Problem solving, getting your dog to the trail without a car.

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Problem solving, getting your dog to the trail without a car.

17 posts & 14 voices | Started 1 year ago by richc | Latest reply from richc

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richc - Member

Just polling for ideas really, I live about 5-10 minutes ride from Ashton Court/Leigh Woods in Bristol and as the weather gets better, I aim to ride with my dog there more.

However I am a bit stuck how to do this without loading him and the bike into the car driving for a couple of minutes uploading, and then going riding.

He's not bad at following you when you ride, however he certainly isn't good enough to follow me when I am riding on the road as he would chuck himself under a car at the first sign of a dog/squirrel/bag of chips/fox scent.

So anyone got any ideas how to crack this one, I would walk him however getting a dog and bike over the footpath on the suspension bridge would be nearly impossible. I've heard of dog trailers?!? anyone seen them or could recommend one?

Posted 1 year ago #
Olly - Member

Posted 1 year ago #
jimmy - Member

was going to suggest a dog trailer. Can't remember where I saw one, but a guy had his dog in cage on a trailer. Neat idea, could lock the trailer up at the start of the trail and a child carrying trailer would probably work.

Posted 1 year ago #
richc - Member

LoL at Olly, might work if he wasn't around 7 stone in weight, and a fidgety bastard.

Might look at a child trailer, as it might be big enough. The dog one's I seen are mega bucks.

Posted 1 year ago #
barca2 - Member

I chucked my daughter's westie in the EBC trailer when she wanted to bring him riding with us. It worked a treat until he decied he wanted to chase the motorbike that went flying past on the A6.
Dog and trailer upturned, daughter crying with fear, me crying with laughter. I wouldn't do it again though. As he was fastened into the trailer, he did something nasty to his hip when it upturned on him and I had to cover the vet bill.
Man, I hate that dog.

Posted 1 year ago #
cookeaa - Member

Kill it, Stuff it, strap it to a pannier rack…. Job done.

Posted 1 year ago #
StirlingCrispin - Member

Carry Freedom sell the bARK - a trailer designed to carry dogs.
http://www.carryfreedom.com/bArk.html

And Cass Gilbert wrote a review for VeloVision on this very problem.
Say Hi to Peter when you email him to buy the back issue.
Velovision - the dog carrying issue

Posted 1 year ago #
joolsburger - Member

I just put my pup on a short lead and ride with her to the local woods. Having said that she walks to heel well and isn't prone to running off.

I stick to the back streets and ride slowly.

Posted 1 year ago #
Del - Member

i have a burley tail wagon ( see what they did there ). was bought for our springer spaniel. she's about 8kg. works ok. tows nicely. dog doesn't come into work now though, or if she does, she comes by car or we have a mostly off-road route, and she'll run alongside on the lead if necessary.
yours for 100 quid if you want it. we're in exeter. comes with both the newer attachment and the older style one ( so will fit pretty much any bike ), just minus the flag pole.

Posted 1 year ago #
algarvebairn - Member

I've 2 full grown retriever and they heel with me on the bike on a lead. Its probably a bit irresponsible and dangerous but it hasn't caused any problems. I only ever do it for about half a mile and on quiet road though. I think I saw somewhere alead that you can attach to your seatpost that is rigid for the first bit so keeps the mutt away from the bike. I googled but can't find the page.

Posted 1 year ago #
algarvebairn - Member

http://www.pettastic-petsupplies.co.uk/dog-bike-lead-set-for-cycling-safely-great-product---dog-lead-for-bike-394-p.asp

Not what I meant but an option?

Posted 1 year ago #
scruff - Member

I put my 5yr old Dalmatian on the lead and ride a few short section of roads to get to the trails. I think dog trailers etc are unwarranted faff and its just a cop out for not training your dog, unless its a proper busy main road, but then I dont think trailers are a good idea anyway.

My dog is a total nutter, will chase anything that moves (including clouds) and can easily pull me over and off the bike. I've persevered and took a few good slams and ridden into/over him a few times but hes now got the hang of slightly behaving and will trot along side me, I keep a look out for anything that might get him going and shout at him to leave it. Getting rid of his initial excitement helps with a 5 minute run on the field before getting to a road.
I started him years ago on canals and fireroads, taking him along roads is a big and potentially dangerous step but you have to build up and take control & responsibility as much as you can. I’m always worried he’ll get run over or knock me into the path of a lorry, but its great taking him out riding and not using the car.

Last week-

Posted 1 year ago #
Merchant-Banker - Member

i had the problem in that my dogs just scared of the road,plus had a couple of bridges to cross as well.solved by walking with the dog on a lead while i walked with my bike.got to the suspension bridge,(i presume your bridge is one like mine and shaped like a narrow v)locked my bike up with a lock id left last time i was there.walked dog over the bridges tyed him up at the other end,went back and got my bike only takes 5mins and the dog gets a much better work out,hes now that used to being tied up at the other end he now just lyes there.

Posted 1 year ago #
nosedive - Member

did anyone see that someone got banned from driving for walking the dog out of the window of a car? Wonder if some sort of similar sanction would apply to holding a dog lead on a bike.....

Posted 1 year ago #
robbo - Member

Just use a lead held in one hand and practice. I find the faster I go the better he is because he's concentrating on running rather than chasing other stuff. Also your momentum will keep him going straight if he pulls away after another dog. Only ever come off once with him and that was on sheet ice!

Posted 1 year ago #
Lionheart - Member

Shame you missed Mountain Monkey's cargo trailer on here a week or two ago, cheap and in Bristol. I used to go from the Redland/Clifton border to Ashton Court years ago with a pointer, it was ride the safe-ish bits, run the bad bits, her on a lead till we got there.

Sometimes now put one in an old kids trailer, hes an old boy!, other runs along side till we get to the trail, but on 'our' lanes 5-10mins to get there.

Also do alot of the 5 mins drive to trail, for dogs' sake, but car always has racks (591s) on, so that bit takes seconds.

Posted 1 year ago #
richc - Member

Hmmm thanks for the help everyone, a bike rack might make sense. Its literally just the suspension bridge that's got me foxed. The road to it, and on the other side would be fine, as he isn't bad at heeling (on and off the lead) and happily runs along side me when riding, however if it did go tits up, as he isn't 100% reliable, as he is still only young at 15 months old, and the bit of road is one of the main routes in and out of Bristol, but its only for 100M or so, as its a choice between a narrow path (handlebars + a bit) with lots of pedestrians or a busy road.

I might try the lock idea and walk the bad bit, doesn't help that he goes mental when you leave him as he is scared he is missing something

Posted 1 year ago #

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