[Closed] Riding with Dogs

When I run with dogs I just take a poo bag or two (biodegradable ones. If they do it in the village I'll pick it up, if they do it out and about I'll just bury it so I'm not carrying it about) a lead and a small rubber folding bowl, they can either share my water or I use it to get some out of a sheep trough or something for them. Oh, and some treats.
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How much water depends on the dog, the collie from round the corner barely drinks anything, the malamute from next door drinks constantly as soon as the temperature gets above about minus five. How easy is it to find water when you are out? Loads of streams here, I drink out of the ones higher up so i never carry much for myself

My old dog was a nightmare, had to be in front, she'd stop at the bottom of drop offs for a sniff, constantly cut across the front or double back on herself.  Wiped me out a couple of times so we ended up not bothering.  She was a brilliant running dog though.  My current hound is the polar opposite.  He loves going out with the bike.  It's like work for him, he's really focused, just seems to get it.  Hangs back or keeps well clear on technical stuff, doesn't cross my wheel and is generally excellent (unless he spots a deer...)  I just need to watch my pace so I don't knacker him out going too fast on the forest roads.

Certainly looks happy.

I always take the dog for dog rides.

He gets stupidly excited though and pegs it in front turning round and barking his head off at me while he runs.

The barking does my head in.
Try as I might, I can't seem to train it out of him. He just gets too excited, especially when I'm on the Fattie.

There's a couple of fun downhill sections in my local park ride and he always knows things are about to kick off when we get there. Starts going mental 😂

Has a bad habit of wanting to be at my front wheel though.

Never taken him to a proper mtb place yet but he loves it!

Make sure it's under close control though as when I'm out riding seeing someone else's dog flat out sprinting towards me and almost going under my wheels is quite disconcerting!

Just don’t go anywhere busy. I like dogs but I hate them running around trail centres on busy days “it’s ok, he’s really well trained and won’t get in the way” they say as it goes under my wheels or runs up to my small children and bounces about all friendly (even a small dog is pretty big to a 15-20kg child that’s under 1m tall).

Other than that have fun and make sure they are under control.

Dog owner here - but as above IMO it is wrong to take a dog to a trail centre or a busy area.

Just remember an excited dog doesn't know when it's done enough exercise. 90mins seems quite a lot already. Don't want to cause early onset arthritis. It's easy to get carried away when they're having so much fun and you're having so much fun. But be really strict with yourself and your dog re the time you spend out. If you don't and, it does get early onset arthritis, you'll never forgive yourself, believe me.

Take the dog for a walk then go riding, trail dogs are a pain in the arse and dangerous.

Agree with the Pilot, it's not a competition to see who can go the furthest or stay the longest. Base time on the dog's limit, not yours and in the summer, make sure there's water available. Apologies if this is all obvious stuff.
My dog lived a long and happy life of trailhounding. Was such a great time. Wish I could get another dog!

I've two spaniels, took the eldest one out a few times when she was about 3 and I knew it would be quiet. After a few close calls she got it and was fine but I'm not convinced she really enjoyed herself as she never really got to stop and sniff or beat the undergrowth. As above, spaniels will run til they drop if you let them and a couple of times she was absolutely knackered by the time we finished. I could have ridden slower of course, but better to just take her for a normal walk.

I've never bothered since we got the other one as he's a bit too random and would probably end up under or in a wheel. It's also hard to know a good time to go when it will be quiet and I don't think it's fair on dog or rider if there are others on the trail.

I do take them running with me though (drive to the woods and run from there) which they love. I am pretty slow so they get to sniff/beat/etc, and they can run for much longer than me so they don't get too tired (despite running probably 3x what I do)

trail dogs are a pain in the arse and dangerous.

All of them yeah? Do you really think that was a worthwhile thing to type and hit the post button?
Like someone who has just posted about their dog will go "Oh yeah, I'm such a berk. Bloke who I've never met and has never seen my dog says it's a pain and dangerous, so I won't be doing that again".

I've got a Labrador and to be honest, I don't think there's much between his ears 😀 he's a lovely dog, plays with the kids and will walk for miles where he regularly runs off in one direction and then comes back, but he get's overly excited by bikes a just tries to launch himself at them so riding is a no go, he even does it in the garden with the kids riding round! Saying that when I've got the jet wash out giving the CX bikes a proper clean he runs at that, tries to drink the jet and is a general pain in the arse.

Also running is a no go as he can't maintain any sort of pace over a distance greater than about 200m, he's a fit lean dog but just gives you the "I can't be arsed with this" look and reverts to walking, but then again I suspect the Retriever bit of the Labrador means they're not meant to be running for miles, also any sign of water and he's like f@4k yeah lets go for a swim, be it a puddle or a sodding great big lake.

