Mary Allen
Cycling is a way to satisfy your dog’s immense urge to move while staying fit. But you shouldn’t hit the road right away, because, like everything else, you need to learn how to ride a bike. We tell you what you should pay attention to. Cycling requires a lot of concentration, especially from a bipedal friend. Keep an eye on your dog, watch out for traffic, and exercise yourself. Therefore, planning should start with the equipment. When cycling, a regular collar must be replaced with a chest strap as it works gently on the cervical spine and prevents pain. If you want your dog to pull you, you can use a harness.
Start Exercising Slowly but Intensely
To safely train the dog to bike, a second person first leads the dog next to the bike. When the dog is one year old, the first real tour can begin. Whenever possible, a four-legged friend should walk on the right side of the bike. It is also helpful to teach the dog some commands, such as right and left. This can then be used to indicate the direction of travel at the next intersection to avoid collisions.
Safe Cycling Tools
In the beginning, you should choose short routes with little car traffic. Even dogs can develop muscle and joint pain when they are overworked. In order to be able to safely operate the fur noses on a bicycle and to have both hands free, a so-called bicycle jumper is recommended. If you hold a regular leash in your hand or even attach it to the handlebars, the risk of falling if the dog suddenly runs away is very high. In the case of a lintel, this risk is largely minimized. A steel rod with a spring at the end is attached to the bike frame. The leash engages with a spring that compensates for the dog’s jerky movements – it is best to choose a so-called shock absorber leash, which provides additional shock absorption.
Cycling Bridge Increases Safety
The curved bar keeps the dog off the bike. The center of gravity of the metal bar is relatively low and thus can prevent a fall, which the dog can provoke by pulling. In the event of a fall, a small plastic piece ensures that the dog is free and does not fall under the bike. There is a plastic ring between the steel rod and the leash, which then breaks at predetermined breakpoints and thus frees the dog. An additional (slightly longer) leash keeps the dog from escaping.
Why Short Breaks are Important
The dog must be healthy and strong enough. But even sick, old, and small dogs do not have to do without cycling at all. They can be transported in baskets or trailers. Most importantly, don’t forget your own helmet. Also, at dusk, carry bags of water and poop, and protective vests for people and animals. The breaks are very important. Since the dog learns that they are being watched regularly, it also runs more focused on the bike. In order not to lose sight of the traversed routes, it is advisable to keep a travel diary, which records the kilometers traveled. After each ride, you should give your dog some rest and carefully examine the paw pads to check them.