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?

I take mine out for a bike rides.

We just go for leisurely cycles though, I’m not blasting along at a million miles an hour and I keep a close eye on her. If she’s flagging we slowdown/stop for a rest.

She goes with DD on hacks with her pony too

She stays with the bike/pony, doesn’t run off and we tend to go places that aren’t busy

• obviously depending on the weather -

YANBU. There's also the possibility of a lead getting caught, and yes the dog can't stop if it's had enough. It's difficult to control a bike and a dog.

Canicross is running with your dog for sport, cycling with your dog for sport is bikejoring. I believe you get special harnesses and leads (for both sports) be careful of cycling on public roads with your dog if it's on lead, the police could see it as being not in control.

My childhood dog (staff) would run for miles, then run some more. So I would go out on my bike and put the lead around my wrist. When he wanted to slow down/have a nosey he would and I could easily see or feel the lead tugging. Depends how you cycle I suppose and how fast your dog is. Most of the time our dog was in front and I would ride slower than usual. He loved it and whenever I got my bike out he would start chasing his tail and sprinting through the hallway.

The dogs I have now prefer a leisurely stroll and to sniff everything so it wouldn't work for them. I trust that most people know their dogs and treat them well.

@Shizzlestix

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.

But it's not mutually exclusive, just because I cycle with dog doesn't mean he doesn't get to go on sniff walks. I have a proper attachment that fits to the bike with springs so that a. He can't pull me off if he gets spooked etc and b. It attaches to his harness and doesn't injure him by being pulled by the bike. He goes crazy when the bike comes out.

If its attached to a lead, extreme weather or an inactive/small bred or old its cruel.

My dogs, collie and a lab absolutely love it. I'm not a speed racer. They sniff, smell things, stop. I stop too for them. Always bring them water. I actually take the bike to keep up with them not the other way round. They have a lot of energy to burn.

YABU - it's absolutely fine as long as you don't do it everyday. I walk three dogs whose owners run and cycle with them occasionally - they also get plenty of slow, sniffy walks and a chance to run about and play.

There are plenty of breeds that are bred to run for miles. Much more practical for the owners to cycle alongside them.

I really hate seeing this. Time and time again I've been walking my dog and someone passes on a bicycle in the road with dog running ATTACHED TO THEM BY LEAD - NOT FREE RUNNING, who looks at my dog and would obviously love to stop and greet and then disappears fast into the distance, looking longingly behind at us. I see less of it lately, thank goodness. One poor dog that we used to see every day like this we later met in the forest once and he was having such a happy time - no bicycle, running off lead (after a deer) - I hope the owners noticed his happy mood.

My dogs are fine with both running and cycling.

In fact they love it but they must have missed the memo that’s it’s cruel...as they are huskies and love to run.

Completely depends on the dog and the owner not some random person judging us.

My friend is a cyclist and has 2 dogs, a cockerpoo and a lab.
When she gets her bike out the cockerpoo runs to wait at the front door wagging his tail, while the lab goes into his crate and sits at the back, haha.
The lab stays at home and the cockerpoo loves the run.
They both get 2 other more leisurely walks each day.
To echo pps I think it depends on the dog ( breed, temperament, age etc) and also the route/ weather etc.

Done using the right kit, in the right location, with a trained dog, it's a subset of sled dog training and racing and a sport in its own right - bikejoring. There's European and world championships, even.

It is also not remotely the same thing as tying a pet dog to a bike and dragging it along a tarmac road.

Coincidentally, saw a bloke on a cycle with his dog this morning. Biggish dog, muscular. Bloke was cycling slowly, but the dog's legs were having to move fast to keep up.

My thought was - 'If that dog decides to stop and sniff at something, he's going right over those handlebars'.

I saw a man on a mobility scooter “walk his dog”. In reality he was zooming down the pavement and the small dog (possibly a puppy) was awkwardly trailing behind, it looked like it was being choked

We used to have a large & very fit dog. His idea of a good “walk” was for us to take a jeep up on Salisbury plain, he’d jump out and we’d drive slowly, sometimes for 10 miles while he ran alongside. When he’d had enough or wanted a drink, he’d run in front of the jeep and slow it down

Depends on the dog of course, but I think you are underestimating some dogs’ abilities.