Keep it under close control and away from me - thanks

Taken our spaniel out many times, he's well trained now and sticks near the back wheel. I attach a small bell to his collar so I can hear him. However I am aware that he's not one for running all the time, as @tonyd mentioned he does like to explore and have a good sniff etc.

Mine enjoys it best when we're out sessioning short downhill sections rather than big loops. He gets the 2/3 mins of bonkers chasing, followed by the exploring as we pootle back up the climb. Never taken him to a trail centre and I very much doubt I will unless its a super quiet time (e.g a term time Monday / Tuesday morning)

It was talked about in chat a couple of weeks ago, but a K9 Sport Sack gives you some great options when you want a longer day out on the bike with the dog....ours is used a fair bit and the dog enjoys it.

To date, my experience of encountering trail dogs as well trained and not causing hassle to others is 4 to 1 against. On one of those I very nearly crashed at high speed due to said hounds unpredictable movement.

Theres usually someone on a bike in the background shouting uselessly, exerting inadequate control over their animal and beaming from ear to ear with an expression that says they have no conception of their impact on others, but aren't trail dogs brilliant.

No, at trail centres and busy areas, not really, so I'm with cyclelife.

I know the trail dog thing is a bit contentious but I wouldn't take him to Dalby or anything like that, That's asking for trouble.
But sometimes I get up a six in the morning and go to the woods where we've got some good trails. We didn't see another soul until we got back to to the car park today.
He also has fantastic recall compared to any of my previous dogs and he's got a predisposition to staying very close. in fact I doubt I would have attempted it with any of my previous dogs.

We started off down the forest road and I think that would be too fast for an extended period but as soon as we turn onto the trails its slow going, I don't think he's going to have any issue with that.

A quick glance no ones mentioned this specifically, but as a general rule you shouldn't be riding with a dog under 18 months old (not say you can't do anything but not full on long rides like this), it'll do more damage to your dog (a per thepilot). ThePilot other point is well worth noting, dogs will just keep running, they don't know there limits.

if they do it [defacate] out and about I’ll just bury it so I’m not carrying it about

That's not nice. More convenient for you, but not nice.

You're very right. I should have mentioned that actually. My wife is a physio and looked into that before she started jogging with him.
I still call Ted the new dog but we've actually had him two years now. The Covid years have just vanished!

Fairplay Jim, wasn't specifically at you, more that there are regularly "I got a new puppy and am going to train him to run with bike" posts

I've got a Cocker Spaniel. I'm pretty certain she could smash every local Strava segment, the way she covers ground is just amazing. Her recall is generally excellent, particular when I'm on the bike as she just seems to love running ahead of the bike.

Having said that I only take her out where I know its not busy and crucially where I'm unlikely to meet other bikes. I've had enough interactions with dogs and owners who don't seem to agree with this idea to not want to fall into the same category.

All of them yeah?

Yes. Absolute zero tolerance for dogs on the trail or their smug entitled owners.

It’s all fun and games until the poor dog is being carried to the vets by it’s owner with a broken leg and I’m washing the dirt out of cuts and scrapes because I didn’t see it coming out of nowhere and it got under my wheels.

I’m an animal lover and the one time it happened I was upset as well as the owner who put all the blame on me.

I actual felt it was 2 bones in Irma leg and a few ribs (I was going rather fast and am quite heavy)

I can’t have a dog, as I live in a flat and we both work shifts.
‘Trail dogs’ are awesome, out on a trail.
But not at an mtb trail centre. In exactly the same way that you wouldn’t want to ride your dh bike at a dog walking path.
Anyway,

My Labrador loves it - get a bike-joring handle bar attachment with a suitable harness and lead and you’ll never need an e-bike! I was already running with the dog, so biking just an extension to that. Something to bear in mind is that dogs don’t sweat, they lose heat through panting. I make sure my routes takes me past water where she can stop for a drink and a dunk - not difficult with a Labrador.

Keep it under close control and away from me – thanks

+1

I used to ride a fair bit with a chap who then started bringing his Labrador out on rides....

Used to being the key word.

Lovely dog, but would always pick up and run with a big stick, just adjacent to front wheel - an accident waiting to happen, so I stopped riding with him and the dog.

I love taking our dog for long countryside walks, and I love going for bike rides in the countryside, but would never combine the 2 as I think, for me, and the dog, it would be the worse combination of both.

Lolz. I see the haterz are in. 😂

Yep, nothing like a trail dog thread to flush out the miserable forumites.

