Biking w/ Dog

Pharlap290

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#1
I tried riding my bike and having my husky on his leash and it worked pretty well. Although sometimes he'd try to pull me or move out in front of me and almost be touching the front tire.

I looked into the thing that ties your dog to the back tire but it's actually rather expensive. Are any of you capable of biking with your dog confidently? If so, how did you do it?
 

Lizmo

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#2
Well I do not bike with Lizzie and I do not think I would try, especially since they have to be tied to the bike and that tikes a chance of them some how geting under the bike :yikes: Not a good thing!!!!:(
 

dogstarsleddogs

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#3
He's a husky- Let him pull!!!
Easier then having him to the side, plus he gets to do what he loves to do best!
Plus its a blast being pulled by a dog. Nothing like taking tight turns at 20+ MPH. Quite the adrenaline rush.
Check out www.alpineoutfitters.net for great pulling equipment.
 

dogstarsleddogs

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#4
Kinda typed that reply a bit fast. Anyway, if youre interested in starting bikejoring, tell me, and I'll write up how I train the dogs that have never bikejored before. I might be a little long though. Dont really feel like typing it all now.
What you will need though is a X back harness, a ski-joring line, and a halfway decent bike, which I'm assuming you have. As long as the brakes are good, youre fine. Depending on how old he is, it might be a few months before he's actually pulling you, without your constant help.
 

Pharlap290

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#5
So I tried it again and I went for a much longer ride. And it was awesome! Being that it was only his second try he did great! He did see a cat at one point in time and I had to slam on the brakes. But he didn't pull me off or even make me lean over. I have a little difficulty trying to get him to go left or right, but once he saw me leaning one way he'd rush right over. He did pull now and then but I had a pokey collar on just so I knew I could control him had he decided he didn't want to play anymore. I would say we had no serious incidents. Toward the end I had the ability of turning because my bf would be out front and he would turn the corner first and Shadow would follow him. He absolutely loved it and looked so happy in the end.
 

SummerRiot

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#6
Riot and I go biking together often. He LOVES it.. he can run along beside me as fast as he wants.. I'll always be the one to tell him to cool it - hes a very high drive dog and will go until he drops.

Because of Riots RallyO training he knows his Left, Right, Easy(slow down) and With Me(heel). He responds to that during our bike rides, so whenever I need him to turn a certain way, I give him the command and he'll go that way, if hes going too fast for himself I tell him easy and he slows down a pace, if he starts getting a head of me and trying to pull I just say With Me and he drops back to my side again.

In the beginning it was kind of difficult to situate things, but we got it under control. He also knows Leave It and Off when we pass people or other animals.

There is also a thing you can get for your bike where it attaches onto it and keeps the dog so its at least a foot from your bike at all times.
 
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#7
That''s great you have been able to find a way to excercise him!!! Who knows maybe with the added escercise he''ll be able to finally live peacefully with your weim?
 
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#8
biking

Not much to add--although Wrigley loves it when we bike--but obviously he is a LOT smaller than any of your dogs. I put him on on a flexi leash and just put it on my handlebar and hold on to it....he loves being able to go faster than when on our walks!
 

moe

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#9
I take all my dogs out every other day with my bike I have a springer attached.
http://www.gearfordogs.com/pages/Springer.shtml
these are great, been using them for years and never had a problem, I tend to put the dogs in a H back harness(like a walking harness) and clip the springer to the D ring on the top of the harness, I then have a lead on the dog so that I have double control, its espcecially good if you have to bike round built up areas on the pavements etc, as if the dog is in front of you this can be tricky unless you are on trails.

Mo
 

Pharlap290

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#10
Kinda typed that reply a bit fast. Anyway, if youre interested in starting bikejoring, tell me, and I'll write up how I train the dogs that have never bikejored before. I might be a little long though. Dont really feel like typing it all now.
What you will need though is a X back harness, a ski-joring line, and a halfway decent bike, which I'm assuming you have. As long as the brakes are good, youre fine. Depending on how old he is, it might be a few months before he's actually pulling you, without your constant help.
I looked at the website you posted and it looks great! I would greatly appreciate it if you wrote up how you trained your dogs for me. I would start training Shadow right away.
 

Pharlap290

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#11
That''s great you have been able to find a way to excercise him!!! Who knows maybe with the added escercise he''ll be able to finally live peacefully with your weim?
That is my hidden goal hehe. I've already ordered his muzzle for the future. Now that I've got Shadow exercising more I have to try and do the same with Diver. Although Diver tends to zig-zag back and forth, I'm a little more worried about him. He's so funny to watch because he seems to move a little funny; not as graceful. He tends to pace like a horse. Likes to step on your toes and trip you, but if there's a tire instead of feet I wonder what he'll do.
 

Pharlap290

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#12
The springer for the bike is a tad bit pricey. Do those just hook up to the collars too? I'm slightly worried about allowing Shadow to be on a harness. In case he wants to kill something (which he usually gets that look in his eye lol). But maybe after I've got him trained and actually listening I can work him more trustingly.
 

moe

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#13
the springer you can hook to the collar but I find the harness better it keeps the dog running alongside you instead of ahead of you, also you can then attach a lead to the dogs collar for control, I have malamutes and when they want to take off they can beleive me lol, but training them like this I have more control,

