[Closed] Riding with Dog

No puppy should be doing anywhere near that distance or speed!

See if you can train her to jump up at other people on bikes, it's hilarious! 😛

As Bagstart says.
I have a Lakeland terrier and she was 12 months before she even came on gentle (running) runs with me.

It is a good feeling having a reliable riding partner but just be careful if she's only 4 months old. Was told when I got my dog dont do anything too strenuous for the first 10months as might damage growing bones. Dont know to what extent this is true, if at all, but I always kept the first 10month rides shortish with stops in them. The breeder was dedicated so I kind of listened to what she said.

No dog under the age of 1 or even 2 should be running alongside your bike, unless you want hip n joint problems by the age of 6 and having to put the dog down by the age of 10.

At 4 months old, all you should be doing is taking your dog for little walks and training it.

I'm hoping that with a few more rides like that she can progress to running the whole loop or at least getting faster on the sections she's running.

I am hoping this is a post to get peoples backs up, but I don't think it is..

There was a guy who had a puppy, decided to ride around the field rather than walk, wasnt going fast, not even 10mph.. By the age of 6 months, the dog crabbed along, it couldnt walk or run in a straight line. 2 years down the line and he had to have it put down due to very bad hip problems.

I'm glad I listened to the breeder, seems like its common knowledge not to over exercise in first 12monts, keep her in basket for a few months yet.

Have to agree with the above. Be very careful with how far you run your dog. My 6 year old lab will quite easily cover 10-15 miles with me, but I wouldn't have dreamt taking any such distance under 12-15months old.

This is surely a wind up.

No responsible dog owner should exercise a pup of that age like that.

Be honest its a wind up isn't it.

Surely your not stupid ......

Are you?

[img] [/img]

10 miles is way too much for a 4 month old dog, especially a jack russell, they are not built to run all day, they are built for short sharp bursts.

A general rule we were told by a few trainers was a walk of 10 minutes per month of age up until at least a year.

As others have said already, ask your vet about what to do and what not to do ref exercise. Growth/bone/joint/arthritic issues can be brought on by doing the following too early (or too much);

- climbing up and down stairs
- throwing sticks/balls/etc
- going on long walks

No way should your JR being doing 10 miles at 4 months.

I did think the article should have come with a warning about this (may have missed it though).

A rather daft mate cycled with his black lab puppy and by the age of 18 months, the dogs legs were knackered.

I started running with our dog when she got to a year old (black lab) and have cycled a few times with her but generally think it's just too much for most dogs. Unless you are really slow.

THANKS FOR ALL THE ADVICE. I WILL HEED IT.

To be fair, as I said, she was popped back in the basket to rest regularly and obviously didn't cover all of the 10 miles herself but even so, I take on board what you are saying. I don't want to cause her problems further down the line.

For now, I'll just get her used to riding in the basket.

THANKS FOR THE FEEDBACK. ONE OF US HAS OUR TAIL BETWEEN OUR LEGS!

Interestingly, I was chatting with a canine physiotherapist recently who was telling me that a lot of the old assumptions about exercise related hip problems are now being seen as too simplistic, and that proper nutrition and genetics are seen as being much more significant.

Apparently a certain amount of load bearing exercise, coupled with appropriate nutrition from a good quality dog food, is seen as promoting good bone density and formation, much the same way as it is in humans. The conversation came about as we'd mentioned that our collie pup, now 12 months, loves to swim, and that about 30% of her exercise in a day comes from fetching sticks out of the river. He was encouraging us to continue this, pointing out that they do this as hydrotherapy for dogs who are being rehabbed from hip and joint problems. He did then mention that we needed to give her a good level of 'load bearing' exercise as well.

He did say that having the dog trot alongside us on a leisurely bike ride would be good for her, as long as we kept tabs on her paws. However, that conversation was very 'collie specific' as both our girls are from working stock and bred for the stamina to work all day.

None of this is meant to counter the [i]'4 months is way too young for that level of exercise'[/i] concerns BTW - just observing that there's at least some professional opinion that hip problems = over exercise is too simplistic.

