Few things delight a dog like coming along on the bike, and few things are lovelier for a rider than sharing the trip with them. It can be completely safe and a genuine joy for both of you, as long as you set it up thoughtfully. The wrong way, a lead wrapped round the bars and a dog you’re hoping will keep up, is how both of you get hurt. The right way takes a little planning and pays it back many times over.
Two ways to bring the dog
Which method you use comes down to the size and fitness of your dog.
Carried
Small dogs, any pace- A basket, box, or crate made for a dog, mounted low and secure
- The dog clipped in by a harness so it can't jump out
- A trailer for larger, older, or nervous dogs
- They come everywhere, at your speed, resting as you ride
Running alongside
Fit, grown, healthy dogs- Good exercise for an energetic dog that loves to run
- Held by a proper frame-mounted bike-leash, clear of the wheel
- Short outings at first, built up like any training
- Not for puppies, old dogs, or short-nosed breeds
Carrying a small dog
A dog small enough to carry is the easiest to bring, provided the carrier is secure. Use a basket, box, or crate actually made for the job, mounted low so it doesn’t upset the bike’s balance, and clip the dog in with a harness so a sudden squirrel can’t launch them into the road. Introduce it slowly at home first, stationary, with treats, so the carrier becomes a good place to be. A trailer with a mesh cover suits a dog too big for a basket, or one who’d rather watch the world go by from a cosy box, and it keeps the weather off too.
Running alongside, done right
A fit adult dog running beside the bike can be wonderful exercise, but this is the method that needs the most care, because it’s where things go wrong.
Build up exactly as you would your own fitness: a little at a time, on soft ground where you can, with plenty of rest. A dog will run itself into the ground to stay with you, so the judgement about when to stop has to be yours.
Heat, ground, and paws
This is the part that catches people out, because a running dog can’t tell you it’s in trouble until it’s serious.
Ask your vet first
Not every dog should run alongside a bike, and a quick word with your vet before you start saves trouble. Puppies whose joints are still growing, older dogs, very short-nosed breeds that struggle to breathe and cool themselves, and any dog with a health condition may not be suited to it, or may need to wait. Your vet knows your dog and can tell you what’s safe, how far, and how fast. Carried dogs have far fewer limits, but a nervous one still deserves a gentle introduction.
Make it a joy
However you do it, keep it happy and keep it positive. Short, cheerful trips with treats and praise teach a dog that the bike means good things, and a dog that loves the bike is a joy to ride with. Go at their speed, stop when they’ve had enough, and let the point of it be the shared pleasure rather than the miles. If you’re carrying rather than running them, the carrying errands by bike guide covers the racks and mounts that a dog basket shares.
This guide covers durable, general safety for riding with a dog, not veterinary advice. Every dog is different, so check with your vet about your own dog’s fitness for it, and follow the fitting instructions for any carrier or bike-leash you use.
A safe ride with your dog
That's all of them — you're set. ✓
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