Mo
 

dogstarsleddogs

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#14
OK, here it is...
First, you need to get a X back harness. That site I gave you makes completly custom harnesses. Way better then buying by just weight, or even "standard" measurements. There is instuctions on there on how to meassure. Since this is the busy season, it might take awhile to make. (Been waiting nearly 3 weeks for new harnesses and collars...I'm getting quite impatient...) You'll also need a skijor line. This has a bungee built in, so the jerks will be absorbed. A 8 foot one should be perfectly fine. I use a 12 foot one, but I like to have the extra clearance, mainly for gravel being kicked up by the dogs, and it gives extra space in case of a sudden stop at high speeds. (We're usually going between 15-20 MPH) If you are running on a hard surface (pavement, gravel, etc), booties are also a good iea. Fleece ones will work fine.
Now, once you have all of your equipment, its time to get him use to everything. Key here is to make it FUN! Also, dont make training sessions more then 15-20 mins. You first want him to get use to the harness. Put it on, talk to him in happy tones. (Want him to be calm, yet excited) Let him run around in it for some time, just to get the feel of it.
Once he is use to this, its time to start getting him use to pulling. As you probably know, this comes quite natural, so it souldnt be too hard. To start off, attach the skijor line to the harness loop, and attach a milk jug with a few rocks in it to the skijor line. You want it less then 5 pounds. The rocks are really, just for noise. Then, attach a leash to his collar, and say "Hike!" in a short, sharp, happy tone, and start running. He should follow you. Go a short distance, stop and say "Whoa", in more of a slow, low tone. He should always be pulling, and if he looks bored, tired, etc, stop. The skijor line should always be tight.
Praise lots!!!
Once he is comfortable doing this, and is starting get know Hike and Whoa, you can complicate things a bit more. You will need to find a place with turns. A city block will work great. You should also bump the weight up to about 10-15 pounds. A small log or a very small tire will be fine. (Put a eyebolt into it, so you have a place to attach the line). Say Hike and run as usually, but this time, stay a bit behind him. Make sure his head is infront of you. Say Whoa, and stop. Keep repeating, slowing working your way back, until his is always infront of you.
Praise lots!!!!
Once he is comfortable running infront of you, its time to introduce turns. Start as usuall, and when you come to turn, move up next to him, so you are even with about his collar, (but dont slow him down), and depending on the turn say either "Gee" (right) or "Haw" (left), guide him around the turn with the leash. Now, you can either mix it up, and teach both Gee and Haw, or have him learn one compleatly first, then the next. Its up to you, and whatever one you think will work best. (I teach both at the same time). Make sure not to take the same path more then 2 or so times in a row. Mix this up a bit.
Praise lots!!!!!
Now that he is learning his turns, move back behind him. See if he will take it without your guidance. If he is hesistats a bit, guide him around again, and keep working on it. It may take some time.
Bump up the weight again to 15-20 pounds. A larger log, or larger tire is fine. A dumbell would probably work too I suppose. Now it is time to work on "On By". Start off as usuall, and come to a turn, instead of letting go around it, guide him pass it, and say "On by". Take the next turn. Mix up your "On bys" and turns. Also, it will help if you have someone have another dog on a leash, and have then stand near where you plan on running. Come up to them, and as you get ready to pass, say On By, and guide him past. Learning to go past other animals is a great thing to know. Probably one of the most important.
Bump up the weight to 20-25 pounds, and keep working on everthing. Once this begins to become easy, bump it up to 25-30 pounds. Keep working on everyhing, and once that is easy, its time for the bike.
Praise lots!!!!!
Since his is use to being next to the bike, that is a good thing. Problem is, he is use to being next to the bike, and it may confuse him on what he is suppose to do. Another person might help. For the first few bike runs, it is best to find a easy, straight path.
Also, it might be tricky to hook the skijor line to the bike. Personally, I loop mine around the handlebar stem, right below them. Some people prefer to loop it around closer to the tire. Both have pros and cons. Hook it higher, it has less chance of tangleing, but the center of gravity is higher, and you have less control. Lower, easier to tangle, but easier to control. You'll find what works best for you. Anyway, hook up the line, and hook him up. Get on the bike, and tell him Hike. If he is unsure, either start peddling a bit, or get another person. Have the other person run when you say Hike. When he starts running, start peddleing. Enough that he isnt pulling your entire weight, but not so much that the line is loose. Have him pass the other person, and go for about 1/2 mile. This can be a bit nerve-wracking. It can be scary at times. Keep calm, and dont let him sense your scared. That will make it worse. Act like you know what your doing, and are in control. (Well, dont act in control, be in control.)
Praise lots!!!!
Slowly increase the distance, speed, and slowly decrease how much to pedel.
A couple things to keep in mind- watch the temp and humidity. I dont run my dogs over 60º, and about 60% humidity. After the sun goes down, or before is comes up are best. Make sure though, if you run in low light, you have reflective tape on both you, and the dog's harness, and you are wearing bright colors. You can run in warmer temps, but dont have him pull you all the time, keep it slow, and make sure he is hydrated. Give him water about 3 or so hours before you run. (I use chicken broth to make it tasty.) You want him to drink about 2 or so cups.
Most importantly, make it fun, make it exciting.
If you have anymore questions, please ask!!!
 

Pharlap290

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#15
I tried jogging Diver with the bike and he did much better than I thought he would. Unlike Shadow he stays more toward the side of the bike. Before this he was a little unsure about bikes; I believe he still is, but now he's not freaking out. When I first pulled the bike out he looked at me like I was nuts. We had a couple of occasions where he tried to sneak to people's garbage and I ran over the leash. I stopped fast enough that I didn't hang either of us. But we kept getting better and I'm very surprised that both dogs picked it up quickly. I'm so happy! Now I may actually be able to wear them down and have a good nights sleep.
 

Pharlap290

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#16
Thank you for your help DogStar, Moe, OC, and Summer. I got more help and information than I thought I would. Thank you very much!
 

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