• This topic has 82 replies, 51 voices, and was last updated 14 years ago by Drac.
Viewing 40 posts - 41 through 80 (of 83 total)
  • Labradors/dogs and cycling?
  • algarvebairn
    Free Member

    The one on the far left is a particularly fine beast.

    jimmy
    Full Member

    Aww Cap, stop it…

    Ti29er
    Free Member

    I concur.
    Labs have a history of hip, joint, and cartridge issues.
    My present yellow lab is 14 and hobbles about after snapping a tendon two years ago.
    His predecessor had OCD, and aged 2 had 2x major ops on her front knees.
    Such a shame. She recovered but high mileage was not possible.

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    ditch_jockey
    Free Member

    Here's my new trail dog to be – just 11 weeks at the moment, so a long time yet before she's out and about for any serious bike following. Spent a long time deciding between a collie and a lab, but opted for the collie in the end.

    flamejob
    Free Member

    A Kelpie was recommended to me by a Kiwi mechanic I worked with in a bike shop.

    It seems a Collie and Australian sheepdog mix would be perfect.

    ditch_jockey
    Free Member

    Mmmh – never seen an Aussie Sheepdog in this country, but I have a book on dog intelligence that suggests they're smarter than Border Collies. I'd imagine you'd have your work cut out for you keeping it's brain occupied never mind coping with its energy levels.

    ART
    Full Member

    DJ – she's seriously cute. Have spent a long time deliberating about whether we could own a dog – is she your first?

    TheSlider
    Free Member

    Had a Labrador on my calf this year ! Not sure how long he was there but it seemed ages ! So maybe….

    Alex
    Full Member

    Ours is 18 months, about 40kg, not much fat gets lot of exercise, but he is not working dog shape. I take him out a bit, but he is still a bit of a tyre biter, and wants to run a the side or in front all the time. Not ideal for singeltrack.

    I echo what people say here about long distance. He loves it, but I stop a lot and let him dive into the bushes and locate some sheep poo or whatever it is he wants! Good fun, but I wouldn't take him on a long ride because I'd be worried about his enthusiasm having long term effects.

    Probably over cautious but…

    ditch_jockey
    Free Member

    Hi Art – we had dogs when I was a kid, but this is the first time I've owned a dog as an adult! I spent a 3 months looking after my sister's collie for her earlier this year, so that was a useful test run as to whether a dog would fit in with our lifestyle. I work from home running residentials for young people in the outdoors, so it's not a bad setup for a dog as long as they're happy travelling. I have a Touran as a business vehicle, so there's plenty of room in the back for her – her crate takes up half the bootspace and she can use the other side for additional leg stretching once I empty any gear out.

    I got the little girl up there (Fern) from working stock – I was able to see both her parents, who were really chilled out dogs, so I'm hoping she takes after them. She's been a fair bit of work in the first few weeks, as we've put a lot of work into socialising her as well as possible, and giving her lots of mental stimulation to try and ensure that she develops into a well-adjusted collie with none of the 'quirks' that BCs are known for.

    Mum and dad…

    My wife being chewed by a boxful of collies

    ton
    Full Member

    molly, good for a 25 miler.

    ditch_jockey
    Free Member

    she looks in stunningly good shape – the chain's a bit bling though 😆

    ton
    Full Member

    she is wick mate.
    had a 11 yr old dog who was slower than me………… 😉
    she is the total opposite, both parents are working stock.

    carlosg
    Free Member
    johnikgriff
    Free Member

    Mine will easy do 15 miles round a trail center. As already mention working stock is the way to go. My only piont of caution is keep an eye on them, I really believe Baxter would run, to keep up with me, until he dropped dead. On the ups its no problem, as he spends all the time giving me the hurry up look. Its downs that there could be a problem as I can easily out run him and hes flat out trying to keep up. I just dont get to far ahead and force him stop now and again.

    ART
    Full Member

    DJ – thanks for that, all food for thought! We've done the dog sitting stuff in the past which is helpful, but our working arrangements don't suit at the moment. Will have to just bide our time a bit longer .. Fern looks like she'll be a cracker though! 😀

    br
    Free Member

    We've a working/sporting cocker, he is absolutely gagging anytime for a run out. His 'dog run' is a 12 miler from home. I only take him once a week (he would do more) as he gets sore paws if we do more.

