any tips? first time, he's a border collie
Going to take him on the lead for a pootle round the block first then work our way up. He has boundless energy and wont come back when you let him off the lead to play with a ball so any tips here will be very helpful.
Just keep riding, should follow you wherever! Keep an eye on his pads though, if hes anything like mine he'll run throlugh the pain barrier. 😕
Before the dog haterzzzz get onto this, as a dog owner myself I'll point out that if you can't recall him every time (Random 'steak on the pavement' type freak occurences aside) then you shouldn't have him off the lead, especially when you're on a bike and therefore occupied at least partially with the business of riding the thing.
If you're keeping him on the lead, make sure you can let go of it very quicky if he pulls off at a mad angle or you may end up on the floor
I'd be spending a bit more time practising your recall before you take him for a ride like that...there are bungee type leads you can get for running with a dog but I'd never feel totally safe with a dog running alongside me attached to the bike, especially something quite strong like a collie. I have trouble enough keeping myself upright on the thing, let alone adding in the potential for something to pull the handlebars before I'd have time to react.
Dog's fine on the lead once you (and they) get used to it.
Make sure you know which is your "good hand" for steering and hold the lead (loosely) in the other. Though I'm left handed, turns out I steer better with my right and having the right holding the bars made quite a difference to my control.
Keeping dog to heel on the bike is the same as training to keep to heel when walking - although mine's much better when I'm on the bike as Im going her pace. So anyway, standard training methods.
"Wait!" is a good command to have for when they are running ahead too.
Simple advice
Dog on lead whilst cycling is a bad idea - at some point either you or the dog will get hurt
If he doesn't come on command then don't even think about riding off leash with him.
Work on the basic commands before taking him cycling.
If you haven't got a good recall, then work on that first. Don't try and run before you can walk! 😉 Dog Citizenship Awards are a good place to start.
I agree. Your dog needs to walk to heel, run to heel and come back on command or you are likely to injure both yourself and it. Riding while holding the lead is not the best idea.
[i]Dog on lead whilst cycling is a bad idea - at some point either you or the dog will get hurt[/i]
From experience?
Admittedly I have got a bit hurt [i]once[/i], we both learned from it and it's been a breeze since.
(One time was - dog went after cat when arrived home at the front door, lead was hooked round bars, now always hold it loose in 1 or 2 fingers)
i agree, if you cannot recall your dog do not ride with him off the lead.
[i]i agree, if you cannot recall your dog do not ride with him off the lead.[/i]
I agree with that, of course. But there may be places where a lead is necessary, in which case, it's a good idea to get the dog trained at that.
Yes. It is pretty clear that if you cannot control your dog by voice then trying to do so by lead while riding a bike is likely to be an issue.
I have a Collie cross, now too old to do much, but for years she came out with me on the bike the whole time.
I started by doing dog agility classes with her, they were loads of fun, kept her thinking and wore off a shed load of energy. It also taught her to look back to me for directional signals, to work to verbal commands and made her into an incredably attentive obediant dog. Collies are bright, yours will soon work out what is required. I also taught her to heal to either side and then getting her out with the bike was easy. Meg had it nailed from the start, staying on the pavement through town, even as I went round parked cars etc. Just needed to watch her on singletrack if in a group, as her attempts to round up the back marker wasn't always appreciated!!