@ditch_jockey - nice to read some sense.

My dog was a year old when we got her, so she started a little after that.

Surf-Mat, I just ride differently when I'm with the dog. She's faster uphill (and along most flats!) but slower on the downs, so I wait (or brake more). Don't take her on long days out anyway.

I was chatting with a canine physiotherapist

Oh FFS!

This has to be a wind up...

the old assumptions about exercise related hip problems are now being seen as too simplistic, and that proper nutrition and genetics are seen as being much more significant.

Just how old are these as I'm 37 and had dogs all my life the right diet, breeding and exercise was always seen important as each other. The advice mainly came from vets but also from my shepherd grandfather who's now in his 80s.

🙄 i just don't get this at all, dogs and bikes don't mix for me.

[i]i just don't get this at all, dogs and bikes don't mix for me.[/i]

Have you got one? If so have you trained it to go on rides with you? [Edit]Sorry, I should say have you tried training it?

I've come round to the idea that unless I'm doing a little local loop taking the dog is not wise. My lab bitch is happy doing a couple of hours with me but is getting stiff afterwards so I'm keeping her off the trails until they soften up a bit with the rain and I slow down due to the mud.

Dogs are pretty thick and just keep going so I'd say unless you have a breed that's built for sustained running like a border collie, beagle, fox hound etc it's probably not wise.

Bit of a pain as she obviously likes going out with me and it does piss me off when she sits there lead in mouth as I load my bike into the car and she can't come.

+1 joolsburger. Jack Russell and Lurcher here. I'll take them on short slow bimbles now as I'm not convinced it's benefitting them greatly to go on longer faster rides.
The s/s is very dog friendly.....

Drac - just to put your mind at rest, he's the husband of the physio who's trying to sort out my wife's back problems. She runs her practice from home, and I got chatting with her hubby when I went to collect my wife with the dogs in the back of the car.

He does most of his work with police, guide dogs etc - I guess if you put a lot of time and money into training a dog for a purpose, you don't want to lose that investment if the dogs tears a ligament or something.

He does most of his work with police, guide dogs etc - I guess if you put a lot of time and money into training a dog for a purpose, you don't want to lose that investment if the dogs tears a ligament or something.

I did with my old gun dog, time anyway trained her myself, when she did her cruciate ligament whilst recovering from being knocked over I consulted my grandfather and the vet. Their answer was, "Gentle exercise, what would you do if it was you?". Vet said operation could also be done but probably no more effective with more risk than gentle exercise.

Just seems a way to make easy money from those who have cash to waste. I could understand for race horses but not for dogs.

Just seems a way to make easy money from those who have cash to waste.

I have colleagues at work who say much the same thing...

... about bikes.

I have colleagues at work who say much the same thing...

... about bikes.

And in many cases they're right. I've said it before check out Evans price list for puncture repairs.

I have a 14 month old Parsons Russell and have had him out on a few rides round the Tweed Valley from about 11 months on. I only once did a Stane with him on my own and it's too fast and strenuous for him, never again. I've came to the conclusion that the Innerleithen downhill trails are the best riding environment for a dog, especially one of his size. He can mooch about on the slow uphills, then has a fast five minute blast down the hill, which he loves. As Innerleithen is quite technical you never get the same speed up that you do on say the descent from the minchmoor.
Long downhills or extended flat sections are too much effort for a dog compared to someone on a bike.

I agree that a young dog shouldn't be overextended but I've also heard that the smaller the dog the less problems it brings in later years.

neil853 - Member

i just don't get this at all, dogs and bikes don't mix for me.

AS I have posted many times I am no lover of dgs - however I have seen dogs at trail centres having a great time. The best was the border collie going down a red run - air off the jumps and railing the berms -
The key is training ( like with everything with dogs). This dog was following the owner and obeyed commands instantly. If it don't hassle anyone else and is enjoying it then why not?

I'd boot it and the owner if it got in my way - but it was more likely to be the other way round.

Try taking the puppy on a road bike ride?

😆