    But obviously still needs to be walked every day.

    http://s992.photobucket.com/albums/af45/bruce_nikki/?action=view&current=Thomas200810004.jpg

    I'd quite happily recommend one, and he eats less than a lab – in fact anything eats less than a lab.

    grantway
    Free Member

    I have a Golden Retriver
    Wouldnt advise to take them out when young being there joints
    Acts as a great companion when riding Solo
    and brings in the babes too.

    Would avdise to buy through one of the Kennel Club breaders
    you need to know there history which could lead to big vet
    fees if you dont.

    Ti29er
    Free Member

    40kg! My Lab' is 25kg.
    Came across many Kelpies when in OZ – a cracking breed.
    Just don't do too much in the first year with a Lab' – or more as the joints and especially cartilage is not yet formed.

    Out on the trails I see mostly Collies and Spaniels. A pal runs 2x Vimaranas.

    tragically1969
    Free Member

    Doggy shoes for long distance on harder surfaces

    These seem better regarded:

    http://www.canine-spirit.com/master_products/grip-trex-boots-set-of-4

    Used by SAR teams:

    http://www.ukfssartdogteams.org.uk/canine%20equipment.htm

    Milkie
    Free Member

    Could you qualify this. I've never heard it before and would hate to be doing the dog harm. I thought that springer spaniels were bread for all day work

    Really? You've never heard that!? Ask any decent vet, they will tell you the same. I'm a dog owner, my mother is a veterinary nurse and dog trainer, so I'm pretty confident with my answer. As said in my previous post, one bit of proof is the dog that crabs everywhere because the owner always cycled with it, although this was from a puppy while it was still forming its bones/muscles.

    Some springers are breed to work all day, but the type of work they do is completely different to running for 20 miles. They are usually used for beating, which means going through horrible bushes & woods to flush out the Pheasants. Our dog can go beating all day, then get up the next day and do it again. Take her for a walk, and a couple of hours is enough, running is a lot harder than sniffing the ground and pushing through bushes. Although when she comes back she's got cuts, thorns and all sorts, but its a different type of work to running.

    Our spaniel will easily do 15-20 mile run/ride, although I havent tried; but its the damage it will do later in life, early arthritus, back/hip problems etc.

    jimster
    Free Member

    I think the main thing with any breed of dog is not to over exercise them in the first year – even though they will be eager to walk all the time with you, because you are their pack and they will go wherever the pack goes. Then after increase the distances gradually, be like you doing the Kielder 100 after doing two local cross-country races.

    Our Lab is now 2-1/2 and I still haven't started riding on the hills with him yet, we're only just running up there. The one major hurdle for a lab is they are heavily built and whilst they can saunter all day long they're not as agile / nimble as a Collie or Spaniel.

    algarvebairn
    Free Member

    Grantway, I have goldens as well. I bought my last one through a KC registered breeder but that didn't stop the mega vet bills. Blaise developed a major limp and for a year was under the vet. We had him cat scanned, the lot. Paid about £4k in vet bills and then suddenly a tumour was found and we had to put him down. Sad day.

    I;ve got another 2 now and they are fully insured!!

    grantway
    Free Member

    algarvebairn very sorry to hear
    But our one as thank fully been great touch wood.
    But still stick by buying from a kennel club breeder.
    Also recommened getting insurance first day too

    rootes1
    Full Member

    some other options:

    carry the dog

    or get the dog to carry your spares!

    or a dog camelbak:

    madness

    steve_b77
    Free Member

    Whatevouer you get don't get one of them big long haired grey hound things, they blend in with hardpack when the weathers a bit dingy.

    Makes it slightly dodgy when the daft **** thing is bounding the wrong way down a trail centre track.

    Lucas
    Free Member

    We have a lab/collie cross, he was 2 on Monday and has been coming running with me for hte last 6 months. We go three times a week for 6km a time. However I have not run for 17 years so I've had to build up slowley so the dog has too. He manages fine and is always keen to go, the run is 2/3rds off road adn a 1/3rd on road – he like the offroad most as he's off the lead and the ground is soft. We meet up with a few other dogs in the park in the morning so he also gets a good 40 minutes interval training chasing a football everyday too!!

