AIBU to think it's cruel to cycle with your dog

[gandalf456]

I see a lot of people going out for a cycle with their dog alongside them.

I don't like to see it as they can't go at their own pace or stop if they need to and I also think it's a bit dangerous. The dog could fall and hurt itself or cause an accident.

What do you think?

Depends on the dog and rider but mostly fine when I've seen it

Depends on the dog, the rider and the situation.

I run with my dogs if I'm going for a leisurely run and go at a pace that's right for them. Cyclists can do the same. I take one of my dogs mountain biking and they run off lead to one side of me, so I'm probably ticking a range of uptight Mumsnet boxes here.

If the dog enjoys running then I don't see a problem.Most dog owners adore their dogs so I doubt they'd be doing it if they thought for one second that their dog didn't like it.

Depends on the dog. Used to take out one of mine out with the bike because she had endless energy. She LOVED it. I didn't take the others at the same time though as they weren't high energy/working breeds.

Yes, most dogs have difficulty turning the pedals.

I haven’t cycled with my dog yet but I know for a fact he will LOVE it because I can’t keep up with his running pace on foot!

Also, not sure if you’ve met many dogs, but if mine is anything to go by then he absolutely will stop if he needs to and refuse to move until he’s finished sniffing whatever it is he’s sniffing

Depends on the dog, and the heat of course. Some dogs need massive amounts of exercise.

It's not any different to walking at a normal pace with a small dog (dachshund, pug etc.) as those dogs have to run to keep pace with any adult.

YABU. It's not cruel. Any dog large enough to run alongside a bike is also large enough to stop the bike if they wanted to.

It's a pretty good idea if you have a big/energetic dog

I think it’s horrible. Mine are allowed to go at their own pace and be dogs on their walks, stopping to sniff, pee etc. Regardless of energy levels/size, dogs need mental stimulation. If you train it up to run alongside you/a bike, it’ll just get fitter and require ever more exercise.

It is cruel to runners, because in my experience, people cycling with their dogs don't seem to have good recall, and the dogs get all tangled up in my feet.

I hate when people cycle with dogs on mutli-use trails. It is very selfish behaviour.

Road bike on busy roads at 25mph? Yeh that’s asking for an accident and is faster than the dog’s pace. On a trail bike, in a park on a designated cycle path going at 8-10mph? Pretty good exercise for the dog and no more likely to cause an accident than walking.

Within that there is also variation for age and breed of the dog. So it might not be appropriate to cycle with a French bulldog but a labrador won’t have any issues with it. Ideally, everyone should carry water for their dog, regardless of the temperature, for their dog after their exercise. People walk their dogs for miles and miles without stopping for water.

I've never met a dog yet that can't make their feelings known. I know people with dogs that will refuse to leave the house in certain weather, or when they are fed up with the walk will just sit and refuse to budge.

I'm pretty sure if the dogs didn't want to, the owners would know.

When I was a teenager my dog used to get excited when I got the bike ready to go - and was not happy when she discovered she wasn't coming too. She wouldn't speak to me for at least half an hour when I got back home.

Pretty good exercise for the dog and no more likely to cause an accident than walking.*

*assuming they have control of their dog.

I'm more worried about the human. If the dog just takes off the the cyclist is screwed. That worries me more.

As for the dog. As long as it's not insane biking and it's a nice route and not their only walk. I think it is fine.

We used to take out Irish Wulfhound out on long bike-rides, its the only way to get enough exercise for some breeds. He was 17 years when he died, so I don’t think it did him any harm. Similar for our other, mid-sized dogs.
If a dog decides to stop unexpectedly during a bike rides, its usually the human getting hurt, not the dog.

Our dog loves us riding. He is a working terrier breed so loves the extra exercise and running.

If you don’t like to see them not go at their own pace then presumably you don’t like seeing dogs walked on short leads, when often it looks as though they are pulling to go faster or in a different direction, or in the case of old dogs, to walk slower. I guess this is why so many owners have their dogs off lead (often in places where they shouldn’t).

@PatriciaPerch

there is a sport you know were people cycle with dogs but I've forgotten what it's called

Canicross?

If done correctly it's a brilliant way to exercise a high energy dog. The problem is when people don't research the correct methods, harnesses, commands etc. And of course people who don't know anything about the subject making snap judgements.

Would much rather see a high energy dog like a husky doing things like this, weight pulling etc. than a fat, lethargic, under exercised and depressed dog.

DH takes our springer spaniel mountain biking occasionally, they both love it and DH gets tired before the dog does.

My 2 labradors have come out with me on horse rides for years. It's only now I don't take them as they are getting older and bit more arthritic (they are 9 and 10) and I know they would Follow me to the end of the world so I don't think it's fair to take them now. As long as it's not too hot and they are fit I can't see a problem with it