Q for any dog walkers/who have dogs walked/with high energy dogs/anyone with a dog

stargirl88

stargirl88

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I currently have a little dog walking service, which this year I was either going to go full speed ahead with and sack in the other job, or just find a full-time position somewhere.

I've decided on the former, as my current clients are really brilliant (even if their dogs are arse-pains sometimes :o ) and I've sprung up a new thought to possibly add later in the year - cycling with the dogs?

I'm just brain storming ATM, but it would be offered only to dogs I'd been walking for a while (level of control known :p), obviously added gradually (scrapped if it didn't suit the dog!), strictly for fitter dogs, probably 1-2-1 unless there's two dogs in a household, possibly NOT in summer (so I guess I'm thinking ahead to winter when no one can be arsed to leave the house and their dogs are climbing up walls).

I don't know, is this a daft idea? I know it needs a lot more thought. I also need to stop eating cake if I were to do it.

All feedback most welcome! Or other ideas ;):D
 
I cycle with my two, in a large park. They love it. Mine are off lead and just run alongside. I came across a woman with her dog attached to her bike on a purpose made springy arm. She told me there are several designs, but I haven't investigated.
Good luck!
 
You have to train the dog to run to heel alongside the bike, most don't automatically 'get it' - my dog runs (well, extended trots!!) to heel beautifully, I have to check if he is still there sometimes :o but I spent a lot of time on the ground when he was younger, teaching him to heel on the ground, then later straddling the bike, with kibble in one hand and a clicker in the other and I still work on his heel on the ground every day.

As you say, need to build up biking gradually. It can be quite hard on the joints and that could present problems for large weightbearing breeds. It could also really harm a dog that had an underlying/unknown hip or elbow or other joint problem, I didn't bike my dog for any distance until after I had seen his x-rays and knew that everything was where it was supposed to be.

I know I sound like a bit of a precious princess but I wouldn't want to be storing up problems for him in later life and I really wouldn't want to be storing up problems for other people's dogs.

Also some experiences from biking - for other people's aggressive dogs, you can be a bit of a target (fast moving projectile with fast moving dog attached) and other people's small yappy things can tend to try and want to run under your wheels *sigh*

However it is great for fittening and control (I keep mine on a lead, he keeps pace with me, turns when I turn, speeds when I speed, slows when I slow, he HAS to come along with me so it is good for instilling control) and takes the mind off other distractions as a result.
 
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It's a nice idea in principle but in practice I cant see it making much sense. I used to make my living as a dog walker and having to take many dogs on individual walks would have seriously eaten into my profit margin.

Most owners wont be happy for you to cycle their dogs on the roads either, so you'd have to make sure you have suitable off-road tracks nearby. If you have to travel the dogs any distance it will have a massive impact on your profitability. Fuel was far and away the biggest cost for me as a walker.

What would the plan be regarding training the dogs? Do it on the paid walks? The dog might not end up getting much exercise on those days, you'll have to start and stop a lot at first. I cant see anyone being willing to pay for specific bike "training sessions".

Consider also that if you offer biking, people are likely to ask for shorter bike sessions, whereas what you WANT them to do in winter when their dogs are climbing the walls is employ you to walk their dogs more often/for longer.

I havent really approached this from a doggy point of view, more from a business perspective, but if you need to make your living this way it's important to get into that mindset :) I also realise I have been a bit down about the whole idea.. I didn't mean to be, these are just the things I would be considering if it was my business.

Sorry.. ANOTHER point :D Check your insurance will cover biking, I bet most wont.
 
You'd need to carefully consider the area you're planning to do it in - I know it sounds daft but in a lot of places you would require a permit if the dog is attached to the bike (all Forestry Commission land, for instance, and the National Trust will not allow it at all) and a permit requires third party insurance which will not be provided by standard pet insurance.

Dog mushing-y people will not thank anyone biking in the wrong place without the above as it could potentially cost them their permits, there have been some high profile and high cost claims where people have caused or been involved in accidents with members of the public, you get people biking in residential areas or on footpaths and it's an accident waiting to happen.

http://www.facebook.com/groups/262880350497728/ is a great bikejoring group who would be able to advise you further if you pursue it. :)
 
I sold my Walkydog, it's a very good way of being dragged sideways into a tree. :p

If you were wanting the dog to run alongside I'd do as CC described and have a solid heel in place with just a plain or slip lead in the hand, not necessarily fixed to the bike.

