doesn't seem to be enough for her and she still bounds with energy (must be the husky in her). So, I have decided to take her for runs while I ride a bicycle. Having never tried this before and having not been on a bike in quite sometime, I am anxious about the injury potential. You see, my little energy ball (well, not so little, she is 60 lbs) also thinks she is the great small animal huntress and is easily distracted by birds, cats, other dogs, and rabbits (of which there are plenty where I plan to take her running) and I am near-certain that she will spot something moving and think she should head that way and pull me right off the bike.

Anyone ever trained a dog to run nicely next to a bike while leashed?

I used to rollerblade with my dog(border collie..same thing..full of energy) until..*DUM DUM DUM**...she figure eighted in front of me..in a grand attempt to hurd a squirrel!! let me just say..IT WASN'T PRETTY!! LMAO!! I never tried that again..but what I did do..is teach her to chase a soccer ball..that way I could kick..and she could run her butt off!! much safer idea

S

[Flames9_RN 358]

Does your area have any enclosed dog parks??? When its dry (otherwise the one by me is just a mud pitt) Itake annya to one and she plays and plays. Tires her out for the day

[Lona.C. 16]

I wouldnt take a hyper dog for a bike ride she will take you for a ride instead of you taking her for a run lol,

you got a treadmill ?? thats one way you could teach her to run on and drain the extra energy good luck

[athena_ny 1]

Sounds like an accident waiting to happen!! I have a small dog --30lbs and dont think i would ever consider it!! She tends to wonder whern I take her out for a run with me!

Absolutely. It is dangerous for both the human (dogs can be unpredictable, if the dog runs off, dragging the human/bike with him/her, it's a recipe for the human getting seriously injured), and the dog (if human falls/crashes, whatever, the dog is now at risk for serious injury from bike spokes, chains, etc).

Just a bad idea all around.

[panamania79 2]

I have a 1.5 year old german shepherd/siberian husky. My normal way of excersizing (long walks or trips to the dog park) her doesn't seem to be enough for her and she still bounds with energy (must be the husky in her). So, I have decided to take her for runs while I ride a bicycle. Having never tried this before and having not been on a bike in quite sometime, I am anxious about the injury potential. You see, my little energy ball (well, not so little, she is 60 lbs) also thinks she is the great small animal huntress and is easily distracted by birds, cats, other dogs, and rabbits (of which there are plenty where I plan to take her running) and I am near-certain that she will spot something moving and think she should head that way and pull me right off the bike.

Anyone ever trained a dog to run nicely next to a bike while leashed?

This is extremely dangerous,I have a friend who almost broke his neck on the bike path doing that.The dog saw another dog,the dog bolted,and my friend flipped over forward.

Sounds like an accident waiting to happen!! I have a small dog --30lbs and dont think i would ever consider it!! She tends to wonder whern I take her out for a run with me!

Absolutely. It is dangerous for both the human (dogs can be unpredictable, if the dog runs off, dragging the human/bike with him/her, it's a recipe for the human getting seriously injured), and the dog (if human falls/crashes, whatever, the dog is now at risk for serious injury from bike spokes, chains, etc).

Just a bad idea all around.

You are absolutely right.

[Emancipation 2]

I used to take my husky cross country skiing with me, of course not on a leash... I would go 5K and that dog would STILL want more.

About 6am every morning he'd come up on our bed and stare at us and wait to see who showed signs of waking first, the first person who shifted in bed ANYTHING the dog would pounce on and keep bugging till we got up and walked him. It was a full time job keeping that dog exercised.. UGH.. I feel your pain though!!!

[Reba 2]

Check this out http://www.walkydogusa.com/

[Delicia 1]

Thanks for the link Reba. I don't think I want to attach the dog to the bike, however. My idea was to leash her but not have the dog secured to me or the bike in case she wants to jet, I can just let go of the leash which will be just pinned between my palm and the handle bar grip. If she runs away after something, she runs away but at least she doesn't take me down in the process.

I do take the dog to a dog park and let her wrestle all the great danes there. I live in AZ, so mud isn't really a problem But I get bored after being there 1.5 -2 hours a time. I was just looking for something that would entertain me a bit as well.

[Flames9_RN 358]

take ur book to the emergency room then,lol so if she runs away then what happens?? hit by a car!! fight with another dog??

[athena_ny 1]

The decision in the end is up to the OP, but however it is done I think it's extremely dangerous and irresponsible on the part of the pet owner, for putting themselves and the pet in a precarious position.

[Reba 2]

Delicia, you'd be surprised how a dog will behave once properly trained to use the Walkydog. They'll completely ignore other dogs, squirrels and rabbits, and just happily run alongside you and the bike. Its also much more safe than allowing the dog to run away possibly into traffic, as others have mentioned. Perhaps you could try jogging instead.

[PlatyPius 5]

Not only is it dangerous to you and the dog, it's also dangerous to anyone you meet on the road/trail/path. I speak from personal experience. Dogs in general are pretty hated on multi-use trails, but especially when the owner is riding a bike. A leash across the path hurts very much bad when someone (me) runs into it doing 10 or 15mph. I flew off my bike, the other person flew off of her bike, and the dog had a moment of weightlessness.

I've also repaired a few bikes that belonged to people who thought they'd try it. Usually it's broken forks, bent frames and such. One time I had to rebuild a wheel with new spokes because the dog stuck its leg through it. It was disgusting and I wanted to refuse...... I did make her take the wheel to the car wash and blast the wheel first, though. Her newly 3-legged dog came with her to pick the wheel up - he looked terrified at the sight of it for some reason....

[Caladan 19]

Sounds like an accident waiting to happen!! I have a small dog --30lbs and dont think i would ever consider it!! She tends to wonder whern I take her out for a run with me!

Absolutely. It is dangerous for both the human (dogs can be unpredictable, if the dog runs off, dragging the human/bike with him/her, it's a recipe for the human getting seriously injured), and the dog (if human falls/crashes, whatever, the dog is now at risk for serious injury from bike spokes, chains, etc).

Just a bad idea all around.

Also dangerous for other people that you pass on the trail or road. Neither you nor the dog have room to maneuver should you encounter someone on a bicycle, or roller blades, or pushing a stroller. I nearly flipped into a stone wall because of some doofus who was walking her dog on one of those extendable leashes (you know the type, that work like a tape measure, and don't really control the dog but make the owner feel like they've leash trained a dog who is running everywhere); I can't imagine that I'd be alive if she'd been on a bicycle, too.

Teach the dog to heel properly and maybe jog with your dog. The bike is just asking for trouble.