If your dog is not a fan of boots, there is another option for protecting their pads from the harsh winter elements. Learn about Musher’s Secret all natural paw pad wax. There was a great write-up about it recently in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette. See it here.
We just got another shipment in directly from Canada and have availability in the 60gram and 200gram size cans. Our winters in Texas are not harsh, but I still use Musher’s Secret on Parker’s paws to keep them conditioned and from getting cracked since we bike together often. Order here
Biking can be an extremely enjoyable activity for both dog and owner. We recommend biking for dogs that are at least 20 lbs. Your dog needs to be in good health and it is ideal to get a checkup with your dog’s vet before beginning any serious exercise. Dogs with slight builds will be able to bike for longer distances than heavier or more muscular breeds so keep this in mind when deciding how far to bike your pup. Breeds such as Bulldogs and Pugs that have flat faces are not designed for distance running because they can become overheated very quickly. Biking is not an activity for puppies. Your dog should be at least a year old and a minimum of 20 lbs to start biking. They should be closer to a year and a half before biking long distances.
What Equipment Do I need?
Below are my suggestions based on biking my dog for the past couple of years starting with the essentials:
If using the WalkyDog, a non-restrictive comfortable dog harness is recommended – preferably with padding. Using a dog harness with the Bike Tow Leash is a personal preference. If using a harness with the Bike Tow Leash, it is important to make sure that it doesn’t allow your dog to get too far forward on the bike. This will make it harder for your dog to determine when you are turning towards him/her.
Paw pad protection. It is important to monitor the wear on your dogs paw pads. They will toughen up over time, but products such as Musher’s Secret can help condition, protect, and toughen your dogs pads in all types of environments.
Cooling vests for summertime heat. I strap a large thermos with ice water to my bike and take Parker’s cooling vest along for the ride with us.
A dog bike trailer. A great way to go on extended rides so your dog can rest when tired. Or you can bring your small dog along for a bike ride in complete safety.
Getting Started
Some dogs take to this type of exercise right away and others need to be acclimated a little more slowly. The best way to start is to attach your dog to the bicycle and just walk alongside your bike on the opposite side of your dog. You want them to understand that this is no different than taking a normal walk. Once they have going straight down, practice turning left and right and then u-turn to either side. If your dog is nervous being close to the bike you may want to extend the cord some to give them a little more space. You could also add a leash extension or create your own custom length line if using the WalkyDog. Once your dog seems confident, hop on your bike and ride slowly at first practicing the same maneuvers. It is best to begin in an area with few distractions so that your dog will focus on you. It is best to bike at a trotting pace, just make sure you never go beyond your dog’s pace. If your dog gets nervous and freezes up DO NOT attempt to keep pulling them along. Immediately stop and start walking next to the bike again.
How Far To Ride
You cannot just start biking miles on your first time out. You need to gradually increase your dog’s stamina. According to canine expert Christine Zink, D.V.M., Ph.D, you should gradually increase the distance you travel by 5 to 10 percent every four to six exercise sessions. She recommends that once you reach a distance of 2 miles, you should limit biking to every other day providing a day of rest for rejuvenation of the muscles. Extremely fit dogs can run a maximum of 10 miles per day if the sessions are broken up (less if riding on pavement, which can be tough on the skeletal system). Personally I even feel that 10 miles is too far. In the summer months this is much too far in one setting. Parker and I usually ride 2 to 3 miles everyday or every other day. Obviously, be sure to stop to rest occasionally and always monitor your dog for signs that nature is calling. Also monitor your dog’s pads for cuts or scrapes. Consider using a good paw pad wax or even protective booties if riding on rough terrain often.
Dealing With Summer Heat
During the summertime when temperatures spike, it is very important to only bike your dog during cooler parts of the day and for shorter distances. If biking on pavement be sure to check the temperature of the pavement before biking. Make sure to bring water along for the ride and take frequent breaks. Consider bringing along a dog bike trailer to give your dog a rest on the way home. You may even consider looking into a dog cooling vest. Keep an eye out for signs of heat exhaustion such as if your dog’s tongue becomes very wide and curls up at the end.
Want more help deciding?
We have answers to all your questions about biking with your dog and if it is the right activity for you and your pup/s. Browse through our dog bike leash buyer’s guide and if you can’t find an answer to your question, email us and we will promptly get you the detailed answer you are looking for.
Just recently we started carrying the new 2010 HoundAbout dog bicycle trailers. I came across these bike trailers that are specifically built for dogs after wanting a way to extend my bike rides with Parker. I tried out several different models looking for just the combination of price, features, and durability. Well I found it in this new dog bike trailer. This is now my favorite way to take Parker biking. Now if he gets tired along the ride, he can hop in the trailer and relax in style and comfort. Since it has been hotter lately, I have been riding during cooler parts of the day and also bringing along a dog cooling vest that I keep iced down in a large thermos. Sometimes my smaller dog (that is not big on biking – and really not big enough to enjoy it anyway) comes along with us for the ride too. This is a way, I can take both my dogs riding with me and don’t have to feel guilty leaving one at home. Check out the video below to see how much they enjoy it. We are carrying these trailers at an all-time low introductory price – AND shipping is FREE. Check them out here.
