Topic starter
At what age did you start taking your dog mountain biking - the dog’s age that is. Our dog is now 12 months old and her weight is stable, so thinking of taking her out on short rides soon.
Posted : 16/04/2025 5:37 pm
I believe it's 18 months as that's when the bones have finished growing (IANAV)
Posted : 16/04/2025 5:45 pm
HB47 reacted
Don’t forget most places require dogs on a short lead from 1st of March until 31st of July and some places, including National Trust land require it all year round.
Posted : 16/04/2025 5:50 pm
HB47 reacted
18mo for our last dog. Retired from rides at 8, lived to 15.
Current dog is 2, she'll never ride with us, too busy on the trails with shifted attitudes means higher chance of dog,wildlife,human conflict. Sad though as doggo rides were pure joy
Posted : 16/04/2025 5:56 pm
12 months is a bit young. Could maybe do some training rides, ie to help teach the dog, not for your enjoyment. Slow and short and somewhere the dog can run free without too much bother.
Maybe this. Not so much "rides", but riding round the park on the grass at walking pace. A bit like recall the idea would be to keep them more interested in you and the bike than on what's going on arround them, i.e. lots of high value rewards whenever they so much as look at you.
Posted : 16/04/2025 7:33 pm
Topic starter
I live near Bedgebury which is FC. Never had problems there. I mainly ride mid- week when it is pretty quiet - probably going to be a lot quieter now the bike rental shop has closed sadly.
Posted : 16/04/2025 7:40 pm
No advice until pictures of dog are posted, those are the rules!
Posted : 16/04/2025 8:07 pm
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Posted : 16/04/2025 8:30 pm
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Posted : 16/04/2025 8:49 pm
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Posted : 16/04/2025 8:54 pm
Topic starter
Posted : 16/04/2025 9:04 pm
Lovely looking dog. 12 months is too young to go running with a bike. Dogs tend to be all or nothing and will push on until they are damaged especially if you are regarded as "the one".
If you have no recall or "leave" response from her train for that first (you have at least 6 months to get it right). Running by the bike is next and will require a different command from heel to work well.
You're going to need the biggest camelback bladder and a collapsible bowl even on cool days as you'll be sharing and don't run her in full sun or hot temperatures.
Posted : 17/04/2025 8:44 am
Not so much "rides", but riding round the park on the grass at walking pace.
I was doing this sort of thing with my Patterdale Terrier before she turned 1, rather than thinking of it as cycling with a dog it was more like doing the normal sort of walk she was capable of but while I was sat on a bike. Good for getting them used to being next to a bike with all the clicks and squeaks they make.
You're going to need the biggest camelback bladder and a collapsible bowl even on cool days as you'll be sharing and don't run her in full sun or hot temperatures.
A way of giving them water that doesn't waste leftovers is good too, my dog has her own bottle on the bike so I can pour water that she doesn't drink back in. Would love it if someone made one of those dog water bottles with the fold out bowl but to fit in a bottle cage, niche market I guess.
Posted : 17/04/2025 9:52 am
another point, we have 2 collies, one is really heavy footed and she ruins her pads if we take her anywhere not grass/ mud, the second one is so lightfooted, like a panther and she has no issues running on trails
Posted : 17/04/2025 10:45 am
Not so much "rides", but riding round the park on the grass at walking pace.
I was doing this sort of thing with my Patterdale Terrier before she turned 1, rather than thinking of it as cycling with a dog it was more like doing the normal sort of walk she was capable of but while I was sat on a bike. Good for getting them used to being next to a bike with all the clicks and squeaks they make.
You're going to need the biggest camelback bladder and a collapsible bowl even on cool days as you'll be sharing and don't run her in full sun or hot temperatures.
A way of giving them water that doesn't waste leftovers is good too, my dog has her own bottle on the bike so I can pour water that she doesn't drink back in. Would love it if someone made one of those dog water bottles with the fold out bowl but to fit in a bottle cage, niche market I guess.
The kong bottle fits. Its a nice bottle.
Posted : 17/04/2025 10:49 am
Yes to 18 months.
Short ride to begin with obvs
Lead needs to be easily accessible and deployable for when you stumble upon sheep and birds.
I have a cocker poo and she took to it really well. Didn't really need training.
Posted : 17/04/2025 10:52 am