I really hate seeing this. Time and time again I've been walking my dog and someone passes on a bicycle in the road with dog running ATTACHED TO THEM BY LEAD - NOT FREE RUNNING, who looks at my dog and would obviously love to stop and greet and then disappears fast into the distance, looking longingly behind at us
Whereas what I really hate is holier than thou fellow dog owners who try to ascribe feelings onto a dog they don't know and comment on what the unknown dog would cleared love because it conveniently supports their own judgement of an exercise decision they don't like.

My dogs are well trained. Some walks are for sniffing and running around big open spaces off lead, some walks they walk on lead to heel on pavements, sometimes they come running with me, other times I take one of them mountain biking.

Some of those situations it's appropriate for them to be going and saying hi to other dogs but other times it's not.

Not everyone wants their dog to be going up to every dog all of the time. In fact it's quite annoying running with my dogs if we see people who insist on trying to distract them because 'awww they want to say hi'. 🙄 They don't. They've looked your way, acknowledged you are there and are quite happy.

I used to think it looked horrible but now as I have a dog of my own (who would hate it so don't cycle with him) I can see that certain dogs absolutely love it!

@mrsjoyfulprizeforraffiawork

I really hate seeing this. Time and time again I've been walking my dog and someone passes on a bicycle in the road with dog running ATTACHED TO THEM BY LEAD - NOT FREE RUNNING, who looks at my dog and would obviously love to stop and greet and then disappears fast into the distance, looking longingly behind at us. I see less of it lately, thank goodness. One poor dog that we used to see every day like this we later met in the forest once and he was having such a happy time - no bicycle, running off lead (after a deer) - I hope the owners noticed his happy mood.

Nothing wrong with the dog being attached by a lead as long as it's one designed to be used when running or cycling. In fact, it's arguably safer as you can stop your dog spotting say, a rabbit and charging across a road to get at it.

Maybe that day the dog was running alongside the bike, but the next day he may have been taken for a swim or a slow potter in the woods. Nothing wrong with a dog doing a dedicated activity and not being able to stop and greet yours.

It really depends on the dog, the cyclist, the location, whether the dog has been trained properly, the equipment used...

There are spring loaded devices that keep the dog at a safe distance from the wheels and stop any sudden movement by the dog from taking the bike over.

You can teach a dog to run beside and use a bungee elasticated lead to a suitable harness.

But yes there are people who just drag the dog out and make it run in the gutter without thought to what the dogs needs are - but there are people who do that by running, walking, whatever... those people are arseholes to their dogs regardless of the mode of locomotion!

Maybe that day the dog was running alongside the bike, but the next day he may have been taken for a swim or a slow potter in the woods. Nothing wrong with a dog doing a dedicated activity and not being able to stop and greet yours
Well said.

I bikejor and Canicross my dogs, but it needs to be done sensibly, with the correct equipment.

Proper bikejor has an attachment to the front of the bike to keep the lead and dog away from the wheels.

Harness are a must for any fast dog sport, to reduce the risk of neck injury.

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

But if the dog stopped, the cyclist would surely continue to drag the dog even if only for a second or two? There used to be a woman around here with a mobility and the poor beagle and it’s stumpy legs was practically dragged behind her.

But if the dog stopped, the cyclist would surely continue to drag the dog even if only for a second or two?

It depends how aware you are. My SIL cycles with her husky and the husky is always ahead of the bike, so if she stops, SIL can notice and stop herself. Not that she ever stops - that dog will run for hours - which is what she's designed to do!

SIL runs her 10 miles a day, often more - if she's short on time, she cycles. I can't see the big deal. She's helping her dog do what she's designed to do!

Cyclists on the pavement with their dog on a lead. So dangerous. I saw a woman doing this the other day. Everyone, builders, mums with buggies, little children had to stand in the road ( busy road too).
I told her she should be on the road as she attempted to weave around pedestrians and lamp posts. She was so massively entitled. She did looked shocked by everyone's reaction though.

Of course it depends on the dog. Depends on the conditions. My dogs "in the zone" walking speed is considered to be 4-6mph, and he can easily do 10mph at a fast walk. 20 - 30mph is the breed top speed and they have high endurance - they can keep these speeds up for lengthy periods. I can't cycle - disabled - but my scooter has a speed of 8mph and he can easily and happily trot along at that. Anyone with a bike who can wear him out is welcome to try!

@LioneIRichTea

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

But if the dog stopped, the cyclist would surely continue to drag the dog even if only for a second or two? There used to be a woman around here with a mobility and the poor beagle and it’s stumpy legs was practically dragged behind her.

Then she was walking the dog as a chore and not as a joint activity. I see parents dragging their kids around. I also don't think that should happen.