How to Train Your Dog to Ride in a Bike Trailer
Introduction
If you have been out on the bike trails around your home recently, you are sure to have seen all the pooches sitting comfortably in a trailer being towed behind their owner's bike. While this might seem to be a bit on the "cute" side, when you take a look at the big picture, it can be a great way to take your pup along with you for the ride. Cycling is a great sport and very good for your health, but if you stop along the way and let your pup get out to run beside you, it can be great for his health too.
Dogs love to be out in the fresh air with their owners; they love to run, walk, jump and play. But often the distances you travel on your bike would simply be too much for your pup to handle. Can you imagine trying to make your dog run or walk the 20 miles you have planned for your next ride? It would not only be exhausting, it would destroy his pads and feet. A dog bike trailer offers you the perfect solution to the problem and gives you and your pup a chance to enjoy the great outdoors together.
Defining Tasks
The basic concept is to train your pup to enjoy riding in a doggy bike carrier (note that these are very similar to those used to carry small children). This should be a lot of fun for both of you and once your pup gets used to the trailer, he will soon be begging you to go for a ride every chance he gets. Imagine how much fun the two of you can have when you put your pup in the trailer and head out to the local dog park.
Be sure you get a trailer made for dogs, these are made from materials that are much easier to clean than those made for children. Many come with a removable washable floor pan that can be rinsed out with a hose. This can come in really handy if you go for a ride on days when the play area is muddy or if your pup happens to have an "accident" while you are going down the trail.
Getting Started
It doesn't take much to train your dog to ride in a bike trailer beyond having the desire to take him with you whenever you have a chance to get out and go for a bike ride. You will, of course, need a few treats, a doggy bike trailer, and time to go out for a ride. The more time you can take to go for a ride, the faster your pup will master this relatively simple and fun activity.
Always remember that training like this should be fun. If your pup seems nervous or scared, let him take all the time he needs to get used to the trailer before proceeding. If you try to push too hard, your pup may balk at the idea and never want to go for a ride with you. Should this happen, you may ruin any chance at going for fun rides together.
The Starting Inside Method
The Lay Down Method
The Introduction Method
Success Stories and Training Questions
Training Questions and Answers
Diggory
We got the trailer early (when he was just 2.5 months) and followed the above steps.. building it up gradually! Now, our pup is very interested in the trailer, happy getting in, doesn't immediately jump out once we stop and open the back. He is doesn't try to get outs quiet when we are not moving...But when we are moving he barks continuously.
The only thing that seems to work is giving him a kong or something for the duration of the ride.
Any advice about how to help this?
494 Dog owners recommended
Hello Abigail, Is he barking due to excitement about riding, fear of the movement and trailer, or because of the things he sees on the ride? If he is excited, then work on calming exercises while in the stationary trailer, like a long Place command in the trailer while it is stationary, a Quiet command, and having him lie down and stay while he rides. If he is barking because he feels nervous and is protesting the movement, then continue working on getting him used to riding but also teach him the Quiet command and practice Quiet in the trailer while it is moving; to do this, have someone slowly move the bike with the trailer attached, with pup sitting in the trailer, while another person walks beside the trailer and tells him Quiet and rewards him for getting quiet and for staying quiet. Start by rewarding him more frequently, then space treats out more as he improves and will stay quiet for longer. Once he understands how to get quiet when you say Quiet, then only reward him if he stays quiet for a few second or a few minutes - length of time depending on where in the training process you are - so that he will learn to stay quiet while riding not just bark, then pause. If he is barking because of things he sees on the ride, then work on exposing him to those things on walks and public outings more. Your goal should be for him to find the new things pleasant, but boring because he is around them so much that he gets used to them - For example, the first time you ever went on a rollercoaster you were probably really excited, but if you rode that rollercoaster every day for a month you would probably get super bored and be really calm while riding it. Lots of pleasant but calm introductions and exposures can make something more boring overtime. You can also work on the Quiet command while moving like I mentioned above, with an assistant walking beside the trailer and rewarding quietness. Finally, if it doesn't make him motion-sick, continue to give a food stuffed Kong on rides. By doing that every time, you are creating a habit of riding quietly since it's hard for him to eat and bark at the same time. Quiet method from article linked below - also check out the desensitization method for fear and reacting to things you pass: https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-shih-tzu-puppy-to-not-bark Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden
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Abi is older now and can't walk as far as she use too. So we got a trailer for the bike. She seemed happy to get in to the trailer, sat down, we gave her treats and she was fine. Walked around with her in the trailer; praise and treats.
First ride - she cried, happy when we got to the beach, jumped back into the trailer easy but as soon as we started to ride, crying again. Help!!!
Thanks in advance, Lynne
494 Dog owners recommended
Hello Lynn, I suggest slowing things down a bit. Practice rewarding her with treats while another person slowly walks the bike and trailer around with her in it. Make the movements slow and the rides shorter, and reward with treats and praise and a confident attitude during the ride. Encourage her to lie down during the ride and reward that also - you can start by teaching her Down in the trailer while it is stationary. It does sound like you are off to a good start and she can likely adjust. You probably just went too quickly from introducing it to fast movement, and she needs more time to acclimate and work up to the fast movement using rewards and pushing the bike around with the trailer. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden
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