Mine are taught to run ahead and pull so I use something like this to keep the line out of the wheel. And some industrial strength brake pads. :o
 
The chucking in your job and doing dogs full time sounds great.

The riding on a bike with dogs alongside sounds a bit treacherous. If the dog is suddenly spooked even a slow speed fall could be disasterous. I would be sticking to two feet firmly on the ground.
 
Oh brill I forgot I'd written this, thanks!

Although I'm in London, where I am there are many woodland trails/open fields with tracks ( which are free to cycle dogs BC - although I didn't think of that. People look at me in a WTF way when they see me and the dog whiz by!) in a 1-minute drive - so like you were saying about joint impact CC on road etc would be minimum.

I was actually thinking more of sticking a bike rack on the roof, with 2 dogs max (or 3 including mine), and ideally allowing them to free run. Again, they would be the ones that I allow and control off-lead anyway.

Pendlehog - I really DO NOT have a business brain, and didn't think about it from that viewpoint! So thanks for that.

I need to think it through a bit more, think I might see if any current clients want to be a guinea pig!

Thanks for the link too BC - I've been wondering where the UK sites were, I joined the Urban mushing one a while ago, have you been on that? It's a bit Americany, but the woman has done live webinars (I think she's actually developed an entire course) and replies to all my pointless questions happily!
 
I used to fix the training lead around my shoulder but I just hold the lead in my left hand. If he tanked, I would let go (thankfully he never has done) or keep hold of him and just jump off the bike.

If my dog decided to tank in one of the springer things he'd take the bike out from under me, I'm self employed and an only child :p and I don't want to be out of work or injured for the sake of the dog.
 
YEah I just looked at the walky-dog thing. I could do with one anyway actually but where it says "does not require training"....................................!
 
Also with the Walkydog, no matter how much I tightened the seat post, the action of the dog would always gradually swivel the seat round. Probably fine for a heeling dog but not a hard pulling one.

Yes the Urban Mushing one is very US-orientated, the one I posted is almost exclusively UK and there's some top people on there including some who compete in the (much bigger) European scene, they have some hardcore dogs, and not of the breeds you would probably expect...! Great videos to inspire you and some good advice there. :)

I just about bikejor happily with two dogs but now I have it I vastly prefer the rig, three wheels is much safer than two, I tend to only take out one at a time on the bike now (well, just the one, my special sprinting snoot :p).

Another thing to consider is harnesses - are the owners going to stump up the cost of those?
 
I often take my setter out on the bike (he stays on lead,recall not reliable enough to be trusted off it on roads).I find it a brilliant way of exercising a high energy dog.

I go on the quiet lanes and cycle tracks mostly as I don't think he or I would enjoy busy roads.

Luckily he seemed to get the jist quite quickly,but does get distracted from time to time so have to be aware and ready to react.I would say only do it with dogs you are confident will listen to you and have a certain amount of road sense.

Have seen few people out on their bikes with their dogs lately,so possibly becoming a popular trend (not surprised with all the wet weather,off lead field walks are no fun at the mo:(),why not try it in your business and cash in!!
 
blackcob said:
I just about bikejor happily with two dogs but now I have it I vastly prefer the rig, three wheels is much safer than two,
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I was put on a rig once, with 4 dogs .... but I crashed into a tree after a corner I didn't anticipate (and my god-awful balance and eyesight back then) :eek: and had to cling onto it for dear life so the dogs didn't sod off after the trainer on his quad :o this was many years ago but I feel safer on a bike, I might brave it again one day!
 