The other day one of our customers, Stephanie Ash, contacted me to tell me that she had just finished making a video of the WalkyDog bike leash in action. She said it was a killer video, but I had no idea it would be this cool. Stephanie is an extremely talented photographer in Winnipeg Canada. She also took some great pictures of the WalkyDog mixed in with some of her dog Babe’s favorite toys; check the video and pics out below. Thanks Stephanie! Note that we ideally suggest using a comfortable dog harness with the WalkyDog (Stephanie let me know she is planning to get one for Babe soon).
The skies were ominous… The roads were wet… What better time to try biking a nearly 200 pound Russian Great Dane named DIESEL!
I’m always trying to explain to people how much stability our dog bike leashes give the rider. Usually the first thing people say when I tell them the business I am in is: “You sell what?! That would never work for my dog. He/She would pull me over instantly”. The thing about the 2 dog bike leash models we sell is that they are designed with the laws of physics in mind to give the rider the most control possible while also making the ride safe for your dog. It is hard to understand this until you actually get on the bike and try it. That is why I try my best to convey this through the many videos on my website. My dog Parker is an extremely strong 75 lb Lab mix and I try to push the limits constantly with him – testing every scenario I can think of to see how well the WalkyDog and Bike Tow Leash perform.
75 lbs is one thing, but what about the largest breed on the planet – the Great Dane…. (Hit Continue Reading Below)
The 1-Running-Dog Bike Tow Leash is here! What an awesome dog bike leash. Smooth riding and stable as can be. We are happy to add the Bike Tow leash to our line of active dog gear. Check out the video overview below.
Before offering this bike leash at our store I put it through the same rigorous tests that I do for all our products. On one particular test run I decided we had to offer our customers this leash. Here’s what happened….
Wet conditions, uneven terrain, crazy powerful dog on the scent of a deer …
So I was riding along and saw a good size buck about 50 yards out. Parker had caught his scent but hadn’t seen him yet. For some reason the deer wasn’t moving at all and I figured now would be the best chance I had to really test this thing. I kept getting closer to him until I was about 10 yards from him. Then I yelled to Parker – “Deer!” and he looked up and saw him. He bolted for him as if he had the strength of 2 dogs, but to my surprise I kept perfect control. I never even had to stop to put my feet down.
My cousin came into town last weekend and we were playing around with the camera shooting different perspectives of the WalkyDog bike leash in action. So I threw together yet another video. This one even has a super slow motion intro to add to the cheesiness Enjoy…
In this video I tried to demonstrate the amount of control you have when biking your dog with the Walky Dog. Hope that comes through in the video. One of these days I will have to purchase the rights to some new background music although now I am kind of getting used to this same song. It is almost like it has become the WalkyDog theme song.
I also got a great email last night from another happy customer that I thought I would share (see below). These emails keep me going. Thank you to everyone out there helping to spread the word of dog biking and the WalkyDog bike leash. We sincerely appreciate it. Keep the emails and pictures coming!
A very nice email we got…
“Just wanted to take a moment to thank you for our Walky Dog leash and harness. It came today and my husband and I were excited to see Marley’s reaction. She LOVES it!!!! We briefly tried holding her on a loose lead while biking and realized how dangerous that could be, so this is just what we’ve been looking for.
Installation was so easy! In minutes we were out turning heads and getting lots of smiles from our neighbors. I was taking it slow at first but Marley caught on very quickly and when I looked over at her, she wasn’t lagging but pulling me to go faster. I’m sure Marley wants to say thanks too!
Wonderful products and fast delivery….you guys are great!”
It’s hot out there! At least down here in Austin. It has been over 100 for what seems like weeks now. I just wanted to go over a few things to consider when biking your dog using the WalkyDog bike leash that will ensure both you and you dog have a safe ride. Most of these are common sense. So here we go….
1) Make sure to bike your dog during cooler parts of the day – especially when riding on pavement. The hot pavement can damage your dog’s paws. If you do have to ride on pavement – during cooler parts of the day – it might be worthwhile to look into purchasing some dog boots or paw pad protecting wax like Musher’s Secret. I have been using Musher’s for the past week and it works great to condition and toughen Parker’s pads since he rides on pavement for a portion of our bike rides. I plan to sell Musher’s on our site The Dog Outdoors soon. It is all organic too and can actually be ingested with no harm…..Keep Reading
Took Parker out to do some offroading with the WalkyDog bike leash. I got a VholdR action cam a while back and decided to try mounting it directly to the WalkyDog leash to get shots from a different perspective. The video is not HD – I got the camera before they released their HD version. It is quite shaky because of all the bumps, but it still demonstrates how much fun you can have with the WalkyDog. When we got to really getting offroad the camera became too shaky so I didn’t include all the clips. We had a ton of fun though and the VholdR is really cool for getting hands-free video. I wish I would have waited a few months more for the HD version though. Oh well. Enjoy the video – CHEESY music as always for your listening enjoyment I really need to get some new tracks at some point…
I recently filmed a new video showing how easy it is to install the WalkyDog bike leash on your bike. One of the best things about the WalkyDog is how easy it is to use. I hope those of you that are interested enjoy the video and please feel free to comment and ask any questions you may have. If you haven’t been able to tell, I am very passionate about this product. The WalkyDog bike leash has worked wonders for my dog Parker and I hope that many others can experience what I have. Ok so enough on that…. here is the video
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I really need to get some new tracks at some point…
