Best Dog Breed Recommendations for Biking

There is nothing quite like getting up early, grabbing your bike, and spending a few hours on the trails. Mountain biking not only provides you with a great workout but also enables you to spend some time away from the stresses of work and daily life while enjoying some time in the great outdoors. If you have a high-energy dog that thrives on strenuous activity, then why not bring your dog along for the ride? They will be able to meet all of their regular exercise requirements while spending quality time with you.

When going mountain biking with your dog, it is important to first establish whether or not they are able to keep up with your pace. Not every breed of dog was created to handle the physical demands of an activity like this one. In this article, we will cover the best dog breed recommendation for biking, so keep reading to find out if your dog will make the cut.

Best dog breed recommendations for biking

Border collies are our favourite and are rated number one for best dog breed recommendations for biking. They are super intelligent, eager to please, and always ready for exercise. When it comes to mountain biking, they are the perfect fit. It won’t be long until your collie’s favourite activity is going on bike rides through the countryside with you. In fact, they will look forward to the hike with great anticipation.

Border collies are working dogs, which means they are accustomed to following commands. They have excellent recall, and they will follow their owners even when they are not leashed. Because of their high level of intelligence and eagerness to please, you will never have to worry about them straying away from you or getting lost because they will remain by your side at all times.

Second on our list of best dog breed recommendations for biking is the Australian cattle dog. This is a breed of dog that is known for its tenacity. They have remarkable stamina and are able to withstand the intense heat. They are so attached to their owners that they have earned the nickname “Velcro dog”. Australian cattle dogs are athletic and have great stamina. These dogs are also very intelligent, but remember that they were bred to herd cattle—and might occasionally be tempted to run off to herd cows.

Third on our list of best dog breed recommendations for biking is the Labrador retriever. It was originally bred to retrieve waterfowl, and as they have an exceptionally high food drive, they are very easy to train. Labradors that are descended from working lines have a propensity to have a more athletic build, and as a consequence, they are quicker and more durable than their non-working counterparts. Labradors that are descended from show lines tend to have a stockier build, shorter legs, and are less built for speed than those descended from working lines. This breed is prone to a number of health problems, like hip and shoulder dysplasia, so it is important that it comes from a good breeding stock that has been tested thoroughly for any health issues.

Headers and heelers—what does this mean?

Herding dogs fall into two categories: headers and heelers. Both Australian shepherds and border collies have a propensity to be headers, which means that they enjoy moving the herd by getting in front of it and barking at the other animals. Heelers are responsible for moving the herd forward by nipping and snapping at the heels of the animals in the rear of the herd. Heelers make great mountain bike companions as they appear to have a natural understanding of running behind the rear wheel. Headers will always want to be in front, but that doesn’t mean you won’t be able to teach a header to heel.

Training your dog

Your dog will need to go through some training before you even step foot on the trail. Regular training such as heel, sit, stay etc. can be started as soon as you get your puppy. All of this early training will help when you start training him/her for the bike trails. During this stage, it is also a good time to introduce your puppy to the bike. Get your puppy used to the bike by riding it around him or her and having someone else do the same near him or her. If you start this routine when your puppy is still young, it will be much simpler to continue when you move on to bike training.

Training to ride with the bike

It is best to begin bike training when the dog is still very young, somewhere between the ages of 4 and 6 months. Keep in mind that the puppy’s bones are still growing, so you should begin slowly and only travel short distances. Running your puppy quickly over long distances and uneven terrain can cause damage to the growing joints and ligaments, which is why it is important to start out slow.

When you first begin training on your bike, one of the most important things for you to remember is to keep your dog on a short leash. A short leash will allow you to maintain a higher level of control over the dog if they begin to lose focus. You can start bike training by allowing the dog to run at your side.

Your dog will also need to learn a few rules when mountain biking. Including,

• Staying close to you at all times 
• Not to disturb or run after wildlife or other dogs 
• How to avoid other bikes and people who might also be using the trail

The majority of mountain bike trails are single tracks, so once your dog has learnt to run alongside the bike, you can start to teach them to follow behind. A pole with a leash attached can be used to move your dog to the back of the bike. Position the dog behind your back tyre. As you move the dog into position, give the heel command. If the dog moves back to the side, position him back where you want him and give him the heel command again. Once your dog has successfully learnt to stay behind, you can go back to using the leash.

Teach your dog commands

It is essential that you teach the dog some other essential verbal commands that you will want to use while on the bike trail. For example, stop and go commands can be used when you are beginning and ending your bike ride. The Close command could be used to tell the dog you are approaching another rider, so they will need to tuck in close to avoid an accident. Leave it command if your dog has spotted another dog or an animal and wants to run after it, leave it. You don’t have to use these specific commands, but make sure you are consistent with whatever you choose and that your dog knows what he or she is supposed to do at any given time.

Removing the leash so the dog can run freely

When your dog has mastered all of the commands, is able to keep up with you while running, and is not easily distracted by other people or animals, you can take away the leash and let him or her run freely. You should only do this if the dog has a recall rate of 100% and is not being distracted by his environment. If you are going to be riding near or around livestock, you need to be a responsible dog owner and make sure that your dog is on a leash.