OH does it with one of his (but alot of boarders and our own), a husky is what he takes out on the bike on walk days, and it lives in the opposite direction to the rest he walks and needs to be kept on lead so biking him is a time saver for him and obs expends more energy for the dog.
OH has a canny ability of managing any dog on a bike, he has superior bike balance:D and is very strong (no attatchments) just a slip lead held out to the side and one handed riding:eek:.
For not so naturals like me (it would be no good) I would and do just deck it:D:D:D
 
Sorry to be a damp squib here, but I really, really dislike seeing dogs exercised with bikes. To me, if you're taking a dog for a walk, it is for the dogs benefit. If the poor thing is strapped to a bike, it can't choose the pace he travels at, can't stop to sniff the messages left from other canines and surely, it must hurt his pads having to run on hot tarmac in the summer??? When does he get the chance to relieve himself? The most important concern though, is the actual damage it does to the dog. My friend used to take her Goldie with her when riding, much of which was spent at a gallop. Result, a 2 year old Goldie with severe hip displacia. Simply not worth it, and I would be amazed if the insurance company covered you...can you really say the dog prefers it to a normal walk? Waits to be shot down in flames...
 
Superhot said:
Sorry to be a damp squib here, but I really, really dislike seeing dogs exercised with bikes. To me, if you're taking a dog for a walk, it is for the dogs benefit. If the poor thing is strapped to a bike, it can't choose the pace he travels at, can't stop to sniff the messages left from other canines and surely, it must hurt his pads having to run on hot tarmac in the summer??? When does he get the chance to relieve himself? The most important concern though, is the actual damage it does to the dog. My friend used to take her Goldie with her when riding, much of which was spent at a gallop. Result, a 2 year old Goldie with severe hip displacia. Simply not worth it, and I would be amazed if the insurance company covered you...can you really say the dog prefers it to a normal walk? Waits to be shot down in flames...
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Ever had a really high energy dog? or one that had to be onlead 100% of the time? A pootle round the park simply is not sufficient

You would not bike your dog daily as its sole form of exercise/walks- neither would you bike it on a hot day.

Goldie would have had bad hips anyway me thinks
 
Superhot said:
Sorry to be a damp squib here, but I really, really dislike seeing dogs exercised with bikes. To me, if you're taking a dog for a walk, it is for the dogs benefit. If the poor thing is strapped to a bike, it can't choose the pace he travels at, can't stop to sniff the messages left from other canines and surely, it must hurt his pads having to run on hot tarmac in the summer??? When does he get the chance to relieve himself? The most important concern though, is the actual damage it does to the dog. My friend used to take her Goldie with her when riding, much of which was spent at a gallop. Result, a 2 year old Goldie with severe hip displacia. Simply not worth it, and I would be amazed if the insurance company covered you...can you really say the dog prefers it to a normal walk? Waits to be shot down in flames...
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Oh please come and walk my dog!!! It must be lovely having a 'normal' dog but for my lad (who can do a fast hack for 4 hours and still be bouncing when he got back) anything that will get the most energy out of him is most welcome!
 
Superhot said:
can you really say the dog prefers it to a normal walk? Waits to be shot down in flames...
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Not so much shooting down in flames but a video to prove you wrong - some dogs LIVE for bikejor. :p And yes, normal pet insurance will not cover it but there is specialist insurance available. It's not for every dog, though more breeds participate than you might think. One of mine is brilliant at it, one not so fussed and prefers being part of a team on a rig, if at all (she thinks she is an agility dog and above this pulling nonsense these days :o).

[youtube]iNs-O-t20-g[/youtube]

My birthday list this year includes a helmet cam so I record my special sprinting snoot doing what he does best. :)
 
Dex would LOVEEEEEEEEEEEEEE this - I however am way to much of a scaredy cat to trust him not to dump me into the nearest tree!
 
Superhot - I see where youre coming from but for high-energy dog on leads (as someone has stated) it helps. I would love to leash them all up to me and go for a long run but I wouldn't get very far. Unless I get some rollerblades!

Also, I wouldnt cycle in the summer, its an idea for next winter. if you have seen people biking their dogs in hot weather, then they're obviously not very bright. Many dogs thrive off it. There are of course some I walk who would have a total breakdown if I even showed them a bike!!


..................... I think I might add stabilisers to my bike - got four wheels then :D
 
Love that vid BC - the best dogs I've seen run in the UK were alaskan husky x pointers. Suggested it to a few energetic pointer owners at the training club and they look a bit baffled though!
 
