Is Cycling With a Dog Cruel? Read these 5 rules before you ride with your dog

I’ve been getting a ton of emails from readers about asking is cycling with your dog cruel? I have a German Shepherd, and although I don’t particularly like to take him out for a ride, I don’t have much of a strong opinion on those that do.

From what I see everyone makes sure to go at a good pace for the dog, and typically they are riding with a fit breed of dog that is able to run. Perhaps they want a partner while riding to get their body [or bum] in shape for the summer. I went out and talked about it at my bike shop with some of the weekend ride leaders and here is what they came back to me with.

In this post we will discuss if cycling with a dog is a bad thing to do. We will also go over if there are any legalities surrounding the practice. Finally we give you 5 important rules to remember when you are cycling with your dog and one final tip to maintain your own safety as well. Happy cycling.

Invest in your knowledge:

These pieces of reading may be interesting to you:

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Is it illegal to ride a bike with a dog?

No, it is not illegal to ride a bike with a dog. There are no rules set that say that you are not able to ride without your dog. On the other hand, in many public places, your dog still needs to be leashed. There are very few set in stone laws about cycling that can cause you to be stopped outside of stop signs, stop lights and speeding while cycling.

If you are wondering about biking with a helmet and the rules surrounding that in Northern California, read on here.

You should consider riding at a slower speed for the safety of the dog, though it is more than okay to be able to ride with them as long as care is taken. There are also solutions to ride with your dog so that they are not running or walking directly next to the bicycle.

The special leashes available help the dog keep a safe distance away from the bicycle, while you are also able to make sure you are riding at a safe speed for your dog.

Is cycling with a dog cruel?

Is cycling with a dog cruel? In short, no if you are cycling with your dog the correct way. It also important to note that not all breeds are created equal. Cycling with your Doxin is not a good idea. Biking while wearing earphones is fine, though cycling with earphones with your dog is not fine. Cycling with a fully grown Siberian Husky is a different experience altogether. Just keep these 5 rules in mind before you ride.

Before you decide to cycle with your dog, consider investing in their (and your) safety. A bike leash is useful because the derailleur will not get caught in your leash, and it also will give if your dog decides to pull on you. There are two models.

The first model hides the extra leash inside of the pole that is attached to your bike.

The second model is a bungee contraption so that when your dog pulls on you, or you make a sharp turn there will be little pull between the two of you.

I personally prefer the first model when I take Jorge for a walk, though all models work great. 

What type of Exercise does your dog want?

Before you ride with your dog, think about what type of exercise that they want. Are they a Siberian Husky that is looking for running throughout the day? Are they a Border Collie that absolutely needs some type of physical stimulation during the day? Or perhaps they are a Pomeranian that would be happy with a brisk walk accompanied by some short runs throughout the week.

It is important to understand how your dog will respond to different types of stimuli to help you decide how, how often and how fast you will ride with your dog.

Cycling with a dog is not cruel if you follow these 5 precautions:

Start slow

The same way that a dog needs to be used to riding in a car, they also need to be used to riding next to a bicycle. The bicycle is a very strange machine that does not make much sense to them. The derailleur makes a lot of noise. It is in most cases larger than them, and you are also now on top of it. It is something that they have not been close to, nor understand how it operates.

Start by taking the bike down while around the house so that Fido gets used to it. Move the bike around Fido so that they are able to hear the different sounds and see how it maneuvers.

Be mindful of pace

When you are riding, it is important to take breaks and bring lots of water. You should not allow yourself to get dehydrated and tired. However, it is more important to not let your dog get dehydrated and tired: they have no control over the pacing like you would when you are beginning to be fatigued.

Pay attention to the ground you ride on

The ground that you ride on is very important. If you will be riding for a distance, trails, grass asphalt, gravel and dirt are where you should be riding. The good thing is that this is not severely limiting because most bicycle trails have grass off to the left of them. So it will be useful to train your dog to walk or run on the grass. The dogs don’t know that running on the concrete for numerous miles will ruin their joints, so the onus is on the owner to be able to make sure that their bodies remain healthy.

Avoid long distances

Unless you are the lucky owner of a border collie, or a Siberian husky, it is important to note that although these small machines are packed with muscle (your dog, not you or your bike), then you will need to avoid going long distances with your dog. You want to give your dog a good exercise, rather than exhausting them.

Use a bike leash

Tennis-shoe laces are made to get caught in bike derailleurs. Not dog leashes.

If you are riding with a larger dog, you may want to be mindful of your safety. A dog has a ton of energy, and the majority of their bodies are typically muscle. If they see a bright light, a squirrel, or a frisbee they are able to be distracted and chase after it. You losing your balance on the bicycle while moving may not be the most safe for you. There are options for bike leashes available to help in these cases.

Other Considerations

When biking with your dog, you should pay attention to these other items as well. Sometimes the heat may get to them. Or perhaps you want to get a dog carrier for them to ride in. These are all important when trying to figure out what type of exercise that you want for them, and how to make sure that they are happy while you are cycling with your dog.

How hot is it while riding with your dog?

If you are riding and it begins to get too hot, your dog will not be comfortable. If you start to notice that you are sweating a lot, take a moment to consider how much your dog may be affected by the heat.

Contrary to popular belief, a dog’s fur actually insulates and keeps their body cool in the heat (while also keeping the body warm in the cool). So although your dog will be a bit more impervious to higher heats, it is important to look for the signs that they are being affected by the weather – like heavy breathing, higher heart rate than normal and slower movement.

Consider a Dog Bike Carrier

If you want to ride with your dog but you aren’t exactly sure if they can keep up, then consider investing in a dog bike carrier. This is a good choice because then you can go as far as you want, and when your dog has had their exercise for the day, they can go in the carrier and you can continue cycling.

There are two types of dog carriers: The first is able to be attached to the frame of your bicycle. It’s a very simple assembly process and you are able to do it by following the instructions. The main reason why I love this feature is that it allows you to go as far as you want without wondering if you are pushing your dog too hard. There is also an internal leash inside to keep them safe.

The second for very small dogs are able to be installed on the front area where baskets would be installed above the tire. These are fantastic because you are able to allow your small dog to view the outdoors while you are riding comfortably.

Conclusion

Is cycling with a dog cruel? In this post you should have learned that if you cycle the correct way, then you will be able to keep both you and your dog safe. I love my dog and would do nothing to hurt him. If you want to keep yours living, happy and healthy, then keep on pedaling with them by your side, but pedal with much care.