Tired of going on the same walks and throwing frisbees around every day? Whether you’re just looking for a new activity to do with your fur baby or looking for a way new ways to get fit, dog biking is a truly unique and fun activity to do with your dog that is becoming increasingly popular!
Dog biking videos online may make it look super easy, but biking with a dog demands caution and safety, especially for beginners. That’s why we’ve put together the 10 most important dog biking safety tips to make every ride safe and fun for you and your precious fur baby!
1. Make sure your dog is fit enough for biking
On the surface, jogging alongside a bike may seem like something that any dog could do, right? But when you consider pace, distance, and varying terrain, it becomes obvious that you should consider some things before you take your fur baby on a jog alongside your bike.
So, how do you know if your dog is ready for something like that? There are a couple of things that you should consider.
First, their weight. To be suitable for dog biking, your dog should be at least 30 lbs, and you should be considerably heavier than your dog to give you stability and control on the bike.
(But don’t worry: if your dog is under 25 lbs, you can still have fun with them on a bike – check out our rundown of last year’s best dog bike baskets and trailers.)
Second, besides weight, your dog should also be at least 1 year old.
Lastly, you will also need to make sure that your dog is in the right physical state for it. Always bring your dog to their vet to get their approval before starting any new exercise. You can also check out this checklist to check over some basic signs of health.
2. Consider your dog’s breed
In an ideal world, everyone would be biking with their dogs. But the reality is that some breeds are better suited for the activity than others.
If you own a bulldog or a pug, then biking will only cause them harm. Because of their (adorably) flat faces, they do not take in air as well as other breeds and thus cannot engage in this level of activity.
Dogs with long bodies or short legs may also find the activity particularly hard. You can learn more about how much exercise is appropriate for your dog here if biking is not right for them.
Here’s a list of 7 dog breeds that are great for taking along on bike rides and adventure!
3. Teach them the cues early
When it comes to important dog cues for dog biking, cues like slow down, turn right, turn left, and stop are all important to maintaining a safe and fun ride.
But don’t surprise your dogs with teaching these commands on your very first ride. Instead, start teaching them these cues on walks to ensure a smooth transition.
Our favorite dog biking command? “Watch”. Dogs are naturally curious and easily distracted, especially when you’re out. So, teaching them to focus on your face with just one command is incredibly useful.
4. Use a bicycle leash
If both you and your fur baby are total beginners to dog biking, you might benefit from using a bicycle leash instead of a regular leash. Bike leashes are made to keep your dog at a comfortable distance from your bike lest you accidentally tread on their little paws mid-ride. We also love how simple and easy to use they are!
5. Let your dog set the pace
The biggest question you might have when you start biking is “how fast or slow do I go?” The very simple answer is – let your dog decide. Yep, that’s it.
Dogs typically know how fast or slow they want to go when they aren’t trying to please you by pushing themselves. So if your dog is walking slowly, don’t pressure them into running – just go with it!
6. Buy the right gear
Dog biking is a lot like normal human biking when you really think about it. Like people, dogs will also need some essential gear whenever they go on a jog alongside your bike.
You will only really need a good sturdy bike leash, a dog first aid kit, and water bottles for both of you. But if you want to build your dog biking arsenal even further, you can also look into bike lights, leash lights, and cooling vests or rain gear for your dog.
7. Start slow
We know it can be tempting to just keep going the first time you hop onto a bike next to your pup. But you should always remember that you can bike for a lot longer than dogs can jog or run. This is especially true at the beginning when your dog is still adjusting to the activity.
Start with walking, then progress to jogging, and then to running if they can do it. If you are looking for an easy way to transition your dogs into doing more exercise, you can invest in a good dog treadmill to get them started.
You can also check out this video to learn how to introduce your pup to a bicycle for an even smoother transition:
8. Keep to easy trails first
Before you attempt to conquer the complicated paths and trails in your area, get used to the activity on easier terrain first. We recommend starting out with easy trails that are preferably grassy and not very crowded. This will help your dog build a fondness for the exercise.
9. Allow for breaks
Dogs aren’t made to do long sprints and that’s pretty much ingrained into their very DNA. So it is really important to make sure your dog is allowed to rest often while out biking with them. Allowing them to rest often ensures that they won’t overexert themselves.
10. Always warm-up and cool-down
Know how we were saying that dogs and humans are pretty similar? That applies to warm-ups and cool-downs, too. Like us, dogs prep before heavy exercise so take them on a nice walk before and take them on one again after your bike ride to gradually take them down from the adrenaline of running.
Once you get the go-signal from your vet and with these tips in mind, you’ll be ready to start the first of many great rides with your fur baby!