Superhot said:
Sorry to be a damp squib here, but I really, really dislike seeing dogs exercised with bikes. To me, if you're taking a dog for a walk, it is for the dogs benefit. If the poor thing is strapped to a bike, it can't choose the pace he travels at, can't stop to sniff the messages left from other canines and surely, it must hurt his pads having to run on hot tarmac in the summer??? When does he get the chance to relieve himself? The most important concern though, is the actual damage it does to the dog. My friend used to take her Goldie with her when riding, much of which was spent at a gallop. Result, a 2 year old Goldie with severe hip displacia. Simply not worth it, and I would be amazed if the insurance company covered you...can you really say the dog prefers it to a normal walk? Waits to be shot down in flames...
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I choose the pace my dog travels at. He is a German Shepherd. They were bred to act as an 'invisible fence' keeping sheep in and intruders out. They are designed to travel in an economical, ground eating trot, all day.
My dog has A1 hips and elbows and he was not cycled for any distance until I saw his x-rays.
I cycle on the tarmac, he goes on the verge.
He is allowed to sniff and pee at the start and at the end of the ride. Like I say, good for control :)
His pads are like iron.
Later this year I hope we can complete an AD, which is an endurance test where the dog must trot beside the bike for 20k with three rest stops/judge's inspection and a short obedience routine at the end. I have spectated/officiated at two of these here and there are hundreds held all over the world and the dogs do just fine.
Hope that allays some of your fears.

Anyone who gallops a young, large breed dog off a bike at a young age (IE for HD to develop at the age of two in a breed prone to hip dysplasia) is a pillock IMO.
 
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Canix UK rules are fairly typical, to give an example:

Dogs must be at least one year old on the day of the race. Dogs under one year old are not able to compete. The following distance restrictions apply:

Age 1 to 2: up to 7km.
Age 2 and over: any distance (providing training for the distance in the lead-up to the race has been done).

NB For ParaCaniX, bikejor and scooter the minimum age for race entry is 18 months.
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My dog has always been taken for fast hacks, often when we were point to point training etc so some hacks were done mostly in trot, she's been biked too. Even when we were trying to find a specific feral pony on the new forest that needed bringing, we would drive through the forest enclosures and she would follow the car during the search.

That said having such a lifestyle will always pay its price eventually.
 
Like Blackcob, I regularly bikejor and train my two GSPs in harness with a rig, and in my experience, it's an excellent way of exercising high energy dogs. They love it! Not all dogs are the same of course, plus it's a fairly high risk sport so I am not sure it would be ideal to be doing with someone else's dogs.
 
stargirl88 said:
Love that vid BC - the best dogs I've seen run in the UK were alaskan husky x pointers. Suggested it to a few energetic pointer owners at the training club and they look a bit baffled though!
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...I agree - these dogs, called Eurohounds, are extremely fast and amazing to watch.
 
I cycle with all of mine started off with a holiday to holland where they all seem to be at it :D I have a basket on the front for my spaniel because she just can't keep up and has a heart condition so its not advisable and for my others who are all large breed its a great way for them to get some exercise when I can't let them off.

I use a product called a Springer ( http://www.springeramerica.com/ ) I got mine from Holland but you can get them here or through the net. They are strong and even with my male whose a bit of a thug at times he has never once pulled me in any direction beyond the one that I want to go in. I have one on each side (you can comfortably fit two springer fittings to a girlie bike but no idea a mans I would have thought the same though) the fittings stays on but the larger metal section comes off so you can still use your bike as normal just unclip it. I run my bitches along side each other using a pairs lead so one dog clipped to the other and the inside dog clipped to the springer.

I found on a normal collar on an inexperienced dog can do the dog damage so I use mine with either a dog harness or to start off with a soft padded halti set so it can't close. They wear florescent coats (they type used for hunting as they allow movement) and boots. The reason for the boots is that the dogs can serious damage their pads very quickly and before you know it they are hobbling home. One of my dogs is happier running just with her normal lead and collar attached to the back of the bike on the rack but she is very experienced and would happily follow where ever I went anyway.

Other things to consider is the health and fitness of the dog in the first place, underlying heart conditions you could kill the dog, unfit do too much same thing. Cruciate ligament damage which can be a costly vets bill and permanent damage. Nail bed infections/bruising. They are all things to bare in mind if you are offering this as a service and need to do something for insurance purposes.

I do NOT run mine on the road. Under any circumstances its just not safe with the level of traffic. Parks, private roads, beaches, off road its fine.
 
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