Been riding with ours for around six years. Spent enough time with her to ensure she's not a problem. She runs along side the back wheel on the left unless I tell her to go, Usually on the techy and DH stuff.
Dogs and emtbs tend to bring out the moaners everytime on here, so tend to just skip them posts

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Running alongside your wheel?

She runs along side the back wheel on the left unless I tell her to go,

Gotta learn to read the whole sentence.

Yes, as I said, until I tell her to go.
In those pics she has obeyed the go command

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Wonderful 👌

Tracey, I knew you’d be along with Finn, a proper example of it being done right !

I am well known for my dislike of dogs but I have no issue with trail dogs so long as they are well trained.  I have met 3 in my time and non were any bother to anyone.

Brilliant @Tracey 😊

I am well known for my dislike of dogs

You know how the title has 'dogs' in it?
😉

I've got a 19 month old collie who has just been out a couple of times with me. No way would I take him to a trail centre. Has to be somewhere really remote and quiet. I am lucky enough to live somewhere really remote and quiet.....can't imagine how you'd achieve unselfish trail dogging in many parts of the country.

I guess if you have a collie the only way to get sufficient mileage into them if you don't need them to round up sheep is a bike!
Looks a very happy dog Tracey. Hope it has plenty more running in it.

That’s not nice. More convenient for you, but not nice.

I used to think that, but I've seen signs when I'm out and about with my dog along the lines of 'flick it into the undergrowth'. They def have them at Wyre Forest so I imagine other FC managed sites do?

https://www.lep.co.uk/news/dog-owners-urged-stick-and-flick-countryside-poo-655427

Either way, I don't ride with my dog because (a) she's a lazy bitch and (b) I haven't ridden a mountain bike for about 8 years

(And I carry lots of poo bags)

Love the pictures though Tracey.

There are too many dogs around as it is.

It seems that Tracey has trained her dog very well over time and (I assume) is probably quite sensible about where she takes it. Most ‘trail dogs’ I know are nowhere near as well behaved.

I’m not a trail dog hater, but I think there are a lot of people out there without common sense who most likely ruin it for the others.

are a lot of people out there without common sense who most likely ruin it for the others.

Indeed there are and most of them don't even have dogs 😉

Ours was great, lab/Shep cross, started at 2, finished proper trail rides at 9, she's 14 now!

"There are too many dogs around as it is."

Yep. That's why people should always try to rehome rather than going to a breeder.
That's what you meant isn't it, @i_scoff_cake?

I have a Lab Pointer and she is brilliant but daft as a brush. I would love to go out on my bike with her butlike ianc's old riding buddy she likes to run with a huge stick so I would spent most of the time worrying about if she was going to take me out.

too many dogs around

While people are prepared to spunk 2-3k on a dog, that situation is unlikely to change imo.

(And I carry lots of poo bags)

All my coat and trousers/shorts pockets have errant bags in them. It's how one recognises another dog owner.

@stevie750 about to take my lab pointer and the daft spaniel out for a ride. Dave will slot in behind the bike but the spaniel hates losing a race so will try to read the trail.

While people are prepared to spunk 2-3k on a dog, that situation is unlikely to change imo.

You can buy a decent bike for that!

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Didn't meet many folk. Both rescues.

^^^^^
Gorgeous!

There are too many dogs people around as it is.

It's all a matter of perspective, really

With a cloudless night and a frosty morning we rode local with Fin. Surprisingly the trails have dried out very quickly. Always good when we are out together.

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I used to ride in groups that had “trail dogs”. The one dog, collie, was great. Only time you knew she was there was when the group stopped for a water break or chat. The other was a ****ing nightmare. The group was constantly stopping to allow it's owner to find or retrieve it, excellent recall apparently, or it would stop right in front of you, blinder in to you from the undergrowth, tried to bite tyres of pedals.

He wouldn’t take the hint that the dog wasn’t welcome, “trail dogs are brilliant!” He was a friend of a friend, so when there was a massive argument, when his dog took one of the group out and he and the dog ended up badly hurt, the group broke ties and I’ve never been back.

That dog would be too old now or dead from causing an accident.

I don't know why anyone would take a dog on a group ride. If you're going to do it, and with the right dog and knowledgeable owner, I think it's fine. Some lovely pics above! But it's got to be a couple of dogs and a couple of riders at the most, hasn't it?

Friend of the friend above sounds like a typical, selfish, I-want-it-all person, ie I want a dog, I want to ride, I want to ride with mates, let's mix the three, uh oh, it's ended in disaster. F-wit.

Yeah I don't ride with others if I'm with the dogs. I know what they'll do and they watch me. Other riders would confuse that.