Article From SubmitYOURArticle.com: Bonding Series: Biking With Your Dog

When you think about the activities that you can
do with your dog, your list might look like this:
walk, run, play fetch. With such a short list,
you probably cycle through these pretty quickly.
Why not shake things up a bit and introduce your
dog to something new? Fall is a wonderful time
to ride your bike and the best part is that your
dog can come with you. It's the perfect way to
bond and reconnect with your pooch and enjoy that
crisp air together.

Can Any Dog Bike?

It makes sense that a healthy dog that's used to
walking, running, or hiking is a great candidate
for a bike mate. But what if your dog is small
and doesn't need much exercise? Don't worry!
There are a few different ways that will allow
your dog to join you so you don't have to leave
that wagging tail and adorable little face behind.

- Bike Leash - For an active, healthy dog, a bike
leash is your answer. Bike leashes hook on the
side of a bike and attach to your dog's collar so
he's running right along side of you. It's
designed to control your dog in case he pulls in
a different direction and ensures the safety of
both dog and rider. NEVER bring your dog on a
regular leash that will leave you with just one
hand on the handle bars and the other holding
your dog's leash. This can be extremely
dangerous. Bike leashes were designed to free
your hands so you can drive the bike properly.

- Riders & Baskets - For your small dog that
doesn't really need much exercise, you can still
bond with them on a bicycling trip by using a pet
rider or a basket. Baskets attached to the front
handle bars and have a harness or strap that
keeps your furry passenger hooked safely secured.
Riders also work the same way, although these
can be attached to the front or back of a bike
and also include a safety harness.

Start Small

Once you've determined the best way to bring your
dog along, it's time to get her acclimated to
being with the bike. Show her how you are
attaching the leash to your bicycle or set her in
the rider to get her used to it. For the initial
few outings, just walk your bike. When she
starts to become comfortable, hop on the bike and
go slowly at first. Plan on just going around the
block the first time, followed by one or two more
blocks as she adjusts to this new activity. This
is also a good time to make sure that your dog is
properly secured to the bike so there aren't any
mishaps.

If the biking is going well and she's not afraid
or stressed out, you can then begin lengthening
your bike trips and moving along at a more
appropriate pace.

Safety First

There are some things to keep in mind when you
have your dog with you on the bike so that you
both have a safe and enjoyable experience.

1. Whenever possible, use bike trails or roads
that are less busy. If this isn't a nearby
option, use a bike rack and drive the two of you
to a nearby park or trail.

2. Avoid extraordinary heat. In the warm summer
months, reserve biking outings for early mornings
or early evenings before it is getting dark.

3. Bring a small pack of necessary items,
including water, treats, a cell phone, and your
vet's number just in case of an emergency. Make
sure that your dog has all of his tags and other
identification.

Just you and your dog on the open road with the
wind at your backs and the sunshine on your faces
is a healthy and fun way to bond with your dog.
Dogs are always overjoyed to be going anywhere
with their humans, so finding new ways to spend
time together (like biking) is bound to bring the
two of you even closer together. Show your best
friend just how much you love her and hop on that
bike!

Don't forget to check out Trips With Pets for all
your dog-bonding activity needs.

----------------------------------------------------
Kim Salerno is the President & Founder of
TRIPSwithPETS.com. She founded the pet travel
site in 2003 and is an expert in the field of pet
travel. Kim is a veteran of the travel industry -
formerly serving as Director of Internet
Marketing for Certified Vacations. Her mission is
to ensure that pets are welcome, happy,and safe
in their travels. Visit
http://www.tripswithpets.com

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