    The breed seems spot on for us, softness of a lab (we have a 5 month old son who he is great with) and intelligence(trainability) of a collie. He's very soft and will do pretty much what I say and stay with me anywhere.

    He's been biking with me round the woods (2miles) a few times when he was younger and he loved it. He's also been round sherwood pines with us and loved chasing us down the 'downhill' bits. My brother has his sister and she is very similar in nature, we took the two of them round ticknall woods and they loved that too. I would not take him to the peaks or the like as the route would be too much for him and too rocky for him to run over at speed. Don't think I'd like to risk it taking him for anything over 10miles too often though.

    timberjack
    Free Member

    My lab is nearly 12 now and still goung strong, in february i was marking out the course for the winter warmer event in Kielder and the dog came with me, the course was 11 miles but the dog would do 15, i always used to take him when he was younger , although it was a pain at times when he used to take a detour, usually following dear scent

    petetheplumber
    Free Member

    Billy best trail dog ever

    my bike computer shows 15 miles Billy does twice that on each ride.

    Drac
    Full Member

    Sad day yesterday my old faithful lab collapsed on Monday, she could barely walk but made some improvement. Came home on Tuesday and she was not right at all didn't want to move, wouldn't even wag her tail and looked like she was in pure pain. Yesterday she wouldn't even stand kept collapsing, went to pick her up to put her in the car and she did something she has never ever done and tried to bite me, guess the pain was too much. So the decision was made and she was put to rest yesterday, it's funny in the house everyone is out and I don't have my dog stuck by my side. Dogs are great but it's an awful thing when their time comes.

    freeridenick
    Free Member

    Drac, sorry for your loss.

    Sam, my Huntaway – bred for working cattle/sheep all day on NZ hill farms.
    happy on long rides, although does like to chase anything that moves!

    jimster
    Free Member

    Sorry for your loss Drac, dread the day when I have to make that decision.

    scruff
    Free Member

    Banff will go flat out for hours and loves it. Plenty of stream crossings for drinks and a bit of sausage sandwich. In summer when the ground is hard I keep it shorter so his paws dont blister, might get some booties next year.

    Drac
    Full Member

    Thanks peeps it's hard but my dog was the dog that I walked around to a mates on Sunday had a few beers and then walked home. It wasn't the one that was here yesterday.

    I'm happy to have a break from a dog for a bit even though I never been without one always had a dog. The Mrs who this was her first dog is already looking and encouraging the kids to ask me, it'll happen but reckon I'll wait until nearer the summer.

    actiondan
    Free Member


    Mrs Pipps as a puppy, now 2 is a great trail dog and can run all day long, though being a border terrorist she does like to go off for a rummage.

    algarvebairn
    Free Member

    Feeling your pain Drac. Had to do it myself a couple of years back. Crying like a baby all the way to vets and back.

    devs
    Free Member

    I feel your pain too drac. My 14 yo Duke was exactly the same 2 weeks ago. Had a stroke and couldn't move to drink eat or go to the toilet. I phoned the vet and gave my lads an hour with him and then it was off on the one way trip.
    This morning I have scooped up 3 turds although the new little varmint has managed to do another 1 outside and all of his No1s outside. He's a 3 month old rescue collie/lurcher/anybody's guess. A great trail dog in the making I think. I too have never really been without a dog so it's an easy decision, especially when you have to start throwing away leftovers and picking up any bits of dropped food! They are good recyclers and hoovers. He's asleep just now and the peace is welcome, you forget how much attention a puppy needs!
    Here's Axel. We picked him up last night.

    Drac
    Full Member

    He looks very nice DeVs, yeah I'm wondering just how long I'll last. Even more so as my Mother has just been on a training course this week with the RSPCA as rehousing inspector.

    algarvebairn
    Free Member

    I lasted about a month. The I got these:

    Max and Sam. no wait, Sam and Max.

    ART
    Full Member

    Axel is cute-tastic! He's got the look! 😀

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